Arnica Montana: Natural Magic

Arnica: An Inside Look

While we were in Germany, I found arnica gel, cream and tincture sold in every drugstore. I wanted to find out more about this fascinating herb, so I contacted medical doctor and professor of pharmacy Irmgard Merfort, of Freiburg University. In an e-mail interview, Dr. Merfort discussed the benefits and risks of Arnica montana and how best to use it.

Nancy Allison: My friend Frau Gehring puts arnica blooms in a bottle and then fills it with schnapps. She says this must stay in the sun for three weeks and then can be used on bruises and muscle strains.

Dr. Irmgard Merfort: Your friend is partly right in preparing an alcoholic extract of the blooms. However, the following preparation is recommended: 1 part arnica flowers and 10 parts 96 percent alcohol should be put together in a bottle and left for a week, during which the bottle should be shaken. Then the flowers can be removed. It is important that this alcoholic solution must be diluted with water from three to ten fold when it is used, e.g. for compresses.

There are a lot of experiences with this way of preparation in contrast to that one your friend uses. If the schnapps with arnica blooms is staying in the sun, then a lot of reactions probably occur that alter the ingredients of arnica blooms. Up to now, there are no studies available on this.

N.A.: Can you describe how arnica acts on blood vessels?
I.M.: The main active compounds in arnica are sesquiterpene lactones. Additionally, flavonoids and the essential oil are also important. Sesquiterpene lactones influence a lot of inflammatory pathways resulting in the decrease of the inflammatory process. Our group has found that sesquiterpene lactones inhibit the release of inflammatory mediators because they inhibit the transcription factor NF-kB, which is a central mediator in the immune system.

N.A.: Is it true that arnica might be used for rheumatic problems such as arthritis? Would this be in homeopathic or topical form?

I.M.: Alcoholic preparations are recommended for external treatment of bruises, sprains and inflammations caused by insect bites; gingivitis and aphthous ulcers (canker sores); symptomatic treatment of rheumatic complaints; and for surface phlebitis. A clinical study exists that shows arnica is effective for the treatment of rheumatic arthritis, and another study suggests that it has positive effects in phlebitis, in each instance when arnica preparations were used externally.

N.A.: Are there health risks associated with arnica use?
I.M.: Yes, there are. Some people can develop contact dermatitis; then they must prevent any contact with arnica and also with flowers that contain sesquiterpene lactones, e.g. Achillea species. Therefore, it is essential that arnica preparations be used as recommended and the tincture not in an undiluted form. People who have a contact allergy against arnica should not use arnica preparations. The number of users who have developed contact dermatitis is low.