Arnica is a yellow-flowered plant native to Asia and Europe and Russia but later spread to Latin America. It is a plant to which many medicinal uses are attributed to both the leaves and stems and the flowers. With the branches and stems poultices are made for the wounds and the flowers are attributed properties such as anti-inflammatory, fungicide, analgesic, disinfectant, healing, etc. This plant although it has many benefits is not 100% reliable for certain things. For example, in ancient times it was used for colds, bronchitis, cough and also sore throat but it was found that its internal use can cause cardiac arrhythmias, but not in cases of external use such as blows, rheumatic pains, etc. The reason is that arnica causes an increase in blood flow over the applied area, thus preventing the appearance of bruises. It can be obtained in the form of ointment and cream by applying to the skin two or three times a day. What should not be done with arnica is to apply it on an open wound, burns or where there is no skin. On the other hand, prolonged and excessive use can cause itching or ulcers on the skin. In Como’s .es we will teach you how to use arnica and get the best out of this plant without taking risks.
What do you need to use arnica? Arnica gel, tinctures, oil, ointment or cream Dried leaves of arnica to soak in water. Arnica infusions for washing.
Instructions for using arnica
Arnica is a plant that grows in green mountainous areas half a meter high and ends in a flower with yellow petals and red center. Although arnica is widely used as medicinal products, the scientific community does not fully accept the effects of homeopathic remedies in general and arnica does not escape this group.
For example, in the postoperative period of knee problems, ligaments, etc., very common in athletes, doctors consider that the use of arnica did not give favorable results having been tested enough, it did not give credibility from the medical point of view. However, the reality is that when physical exercise, such as running, causes impacts that over kilometers and kilometers cause damage to the legs that lead to injuries that can cause serious levels of inflammation.
Many runners overuse anti-inflame stories such as ibuprofen that in case of abuse is anti-productive. Many others use arnica as a homeopathic alternative for these cases either in gel or tablet form. It is a good anti-inflammatory alternative. Science and reality do not always agree.
Anyway, its use is very common, when passing it over the painful area produces in that place increase of hetarenes of the skin by accumulating there the blood, this means that after a blow bruise do not emerge or disappear if there are any. It can be used in different ways: One is directly applying the gel or cream on the painful area and the cheapest is to buy dried arnica in any herbalist and apply the liquid that results from adding a tablespoon of the dried plant in a cup of water, then with a clean cloth is applied to the painful area.
It has been experimented in different fields of medicine the use of arnica, for example, using it in the postoperative period of orthopedic surgery and compared with diclofenac sodium administering them to almost 100 patients in a similar state, after an operation, half was treated with arnica and the other half with diclofenac sodium, both orally. No difference was found in patients with the different medicines. This shows that for conventional medicine the use of arnica is not fully accepted, but not for homeopathy. Other studies and tests showed better results, for example in antilogical surgery, dental interventions, postoperative in gynecological surgery, cosmetic surgery, etc. In many cases, the same or better results were obtained than with traditional treatments. Formerly arnica was used to treat problems in the respiratory tract: colds, bronchitis, cough, sore throat but the reality is that ingesting this medicine orally as an infusion brings many dangerous drawbacks such as cardiac arrhythmia, great irritation in the digestive tract and also toxicity in the nervous system. For this reason, it is advisable only its external use. The most common applications of arnica in its different presentations are blows. By applying the ointment immediately, the increase in blood flow prevents the formation of hematoma
It is also used similarly when dislocations occur, soothing pain quickly and preventing skin from turning dark. Also, for rheumatic pains making gentle frictions in the painful area, it can be with ointments, oils or ointments, all based on arnica. In the case of edema caused by sprains or blows, it is advisable to use arnica in the form of oil or ointment. It is applied three or four times a day. It can also be used inflammation of the genital, or mouth mucous membranes. For this you have to prepare an infusion with arnica flowers by placing a tablespoon in a liter of boiling water, let stand and warm and finally apply with a clean cloth on the affected area as if it were a wash. Arnica ointment or creams made from arnica extract that is available in pharmacies or homeopathic stores, some creams come with additional ones such as honey, marshmallows and with other herbs that have anti-inflammatory properties. Apply on bruises but not on wounds.
Arnica tincture is made with 40 gr of dried arnica root and 200gr of dried flowers. It is macerated for 10 days in alcohol in a dark place, then filtered and stored in a dark, covered jar.
Tips for using arnica Arnica is a toxic plant in large quantities, although it is a medicinal herb, so it should be used externally, without abuse on the skin, never in open wounds. It is also important to avoid the use of arnica if it is known that the person has delicate skin because it can cause dermatitis and in some cases blisters.
