Benefits and Science of Arnica

Arnica montana, as it’s formally known, is a sunny yellow flower that grows at high altitudes in both Europe and Siberia. It grows perennially and is actually a close cousin of the sunflower. Traditionally, arnica has been used as an herbal remedy for pain and also supports a healthy response to inflammation.

This golden flower isn’t new to the homeopathic scene—people have been using it in herbal treatments dating back to the 16th century, for a variety of health concerns. It was mostly used to support the healing of bruises and swelling, inflammation, and aching joints. Today, arnica can be found in topical creams, oils, and salves. While you can find diluted arnica tinctures, there is conflicting research about the efficacy and safety of ingesting arnica.

Arnica is a great alternative for those who experience regular pain, aches, and muscle soreness and want relief without the negative after-effects of conventional alternatives.

Due to the herb’s ability to penetrate the skin’s barriers and absorb deeply into the tissue, it provides long-lasting comfort. It is also helpful as a delivery mechanism for other ingredients that hitch a ride, so the positive benefits are especially effective in combination with other herbs.

Arnica health benefits

Dealing with pain isn’t easy, and if you are someone that battles pain on a frequent basis, you may have heard about arnica, or Arnica Montana.

Arnica has been gaining popularity over the last several years, but similar to other effective homeopathic remedies, the plant has been used for millennia for its natural anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties.

Here is everything that you need to know about arnica for pain relief:

What is arnica?

A member of the daisy family, Arnica montana is a perennial plant that has been traditionally used for centuries as a topical remedy known to help soothe mild skin injuries, muscle tenderness, strains, and joint swelling.

The arnica flower is bright yellow in color and is oftentimes referred to as the “mountain daisy” because of its resemblance to the commonly recognized flower. The plant is also known as mountain tobacco, leopard’s bane, wolf’s bane, and mountain arnica.

Native Americans were known to use the plant for topical injuries, muscle sprains, wounds, and bruises. Today, people around the world are successfully using arnica to treat soreness, inflammation, bruising, and swelling that results from many different types of physical trauma.

What makes arnica effective?

Arnica acts as a strong anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antimicrobial agent. The plant’s renowned anti-inflammatory properties are attributed to a naturally occurring compound called helenalin, which makes it ideal for reducing bruising and swelling after injuries. The same compound makes it effective against irritating insect bites.

Arnica’s analgesic properties make it useful for relieving pain associated with sprains, bruises, and other types of injuries. According to a 2016 review, the use of homeopathic arnica after surgery was found to be a safe and effective way to reduce pain, swelling, and bruising after the procedure.

As the arnica flower extract is able to deeply penetrate the skin in order to reach the area of pain, it provides long-lasting relief of discomfort by supporting a healthy inflammatory response.

Why we use arnica | healthy, beyond relief

The anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of arnica, and the way it fully absorbs into the skin to actually reach the pain area, are what make the plant one of the most effective and widely-used plant-based applications for pain management. It was only natural to create the Rightful Pain Relief & Recovery Cream with 5% arnica.

Arnica for relief:

• Supports fast recovery after overexertion or injury
• Absorbs deeply into the painful area for long-lasting comfort and healing
• Reduces localized swelling and inflammation

Arnica for beyond relief:

• Improves the absorption of other ingredients
• Protects the skin against irritation