Arnica

Arnica montana

Arnica Carrier Oil comes from a perennial plant scientifically known as Arnica montana. You may also find it called other names including wolf’s bane, leopard's bane, mountain daisy, mountain tobacco and mountain arnica. Found in the mountainous areas of Siberia, Central Europe and temperate climates of North America, the plant produces yellow, daisy-like flowers.

In Cosmetics, Arnica Carrier Oil is used in hair tonics and anti-dandruff preparations. Arnica oil is used in perfumes and is common in massage oils to help relieve sprains and bruises, muscle aches, joint pain, inflammation and swelling. It's common in burn creams and other topical applications for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, which can also be beneficial in skincare and eye creams to decrease puffiness. 

The flowers of Arnica traditionally were used for pain caused by osteoarthritis, sore throat and other conditions. Arnica is also used for bleeding, bruising, swelling after surgery, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. Arnica can be unsafe when taken by mouth. 

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  • Studied Properties
  • Common Uses

Studied Properties

SPECIFICATIONS

APPEARANCE      Yellow to brown liquid
ODOUR              Characteristic slight odor  
SPECIFIC GRAVITY @20°C     0.900 to 0.930
REFRACTIVE INDEX @20°C    1.460 to 1.480
FLASHPOINT                         250°C

 

GENERAL CHEMICAL COMPOSITION

The main chemical constituents of Arnica Oil are:

2,5 dimethoxy-p-cymene cumene
thymol methyl ether
2,6 disopropylanisole
decanal
1,2,3 tetramethylcyclopent-3-enol

ALLERGENS: No known allergens.

Common Uses

As well as being used in skincare and hair care Arnica oil is used in topical applications for the pain and swelling associated with bruises, sprains, pulls, muscle aches, and even arthritis. It helps to boost circulation and speed up the healing process.

Helps alleviate pain:
Arnica is a popular holistic treatment for body pain caused by trauma, surgery or inflammation. A study on marathon runners showed that those who took arnica experienced a lower level of muscle soreness immediately after a run compared to those who took placebo pills. Other research has demonstrated that arnica is an effective alternative to NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) for post-traumatic and post-operative pain management.

Decreases swelling:
Arnica is well-known for its use in reducing edema, especially when it’s caused by sprain, muscle strain, insect bites or broken bones.

Relieves osteoarthritis:
Arnica appears to be helpful in managing common osteoarthritic symptoms such as pain and joint stiffness. Research has found that daily application of arnica gel was as effective as ibuprofen gel for pain relief and hand function

Promotes bruise healing:
Arnica aids in speeding up the healing process for bruises. It is believed to stimulate the production of white blood cells which help to clear out congested blood and fluids from the affected area. Plastic surgeons have found it helpful for reducing bruising after cosmetic surgical procedures. Bruising not associated with physical trauma is not likely to respond to arnica. Such bruising should be evaluated by a healthcare professional as it can be caused by a wide variety of medical conditions.

Relieves skin conditions:
As an antioxidant, arnica can provide relief for those with conditions like acne, eczema and psoriasis. It’s also an effective moisturizing agent. While pure arnica montana extract should not be applied to the skin, arnica can be mixed with a carrier oil or cream to manage dry skin.

Haircare:
Used in haircare to clear away built up oils, kill bacteria on the scalp and to treat dandruff. Also used for hair loss by extending the life of your hair by strengthening the proteins in hair strands, improving the health the hair follicle and preventing split ends.