Arnica Infused in Sunflower

Arnica montana oil steeped in Sunflower, use in blends to help aid bumps and bruises.

Arnica montana

Arnica montana is endemic to Europe, from southern Iberia to Southern Scandinavia and the Carpathians. It is absent from the British Isles and the Italian and Balkan Peninsulas. Our Arnica is mainly collected from the Carpathian Mountain Range in Romania.

Arnica montana grows in nutrient-poor silcaceous meadows up to nearly 3000 m. It is rare overall, but may be locally abundant. It is becoming rarer, particularly in the north of its distribution, largely due to increasingly intensive agriculture. In more upland regions, it may also be found on nutrient-poor moors and heaths.

Arnica montana was introduced into European folk medicine by shephards that noticed when sheep fell and bruised themselvs they nibbled on the leaves of the Arnica plant.

Characteristics

Arnica has long been used in skin care preparation for its properties. It has very little scent.

The Arnica in our extract is 20% active and therefore not suitable for direct application to the skin as it is to strong. It should be further be blended with Creams and Oils to form a custom blend.

In homoeopathy Arnica is associated with wound healing and bumps and bruises. Arnica oil is energising, powerful, a curative, resistant and protecting to the skin.

Arnica is a Tonica, antioedema, revulsive, antiseptic(2). Stimulates hair growth. It has antiphlogistic effects and in some cases antiseptic and analgesic(1). Anti-inflammatory, wound-healing(3). The sesquiterpene lactones helenalin acetate and 11,13-dihydrohelenalin have antibacterial and antifungal activities in vitro. Acidic polysaccharide fractions from Arnica extract have strong immunostimulating activities in vitro. Helenalin also had immunostimulating activing in a prelimanary screening.(1)

Oils to Blend with

Arnica blends well with Bergamot, Frankincense, Geranium, Orange, Mandarin, Neroli, Palmarosa, Rose, Rosewood and Sandalwood.

Latin Name

Arnica montana

Plant Family

Asteraceae

Extraction Method

Steeped Arnica montana flowers in Sunflower

Country of Origin

Europe

Usage Level

Use at 1 - 5% in blends for

Chemical Constituents

The main active ingredients in Arnica are hydrocarbons, esters, ethers, alcohols, triterpene alcohols, sesquiterpene lactones, phenol acids, tannins, cholne, inulin, flavonoids, carotenoids, sugars, phyosterols, coumarins and fatty acids.

Arnica montana infused in Sunflower

Precautions

We recommend avoiding Arnica during pregnancy. Do not apply Arnica to broken skin, even if there is a bruise in the area.

(1) Leung AY, Foster S. Encylopedia of Common Natural Ingredients used on Food, Drugs and Cosmetics. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York 1996.
(2) Plant preparations used as ingredients of cosmetic products. Council of Europe Press Strasbourg, 1989.
(3) Wyk, Ben-Erik van; Wink, Michael: Medicinal plants of the world. Pretoria: Briza publications, 2004.
(4) http://botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/a/arnica058.html [15.12.04]