Tucked within America’s rolling hills and grassy meadows is a small yellow daisy that researchers and herbalists say has significant anti-inflammatory properties. It has gone by such names as leopard’s bane, mountain tobacco, and wolf’s bane, but Arnica montana—commonly known as arnica—has been used for hundreds of years to treat conditions like joint and muscle pain and minor wounds.

Arnica has demonstrated positive results as a natural pain reliever. Researchers attribute these benefits to the flower’s chemical makeup. Beyond its anti-inflammatory properties, arnica contains antioxidant and antimicrobial elements. Evidence suggests the plant could be used as part of a robust pain management program for acute and chronic conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

Natural Pain Relief

Researchers and herbalists suggest that arnica’s anti-inflammatory properties are most effective when the plant is used topically in an oil, cream, or salve. Homeopathic medicine advocates say arnica also helps treat minor burns, and there’s some evidence to support this.

This perennial wildflower’s pain relief and healing effects have been compared to painkillers ibuprofen and diclofenac but with fewer adverse effects. Some arnica fans say it’s better than pharmaceutical drugs in achieving pain management.

Certified aromatherapist, herbalist, and owner of Ohio-based Twisty Willow Farms, Dawn Moffett experienced arnica’s pain-reducing effects after mixing it into a homemade salve.

“I had foot surgery this past summer and used the salve to help reduce the pain and bruising at the surgery site on my foot. My surgeon is well aware of my holistic approach to my health care and is supportive,” Moffett told The Epoch Times.

“As a courtesy, she (the surgeon) sent me home with Vicodin for pain. I started using the salve as soon as I was able to remove the splint that was placed around my foot from the surgery and never needed to use the Vicodin. Any pain I had was minimal, and I believe the swelling and bruising healed much faster with the salve than if I had left it alone or used the Vicodin to simply mask the pain,” she said.

“I usually recommend arnica for reducing bruising and joint or muscle aches, but that recommendation is based on my patients’ experiences, not the current quality of research on the topic,” chiropractic doctor Candice Price of the Cleveland Clinic stated on the health center’s website.

Body Activity

The medical industry has been researching arnica’s effects for decades. In a randomized controlled trial published in Rheumatology International, the authors concluded that arnica’s functions were as effective for osteoarthritis of the hand as ibuprofen after a 21-day period.

Notably, medical trials of arnica for pain mitigation haven’t yielded consistent results. Some health officials say that’s because further study on the flower’s complex biochemistry is needed.

“There are about 150 different bio-active components in arnica,” Price said in the Cleveland Clinic article, noting that the many chemical compounds in arnica can have varying effects.

Price noted that some of the flower’s components work as antioxidants and protect living cells. But other parts, such as helenalin, are toxic to humans.

Flower Power

Montana-based author Christie Goodman is an herbalist and expert in medicinal plants. Arnica is one of her favorite to work with.

In her 20s, Goodman developed an illness that rendered her unable to finish attending university or work. Her chronic condition ignited a new life journey that led her to Montana’s mountainous countryside to discover its abundance of natural medicine growing all around.

“It was clear that Western medicine had little to offer me, but I was convinced there were answers out there, and I had become further convinced that those answers hid in plants and the natural world,” Goodman told The Epoch Times. “I had been studying herbal medicine as though my life depended on it.”

Although her long-standing love of herbal remedies never yielded a cure, Goodman said plants like arnica have “enriched my life and my health.”

In her experience, she said arnica is best for healing sprains, bruises, and muscle strains. It also helps manage arthritis pain.

“Before my illness became chronic fatigue syndrome, I had juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and used arnica creams often on my joints to soothe the pain,” Goodman said. “Arnica is soothing to pain, but its real strength is in its ability to heal. It is usually used as a cream or a salve and rubbed directly on the injured area.”

She also noted that arnica is one of the few plant medicines used in Western medicine.

Despite its success as a topical remedy, arnica can be dangerous if ingested. The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, for one, acknowledges the benefits of using arnica externally but warns against consumption. Arnica interferes with the action of antihypertensive and anticoagulant medications. Therefore, it’s essential to consult a health care professional before using arnica.

Homegrown

For those looking to ease aching joints and muscles sooner rather than later, arnica creams and gels can be ordered online. But for those with a green thumb, the wildflower can be grown at home. Aspiring herbalists can also make their own medicinal oil.

“Arnica likes a sunny location with moist yet well-drained soil,” Moffett said. “Once the plant flowers, you can begin harvesting the flowers and dry them either in a dehydrator on [an] herb setting or by hanging them to dry, typically for three to four weeks in a well-ventilated area.”

Once dry, Moffett said she stores the flowers in an airtight container in a cool, dry, and dark location.

“I use amber-colored Mason jars to store my dried flowers, as the amber color reduces light that can degrade herbs and their effectiveness,” she said.

To make arnica oil, Moffett suggested filling a pint or quart-sized jar three-quarters full with dried flowers, then adding a carrier oil and filling it to the top.

“When I make arnica oil for salves, I typically use jojoba oil because it is great for all skin types and contains vitamins such as B, C, and zinc, which are wonderful for your skin,” she said.

Moffett noted that using dried flowers reduces the chances of mold growing during infusion.

Once the arnica oil is made, Moffett said the infusion must be stored in a cool, dark location for four to six weeks. It’s necessary to check for mold during this time, which can ruin the oil. An airtight lid and keeping the infusion out of sunlight are key to avoiding mold contamination.

Goodman noted that growing wild varieties of arnica at home is important for anyone looking to make herbal remedies.

“If you do decide to grow it, try to get wild varieties, not the kind adapted to the modern garden,” Goodman said. “They will be the strongest medicinal plants.”

Goodman makes her medicinal arnica oil a bit differently than Moffett. After packing flowers into a Mason jar, Goodman uses olive oil and stores the infusion in a cool, dark room for three months, shaking it occasionally. She then strains out the oil, puts it in a clean jar, and uses low heat to warm the infusion before adding shaved beeswax.

“I pour the mixture into little lip balm-type jars or small Mason jars and let it cool. It becomes a salve the consistency of Vaseline, which can be rubbed on sore muscles and joints,” she said.

Moffett and Goodman remind aspiring herbalists that natural remedies aren’t silver-bullet solutions.

“As with any holistic alternative, the healing process takes time. Herbs and essential oils are not a quick fix. Herbs don’t just mask the discomfort from ailments; they work with your body to heal the part of the body that has been traumatized,” Moffett said.