The benefits of arnica are being hailed all over the place lately. My mother goes on and on about arnica and its miraculous medicinal benefits and I've seen Spanish-language commercials for it many times. I myself have used it to treat bruising and swelling and can tell you that I found it to be super helpful like to the point of WOW! Much of arnica's appeal for medicinal purposes comes from centuries of anecdotal evidence like mine rather than scientific studies, but that hasn't stopped the herb from being highly sought after for its believed health benefits.
So let's get into 10 facts about arnica so we know how to use it safely because it can actually be dangerous.
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1. Arnica is a pretty daisy-like flower that grows in Europe, Asia and the U.S. It's also referred to as "wolf's bane" and "leopard's bane."
2. Arnica is poisonous. Yup, if you eat the actual plant, it is toxic. You should never apply an arnica gel or tincture to broken skin or an open wound. The only way you can take arnica orally is if it's in a highly diluted homeopathic form. Got it?
3. It's in some foods. Even though the plant is poisonous, it is still used as a flavoring ingredient in some drinks and foods we buy at the store. Don't worry, obviously they aren't putting a poisonous amount in there for you otherwise, you wouldn't live to buy more.
4. Arnica is available for medicinal purposes in the form of gels, tablets, tinctures, ointments and mouth rinses.
5. It's used for treating swelling and bruising. In a gel or tincture form you can apply arnica to a swollen or bruised area for relief. Like I said, I've done it and really noticed a dramatic decrease in swelling and bruising.
6. It's used on mosquito bites. Put some arnica on a bug bite to soothe it and to keep the itch away.
7. Arnica is believed to fight and prevent acne. Since arnica is an inflammation-fighter, it's used to treat acne.
8. It's used as a dandruff treatment. Arnica oil is used as a homeopathic anti-dandruff treatment and is a part of some hair tonics and anti-dandruff products on the market.
9. It's used to treat pain. People take the homeopathic pills to help them with the pain of dental work and to reduce swelling.
10. It may help treat arthritis. Early studies show that arnica ointments and gels may be helpful in treating the pain and swelling associated with arthritis in the hands and knees.
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