Arnica

Arnica might be familiar to many alternative medicine sporting fans, for its use in ointments for external application on sprains and various sporting injuries. It is also very useful when used internally and has been used to treat mental and emotional conditions, anxiety, bad breath, toothache and many other maladies. It is native to North America and Europe and it is a perennial yellow flowered plant, with the flowers being somewhat similar to daisies. It is also sometimes known as Wolf's Bane.

Many years ago I read an interesting story in a book about homoeopathic medicines about the healing properties of Arnica. A lady was due to have some serious dental surgery, and her homoeopath recommended that she take a dose of Arnica several days before the surgery and several days following as she had a history of poor healing and infections. Her recovery was rapid without complication.

I myself quite some time later required some serious dental surgery and remembered this story, so dosed myself for several days with the recommended amounts of Arnica. I had an access to and combined with that, a very large cyst, requiring removal and a procedure called escapulation whereby the jaw bone scraped to ensure complete removal of the cystic matter. As a generally poor healer myself. I was pretty nervous. The operation under local anaesthetic went well, and I was asked to return a week later, the removal of 10 or so stitches from my gums.

On my return I was berated by the dentist after he examined me, for leaving it so long to have the stitches removed as they had become ingrown. I informed him that it had only been a week and he remarked that I must be an incredibly good healer. I then told him the story of the Arnica. I have also used this on my pets, a cat and a dog, when each went to be sterilised and both recovered from the operation extraordinarily quickly. Mike Catt took no rest after coming out of the anaesthetic, and although it a bit groggy, immediately had something to eat and went outside to play! I was astounded, and having been the owner of many cats suffering the same operation, they are usually pretty much a mess for several days after.

There has been a lot of experimentation with it with its use in the treatment of emotional trauma, and it is also believed to help with impotence, incontinence, cramps, forgetfulness, sleeping problems, gout and rheumatism, to name but a few. As with most herbs, it should not be taken for extended periods of time and always check with your physician before undertaking any self-medication.

It is still unknown as to what the beneficial active ingredient in Arnica is. It should only ever be taken internally as a homeopathic preparation, never from plant directly. This can be very dangerous and is inadvisable. Arnica should be a part of everybody's homeopathic first aid kit, as it is truly one of our wonder herbs. As well as a cream, it is available in drops or tablet form for internal use. I recommend the tablets, as is less chance of spillage and lends to greater portability to use in a travelling first aid kit.