Arnica

the flower of arnica (Arnicae flos)

Arnica (Arnica montana) is a mountain perennial with yellow-orange flower heads on an almost bare stem, and a basal rosette of leaves. It grows on poor meadows off limestone from eight hundred metres upwards and is protected in Slovenia, so it is not gathered in the wild; preparations use flowers from controlled cultivation.

The flower heads are gathered open and fresh, without the stem, at midday in dry weather. They are dried quickly and in the shade, spread in a single layer; dried too slowly, they darken. A properly dried head keeps its orange colour and crumbles when pressed.

In preparations arnica is used on the skin only, in ointments and compresses. It is often confused with marigold or with mountain arnica relatives; the most reliable sign is the opposite pair of leaves on the stem. In Ašič's collection it appears in Arnica Ointment.

Use and evidence

The EMA recognises traditional short-term use on the skin for bruises, sprains and localised muscle pain. Claims about influenza, the heart, the kidneys and mushroom poisoning have been removed. EMA.