| Arnica | |
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| Arnica montana Ill.Koehler | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Subfamily: | Asteroideae |
| Tribe: | Heliantheae |
| Subtribe: | Madiinae |
| Genus: | Arnica L. |
| Species | |
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See text. |
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Arnica (Ár-ni-ca) is a genus with about 30 perennial, herbaceous species, belonging to the sunflower family (Asteraceae). The genus name Arnica may be derived from the Greek arna, "lamb", in reference to the soft, hairy leaves.
This circumboreal and montane genus occurs mostly in the temperate regions of western North America, while two are native to Eurasia (A. angustifolia and A. montana).
Arnica used to be included in the tribe Senecioneae, because it has a pappus of fine bristles. This was soon questioned and Nordenstam (1977) placed it tentatively in tribe Heliantheae s.l. This arrangement also became uncertain because of the sesquiterpene lactone chemistry in certain species. Lately Arnica was placed in an unresolved clade together with Madiinae, Eupatorieae, Heliantheae s.s. and Pectidinae.
Several species, such as Arnica montana and Arnica chamissonis, contain helenalin, which is a sesquiterpene lactone that is a major ingredient in anti-inflammatory preparations (mostly against bruises).
Arnica species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Bucculatrix arnicella.
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They have a deep-rooted, erect stem, that is usually unbranched. Their downy, opposite leaves are borne towards the apex of the stem. The ovoid, leathery, basal leaves are arranged in a rosette.
They show large yellow or orange flowers, 6-8 cm wide with 10-15 long ray florets and numerous disc florets. The phyllaries (a bract under the flowerhead) has long spreading hairs Each phyllary is associated with a ray floret. Species of Arnica, with an involucre (a circle of bracts arranged surrounding the flower head) arranged in two rows, have only their outer phyllaries associated with ray florets. The flowers have a slight aromatic smell.
The seed-like fruit has a pappus of plumose, white or pale tan bristles. The entire plant has a strong and distinct pine-sage odor when the leaves of mature plants are rubbed or bruised.
The species Arnica montana, native to Europe, has long been used medicinally, but this use has not been substantiated.[1][2]
Arnica montana has been used medicinally for centuries.[1] The roots contain derivatives of thymol,[3] which are used as fungicides and preservatives and may have some anti-inflammatory effect.[4] Arnica is currently used in liniment and ointment preparations used for strains, sprains, and bruises. Commercial arnica preparations are frequently used by professional athletes.[5] Arnica should not be taken internally due to its toxicity, with the spurious exception of homeopathic preparations that are diluted at 24X or more, since only water remains.[6][7]
The thymol derivatives concentrated in the plants roots have been clinically shown to be effective vasodilators of subcutaneous blood capillaries. Arnica preparations used topically have been demonstrated to act as an anti-inflammatory and assist normal healing processes by facilitating transport of blood and fluid accumulations through a dilating action of subcutaneous blood capillaries (Holist Nurse Pract, 2008, 22(4):237-239). In one double-blind trial, Arnica montana was found to be equally effective as the more expensive diclofenac for accelerating wound healing after foot surgery, but was less effective than the same drug for pain relief.[8] However, Diclofenac does not promote wound healing as it is an anti-inflammatory drug and hence this comparison is not useful. A study of wound-healing after surgery to treat varicose veins found a trend towards a beneficial effect of reduction of pain and hematoma following surgery.[9]
Homeopathic preparations of Arnica are widely marketed and used, and enjoy popularity. In the UK the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has registered the product for sprains and bruising under the 'National Rules for Homoeopathic Products' (2006). These rules allow claims of efficacy for these conditions to be made on the packaging in the absence of similar evidence to that required for conventional medicines under the Medicines Act 1968 and 1971.[10] One small trial was claimed to suggest that the homeopathic use of Arnica to be no more effective than a placebo.[11] In some quarters, the fact that homeopathic Arnica has been the subject of published clinical trials at all has drawn criticism grounded on the allegation that the basic premise of the high dilutions used in homeopathy would be inherently flawed.[12] With respect to the range of homeopathic Arnica creams available on the market, these are generally formulated using the mother tincture rather than a dilution, and they therefore do in fact contain measurable quantities of the medicinally active substance.[citation needed]
Arnica contains the toxin helenalin, which can be poisonous if large amounts of the plant are eaten, and contact with the plant can also cause skin irritation.[13][14] If enough of the material is ingested, the toxin helenalin produces severe gastroenteritis, and internal bleeding of the digestive tract. [15]
 Mountain Arnica (Arnica montana) |
 Longleaf Arnica (Arnica longifolia) |
ARNICA, a genus of plants belonging to the natural order Compositae, and containing 18 species, mostly north-west American. The most important species is Arnica montana (mountain tobacco), a perennial herb found in upland meadows in northern and central Europe (but not extending to Britain), and on the mountains of western and central Europe. A closely allied species (A. angustifolia), with very narrow leaves, is met with in Arctic Asia and America. The heads of flowers are large, 2 to 21 in. across, orange-yellow in colour, and borne on the summit of the stem or branches; the outer ray-flowers are an inch in length. The achenes (fruits) are brown and hairy, and are crowned by a tuft of stiffish hairs (pappus). The rootstock of A. montana is tough, slender, of a dark brown colour and an inch or two in length. It gives off numerous simple roots from its under side, and shows on its upper side the remains of rosettes of leaves. It yields an essential oil in small quantity, and a resinous matter called arnicin, C,2H2202, a yellow crystalline substance with an acrid taste. The tincture prepared from it is an old remedy which has a popular reputation in the treatment of bruises and sprains. The plant was introduced into English gardens about the middle of the 18th century, but is not often grown; it is a handsome plant for a rockery.
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Arnica
Classification System: APG II (down to family level)
Main Page
Cladus: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiospermae
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: core
eudicots
Cladus: Asterids
Cladus: Euasterids
II
Ordo: Asterales
Familia: Asteraceae
Subfamilia: Asteroideae
Tribus: Madieae
Genus: Arnica
Species: A. acaulis - A. amplexicaulis -
A. angustifolia -
A. cernua - A. chamissonis -
A. cordifolia - A. discoidea - A. x
diversifolia - A. frigida - A. fulgens - A. gracilis - A. griscomii - A. lanceolata - A. latifolia - A. lessingii - A. lonchophylla -
A. longifolia - A. mollis - A. montana - A. nevadensis - A. parryi - A. rydbergii - A. sachalinensis -
A. sororia - A. spathulata - A. unalaschcensis -
A. venosa - A. viscosa
Arnica L.
   | UVSC Herbarium - Arnica - UVU Virtual Herbarium |
| | Research Article - Homeopathic Arnica 30x is ineffective for muscle s...[Clin J Pain. 1998] - PubMed Result |
| | Arnica - Arnica Herb and Supplement Health Benefits, Side Effects |
| | American Botanical Council Web site - HerbalGram: The Journal of the American Botanical Council |
| | Arnica by Kent - Arnica Montana - Lectures on Homoeopathic Materia Medica by JAMES TYLER KENT |
| | Arnica by Hahnemann - ARNICA MONTANA - Materia Medica Pura - Dr. Samuel Hahnemann |
| | Arnica by Allen - Arnica Montana - Homeopathic Remedy Arnica, Homeopathy Medicine |
| | pdrhealth - Arnica | Herbal Remedies, Supplements | PDRHealth |
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