The plant
Arnica belongs to the asteraceae, previously the compositae. It has a beautiful yellow flower. The flower is a bit disturbed, the petals are not nicely arranged, as if the flower has been damaged, injured. In homeopathy, this is exactly the state of someone who needs arnica.
In Dutch, we call it ‘fall-herb’. The word says it all. It has been used in herbal medicine for many years. It still has a high reputation for bruises, the person has a bruised, sore feeling as if they have been beaten all over. The bruises are usually blue or black.
A person who needs arnica is usually injured at the soft tissues, just under the skin.
Arnica is probably the most used homeopathic remedy and it is often the first remedy that someone knows when starting to learn homeopathy. However, arnica is not a cure-all and like any other remedy, for it to act homeopathically, the person’s symptoms need to match the symptoms of the remedy. Homeopathically means that if arnica creates certain symptoms in a healthy person, it can cure the same symptoms in a diseased individual.
Very characteristic for arnica is the state of the person, holding themselves strong, even if they have been severely hurt. You might see someone who had a serious blow to their head and they will say that they are okay. DON’T TOUCH ME, I AM FINE.
The person has difficulty to be comfortable when lying in bed and can complain that the bed is too hard.
Arnica is very useful in accidents, especially head concussions or other head injuries and also during giving birth. It reduces swelling and speeds healing of damaged tissue.
Arnica is a poisonous plant. By using it in a homeopathic potency higher than 12C, there is no risk of poisoning.
