Not only become a place to live for us and other living things, nature was laid out complete with a variety of natural solutions to problems in our daily life. Long ago, through the variety of herbs it produces, nature allows humans to be creative by creating spice seasoning cuisine, herbs to care for beauty, to drugs to cope with various health problems.
Arnica is the member to the family of Asteraceae plants (also called Compositae) from the Asterales flowering order. Arnica grows the mountains of Europe and Siberia, and is cultivated also in North America. The name Arnica is said to derive from the Greek word “arni”, meaning sheep, referring to the soft and feathery arnica leaves. Arnica usually grows to a height of 30 cm to 60 cm with flowers similar to daisies with bright green leaves. The round and feathered arnica stems, with each stem having one to three flower stalks, measuring 5 cm to 7.5 cm. The upper arnica leaves are serrated and slightly furry, while the lower leaves have rounded edges.
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- Heals Bruises
Bruises are areas of discolored skin, caused by injuries or collisions that make blood vessels underneath the skin rupture. Arnica oil can be used to heal bruises quickly and naturally.
A study from Northwestern University’s Department of Dermatology found topical arnica applications more effective in reducing bruising from low-concentration vitamin K formulations. The researchers identified that arnica have compound that have anti-bruising properties, including some of which are caffeine derivatives.
How to use it?
- Apply arnica oil to the bruise twice a day (as long as the bruise area on the skin does not have an open wound).
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- Treat Osteoarthritis
Research shows arnica is able to treat osteoarthritis, so it becomes an effective natural arthritis treatment. A 2007 study published in Rheumatology International found topical arnica as effective as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen to treat osteoarthritis in the hands.
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- Help To Cure Carpal Tunnel
Arnica oil contains an excellent natural remedy for carpal tunnel syndrome, which is an inflammation of the tiny nerve tract located just below the base of the wrist.
Arnica oil is a natural way to relieve carpal tunnel related pain and can help sufferers to avoid surgery. However, for people who decide to undergo surgery, research shows arnica can relieve pain after carpal tunnel surgery.
In a double-blind study between 1998 and 2002, the arnica group was compared with a placebo after surgery . Participants in the group treated with arnica experienced significantly decreased pain after two weeks. The anti-inflammatory effect makes arnica a smart choice to relieve carpal tunnel syndrome.
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- Relieving Dislocated Muscle, Other Muscle Pain & Inflammation
Arnica oil is a powerful drug for various inflammatory injuries and sports-related injuries. The positive effect of topically applied arnica has been shown to be effective in reducing pain, reducing inflammation and muscle damage, which in turn improves athletic performance.
Study participants using arnica had less severe pain and muscle pain 72 hours after intense exercise, according to results published in the European Journal of Sport Science. Arnica has been used in traditional medicine for many complaints ranging from hematoma, bruises, sprains and rheumatic diseases to shallow skin inflammation.
One of the arnica compounds that have strong anti-inflammatory properties is helenalin, a sesquiterpene lactone. In addition, the thymol found in arnica has a function as an effective vasodilator in subcutaneous blood capillaries, which helps facilitate blood transport and other fluid accumulation, and acts as an anti-inflammatory to aid the healing process. Arnica oil also stimulates the flow of white blood cells, as well as spreading blood clogs and other fluids trapped in muscles, joints and bruising tissue.
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- Promotes Hair Growth
Men who start baldness or women who want to reduce hair loss may want to try to use arnica oil as a natural hair care. Arnica oil is one of the best secret treatments to prevent hair loss.
Massaging arnica oil on the scalp regularly can provide nutrients to the scalp so as to stimulate hair follicles and promote healthy new hair growth. Some claims even claim arnica oil can stimulate new hair growth in the case of baldness. You can also look for shampoos, conditioners and other hair products containing arnica oil to get the same benefits.
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- Help Relieves Headache
With analgesic properties inside of arnica oil, it can help to relieves headache. Usually some people just put it around the neck.
- Overcoming dry skin
If you have cracked and scaly skin problems, then the solution is arnica oil. This natural oil helps the production of collagen, so it is useful to moisturize the skin and clothing more luminous. You can use this oil as a natural moisturizer for the skin, to eliminate premature aging.
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- Increasing Immune System
Some studies research found that arnica oil can help improve the production of white blood cells which become the first defend of body’s immune system.
- Heal Seasickness
In the form of tablet, arnica oil is useful for heal seasickness. Remember don’t consume pure arnica oil to heal seasickness. It can makes you very ill.
- Stops Hair Loss
The minerals and vitamins inside of arnica oil can stimulate hair follicles to grow thicker and healthier. So it can stops hair loss. Arnica is also an effective topical treatment for knee osteoarthritis.
A Swiss study stated the safety and efficacy of topical arnica in both men and women by applying arnica twice daily for six weeks. The study found arnica is a safe, tolerable, and effective treatment for treating mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis.
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More Arnica Benefits
Meanwhile, here are more health benefits of Arnica Oil
- Arnica is available as 100% pure essential oil but should not be applied to the skin before it is diluted.
- In any form, arnica should not be used on damaged or wounded skin.
- Pure essential oil is not even recommended for aromatherapy purposes because it is too strong to breathe.
- Arnica oil is pure toxic if swallowed but can be taken internally when diluted as part of homeopathic treatment.
- Arnica is one of the best examples for plants with a variety of benefits, ranging from beauty treatments to healing treatments. The use to the skin in the form of oils, creams, liniment or ointments, arnica has been used for medicinal purposes since the 1500s.
- Arnica oil contains helenalin, a potent anti-inflammatory compound, making it ideal for use as a natural first aid kit.
- When applied to the skin, this oil can reduce pain and inflammation so it is very useful for all types of bruises, aches, sprains and even arthritis.
- This oil can be used to relieve stiffness due to flying or long-distance driving.
- The use of this plant to overcome the stiffness, bruises and sprains were done through various ways, ranging from chewed directly, applied, to homeopathy treatment techniques that stimulate the body to form certain chemical compounds to recover itself.
- Not only immediately relax the tired muscles, coolness and soothing properties of arnica also become more value of this plant than other compounds in overcoming various muscle problems. The content of carotenoids, flavonoids, alcohol tripenic, oil astiri, inulin, and sakarosa in these plants will treat and soften the skin, even when the skin is in a state of injury though. In other words, with arnica, overcoming bruises and sprains without bringing side effects to the skin becomes possible.
- There are several species of arnica, but the most famous and commercially available is Arnica montana, also known as mountain tobacco, leopard’s bane and wolf’s bane.
- Arnica plants have large yellow or bright yellow flowers, which begin to appear during the middle of summer and continue to bloom until the fall.
- Through steam distillation or CO2 extraction, arnica essential oil is produced from this plant flower.
- Arnica oil contains several fatty acids, including palmitate, linolenic, linoleic and myristic, and thymol.
- The thymol antibacterial activity found in arnica essential oil has been reported in many scientific studies.
- As Skin Nourishment
- As Foot Baths
- Strengthen Hair Follicles
- Treating Rheumatism
- Help Treating Vertigo
- Relieves Stress and Depression
- Heals Insect Bites
Well, there are many health benefits of Arnica Oil as your alternative cure.
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Possible Side Effects & Warnings When Using Arnica Oil
Though there are many health benefits of Arnica Oil, you must take a look at this cautions too:
- Topical use of arnica oil is generally considered safe.
- If rash or inflammation occurs in the contact area, stop using arnica oil.
- Arnica oil can cause allergic reactions in plant-sensitive people from Asteraceae or Compositae families.
- The family members of this plant include ragweed, chrysanthemum, marigold, daisies and many others.
- If you have an allergy to one of these plant families, be sure to consult a doctor before using arnica products.
- You can also do a patch test to see if the skin has an allergic reaction to arnica oil.
- Arnica is best used on intact skin (not damaged or wounded) for short duration of use.
- Do not apply this oil to damaged or wounded skin because too much arnica will be absorbed by the body, while arnica is toxic.
- Also avoid using arnica oil on mucous membranes.
- People with sensitive skin as well as pregnant and lactating women should not use this oil.
- Arnica oil should always be kept out of reach of children.
- Arnica is drunk in large quantities can be toxic and even deadly.
- Never use arnica internally except in the form of homeopathic pills that contain only very small amounts of arnica.
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Arnica is one of the best examples for plants with a variety of benefits, ranging from beauty treatments to medical treatments and so there are many health benefits of arnica oil. Since found in European plains centuries ago, in addition to trusted to maintain the beauty and freshness of the skin, plants also known as Marigold is used to overcome stiffness, bruises, and sprains.
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