Recognizing Arnica
Do you have this yellow daisy growing near you?
There are several species of arnica growing from Alaska down to Texas, California, and Florida. This one, Arnica cordifolia or heart-leafed arnica, is growing at the edges of the pine forest, just outside my door. Arnica is hardy from zone 2 to 9, growing on poor, marginal soils. There’s probably a variety growing near you. If you can’t find it near you it is readily available online at suppliers like Mountain Rose Herbs and Starwest Botanicals. Amazon lists it from several suppliers.
But here’s why that’s important. Arnica is the very best herbal remedy for bruises, sprains, strained muscles, joint pain, carpal tunnel, and other issues where the skin is not compromised but the tissues are inflamed. It reduces swelling and pain through the presence of helenalin, an anti-inflammatory compound that is also antimicrobial, and anti-tumor.
If you stub your toe. That’s an arnica moment. If you sprain your ankle. That’s an arnica moment. If you are going through the paces in a krav maga class and you don’t tap out in time. Yep, another arnica moment. You are putting up some panelling and hit your thumb with the hammer. That’s another arnica moment. Arnica infused oil and arnica salve are the exact remedies you need for sore muscles, bruises, over stretched tendons and workout strains and sprains. If it is a repetitive injury like tennis elbow or carpal tunnel, a joint strain or back injury, a sprain or bruise. Basically anything injury where the skin is not broken but there is bruising of the tissue, arnica can help.
But arnica is not for injuries where the skin is broken.
Arnica is toxic when ingested, so arnica preparations should not be used on broken skin nor put in the mouth, unless significantly diluted in homeopathic preparations. So it’s a good idea to teach your children and grandchildren to know arnica so that they don’t try to eat the yellow daisies. But you shouldn’t be afraid of using arnica topically. It’s that same potent toxin that is so healing to bruises, bites, stings, and muscle or joint pain.
Arnica is used by top athletes after training to speed recovery and reduce muscle pain. Arnica infused oil is a good base for a massage oil for this purpose. For first aid, arnica salve is convenient and effective. You need a tin of arnica in your Travel First Aid Kit.
Find out more about identifying arnica in the wild and how to use it here.
Here’s how to make your own arnica salve (Recipe coming in the next lesson.)
- Gather arnica flowers in the wild or purchase from a reputable herbal source
- Make arnica infused oil
- Make the arnica salve using infused oil and beeswax