Arnicae flos

Yellow flowers of arnica.

Arnica flower extract from both Arnica montana and Arnica chamissonis. Arnica flower extract is the starting product of Tinctura arnicae.

Ingredients: essential oils, versch. Fatty acids, terpenes (e.g. azulene), sesquiterterpene lactones (especially helenalin), triterpenes (arnidiol), various types of thymol, paraffin. Thymol species , kerosenes; furthermore coumarins, caffeic acids, choline and flavonoids (astragalin).

Quality specified in the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.):

HMPC monograph: Traditional-use: bruises, sprains, local muscle pain ("sore muscles")
ESCOP monograph: External: bruises, sprains and inflammation due to insect bites; for gingivitis, aphthae; for symptomatic treatment of rheumatic complaints and muscle pain ("sore muscles").
Commission E-monograph: External: consequences of injuries and accidents, e.g. hematomas, sprains, contusions, bruises, fracture edema; rheumatic muscle and joint complaints. Inflammations of the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat; furunculosis and inflammations as a result of insect bites; superficial phlebitis.

Ingredients: Sesquiter

Only externally, always in dilution: Tinctura arnicae can be used for rubs or poultices for blunt traumas, bruises, muscle and joint pain, insect bites, thrombophlebitis, chronic venous insufficiency.

It is not recommended to use on open wounds.

Aphthae: Furthermore, arnica tincture in a 10% dilution is recommended for aphthae and non-specific periodontitis.
Internal: is not recommended: severe side effects may occur with sweating, gastro-enteritis, tachycardia, dyspnea to collapse.

Contact allergy (as with other asteraceae extracts), in higher concentrations also toxic contact dermatitis.

Allergy to daisy flowers,

Pregnancy and lactation, and children under 12 years of age in the absence of data.

1. Hausen BM et al. (1978) The sensitizing capacity of Compositae plants. I. Occupational contact dermatitis from Arnica longifolia Eaton. Contact Dermatitis 4:3-10.
2. Jimenez V et al. (2014) Natural sesquiterpene lactones induce programmed cell death in Trypanosoma cruzi: a new therapeutic target? Phytomedicine 21:1411-1418.
3. Merfort I (2011)Perspectives on sesquiterpene lactones in inflammation and cancer. Curr Drug Targets 12:1560-1573.
4. Usui K et al.(2015) Identification of HSP70-inducing activity in Arnica montana extract and purification and characterization of HSP70-inducers. J Dermatol Sci 78:67-75.
5. https://arzneipflanzenlexikon.info/arnika.php.
6. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/final-community-herbal-monograph-arnica-montana-l-flos_en.pdf
7. Wenigmann M. (2017) Phytotherapy medicinal drugs, phytopharmaceuticals, application. Urban & Fischer, pp.71-72
8. https://www.bundessortenamt.de/bsa/media/Files/BSL/bsl_arznei_2002.pdf
9. https://pflanzen.fnr.de/industrial-plants/medicinal-plants/pflanzen-datenbank.