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Arnica, Arnica montana. Botanical plate: Arnica montana - Köhler–s Medizinal-Pflanzen-015
Plate: Arnica montana - Köhler–s Medizinal-Pflanzen-015. Franz Eugen Köhler, Köhlers Medizinal-Pflanzen. Public domain.

Arnica

Arnica montana

Herbs & Roots. Western & European.

Also called Mountain tobacco, Leopard's bane, Mountain arnica

Spanish: Árnica

Toxic if swallowed

A yellow mountain flower used on the skin for bruises and sore muscles.

Did you know? Many homeopathic arnica pills are diluted so far that they often contain none of the original plant.

What it may help, and how strong the proof is

  • Wounds, burns & bites. Small trials of arnica gel for bruising show mixed and limited benefit. The best reviews do not firmly back it, especially at 10% or lower.
    Early proof
  • Muscles & exercise. Used for sore muscles after exercise. Few good human studies exist.
    Traditional proof

Parts of the body

Skin & hair, Muscles

Traditional use

Mountain people in Europe rubbed flower tinctures on bruises and sprains. Homeopathy later adopted it for bruising, using very diluted forms.

How it is classified

Herbal actions
Anti-inflammatory, Vulnerary, Analgesic. Energy: warming.

How people take it

Use only on unbroken skin, as a cream or gel. Strengths vary widely, and reviews found little support for products at 10% or lower.

Gel, topical and tincture.

Where to get it

Grows in mountain meadows across Europe and Siberia, and is farmed. Sold as creams, gels, tinctures, and homeopathic pellets.

Be careful

Toxic if swallowed. It can cause stomach bleeding and heart problems, and in large amounts it can be fatal. Do not take tinctures by mouth. On the skin it can cause rash or allergic reaction. Do not use it on broken skin or open wounds.

Avoid if: ragweed allergy; open wounds; pregnancy.

Mixing with other things

  • Works well together

    Both are used on bruises and sprains.

  • Works well together

    Common in bruise and skin-soothing creams.

  • Works well together

    Often combined in topical bruise and sprain products.

The honest take

Arnica gel may help a little with bruising, but the evidence is weak and mixed. Swallowing arnica is dangerous, even though tinctures are sold as natural products. Homeopathic pills contain so little of the plant that they are not expected to act at all.