Herbs contain plant compounds that have strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects against chronic conditions. Moreover, the use of herbs as natural remedies stem from traditional medicine that relied on plants and organic ingredients to treat ailments, as previously noted. Here Dr. Joseph Mercola, Mercola.com, reflects on arnica, a powerful herb that promotes various kinds of healing:

“Everyone is bound to experience body aches and pains at some point in their lives. Unfortunately, relieving pain is not easy, especially with all the possible side effects of some over-the-counter pain killers. The good news is that you can use natural alternatives to ease common aches and pains. Arnica is one such example.

Arnica is one of the most popular homeopathic remedies for pain management. It comes in a variety of species, with the most common one being arnica montana (also known as leopard's bane, mountain tobacco, mountain arnica or wolf's bane). In addition to its pain-relieving properties, arnica is also believed to help alleviate inflammation, fight infection and boost healing.¹

What Is Arnica?

Arnica is a flowering perennial plant that mainly grows in Siberia and Europe, but may also be found in some parts of North America. It belongs to the Compositae family, so it's closely related to the common daisy and sunflower.² The arnica plant usually thrives in places that are 3,000 feet above sea level, and reaches a height of 1 to 2 feet. It has round and hairy stems, bright green leaves and yellow-orange blossoms that look similar to daisies.

Dried or fresh arnica flowers and roots have been used for various medicinal applications since the 1500s.³ Swiss mountain guides even chew its leaves to prevent fatigue while climbing. When dried, its leaves were also smoked for their therapeutic effects, hence why they're called mountain tobacco.⁴

The primary active ingredient that gives arnica its powerful medicinal properties is sesquiterpene lactone — a chemical compound that's known for its anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. It's also rich in thymol, flavonoids, inulin, carotenoids and tannins.⁵

It's important to keep in mind, though, that using pure arnica is generally discouraged by health professionals and is also considered unsafe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) since it can be toxic in its pure form and may cause severe health complications.⁶ I advise you to use only heavily diluted forms of arnica for homeopathic remedy to enjoy its benefits without putting your health at risk.

Different Types of Arnica That You May Use

Arnica supplement is available in tablet and pill forms, which contain very little amounts of arnica extract. It typically doesn't cause any side effects since it's highly diluted. However, you should still consult your doctor before taking this oral supplement to ensure that you don't go past the recommended dosage.”

If you would like to learn other solutions to help control your health … click here?

Read More … Article Source: https://articles.mercola.com/vitamins-supplements/arnica.aspx