Healing Gardens

 

Arnica chamissonis ssp. foliosa

Family Name: Aster

Family Name: arnica

Latin Name: Arnica latifolia

Common Names: mountain arnica, arnica Montana

Native American Names: Arnica / Arnica Montana / Leopard’s Bane / Common Arnica / Mountain Arnica / Mountain Daisy / Mountain Tobacco / Wolfsbane >

Related Species: sunflower,

Sitting With/Dreams/Sense of the Plant: interest in anti-inflammatory herbs

Body System Affiliations: LIST; Examples: Nervous System, Respiratory System, Urinary System, Cardio-vascular System; Digestive System; Muscular-skeletal System; Reproductive System; First Aid; Pediatrics; Skin

1. Anti-inflammatory, diaphoretic, Diuretic, emollient, Expectorant, stimulant, vulnerary.

2. Bruises, soreness, aching

Botanical Description:

Habit: middle to high elevations

Size: 20-60 cm inches

Arrangement:, Opposite

Leaves: basal leaves; oblong and short petioled, upper leaves; smaller sessile.

Flowers: 6-10cm, yellow orange, round and thin

Fruit: seed dispersal flowers

Twigs: dark brown root stock.

Underground Parts: tap root system

Personal Observation and Description: resembles a dandelion and a daisy

Ecology:

Habitat: middle to high elevations

Range, Montana Washington Oregon California high elevations.

Washington counties with arnica

• Klickitat
• Spokane
• Pend oreille
• Skamania
• Kittitas
• Pierce
• snohomish

Native Where: Washington

Ecological Relationships: If any discovered

<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Western (European-American) Uses/Relationships: arnica cream; Arniflora Gel (Boericke & Tafel), Arnica Massage Oil (Weleda), Arnicalm Arthritis (Boiron), Arnicalm Trauma (Boiron) and Arnicaid (Standard Homeopathic).

Food: not applicable

Materials/Technology: research is being conducted on the medicinal properties of the plant

Medicine: (Several species, such as Arnica montana and Arnica chamissonis contain helenalin, a sesquiterpene lactone that is a major ingredient in anti-inflammatory preparations (mostly against bruises).

Part Used: leaves and flowers

Medicinal Actions: anti-inflammitory

• Indications: Anti-inflammatory. Arnica has putative analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities.
• Burns
• Frostbite
• Chemical irritants
• Toxins
• Infections from pathogens

Body System Associations: inflammation

Constituents: OPTIONAL sesquiterpene lactone

Applications: poultice. Tincture can be used in dilute concentrations. Flower tea used as a compress.

Pharmacy: 1 tsp dried flowers/1half cup of boiling water. Use three times daily.

Other:

If you are using dried herbs, use a mortar and pestle to grind the herbs to a powder. Place the herbs in a bowl, and add enough warm water to make a thick paste that can be easily applied. Make a quantity sufficient to cover the affected area. The ratio of ground herbs to water will vary according to the herb being used. Add the water in small increments, just until the mixture is thick but not stiff.

Arrange a clean piece of gauze, muslin, linen, or white cotton sheeting on a clean, flat surface. The material should be large enough to cover the affected area completely. Spread the herbal paste over the cloth. Cleanse the affected area with hydrogen peroxide, and place the poultice over the area. Wrap a towel around the poultice to prevent the soiling of clothes or sheets. Use a pin or other fastener to secure the poultice in place. You can use a hot water bottle in order to keep a poultice warm.

 

If using fresh herbs for your poultice, place 2 ounces of the whole herb - about 1/2 cup - and 1 cup of water in a small saucepan. Simmer for 2 minutes. Do not drain.

Arrange a clean piece of gauze, muslin, linen, or white cotton sheeting on a clean, flat surface. The material should be large enough to cover the affected area completely. Pour the herbal solution over the cloth. Cleanse the affected area with hydrogen peroxide, and place the poultice over the area. Wrap a towel around the poultice to prevent the soiling of clothes or sheets. Use a pin or other fastener to secure the poultice in place.

Cautions: avoid areas with broken skin and eyes

Indigenous and Non-Western Use/Significance/Relationships: local to Washington and Montana.

Food: na

Materials/Technology: · Arnica cream applied to sore areas after the bath and massage will really enhance the healing effect.

· Arnica rub or massage oil may be used personally or by a masseuse and will provide great relief, whilst

· Arnica balm kept in sports bags (or handbags for wobbly toddlers!) is an instant treatment whilst on the go, and has been greatly appreciated by leading sports people with busy lives. Prompt use prevents complications caused by untreated injuries.

· Arnica Poultice for serious injuries deep in the tissue and particularly where the bruise is going purple and yellow can be applied hot and bandaged on to the injury for overnight treatment once the other steps described above have been taken.

Medicine:

Indigenous Group: pacific tribes with herbal knowledge

Part Used: leaves

REPEAT ABOVE AS NECESSARY FOR VARIOUS GROUPS

AND/OR PLANT PARTS.

OMIT CATEGORY TITLES FOR WHICH THERE IS NO

INFORMATION OR WRITE “NONE FOUND.”

Propagation: seed availability

Technique: garden cultivation

Harvest:

Personal Experience:

Food: none

Materials/Technology: arnica creme in the good life health foods store and at supermarket

Medicine: creme

Part Used: leaves

Desired Medicinal Actions: relieve pain from workout

Targeted Indications: back pain

Harvest: good life health foods

Site Location: none

Application/Preparation/Pharmacy:

Applications; helped

Pharmacy

Reason/Purpose better that other pain relievers

Experience treatment after 1 use was noticed

Cautions based on experience: avoid eyes

Drawings, Photographs or Pressings (NOTE: ONE ORIGINA

L DRAWING IS REQUIRED)

Cite sources as follows throughout the text, either (1:346) or (Pojar and Mackinnon 1994:346). 346 refers to the page number. Remember that the period FOLLOWS the ending parenthesis.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->1. <!--[endif]-->pojar, mackinnin. Plants of the pacific northwest coast washiongton, Oregon , british Columbia, and Alaska. C. 1994.;297

<!--[if !supportLists]-->2. <!--[endif]-->2. author Victoria Abreo http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art18374.asp

John d’Alelio - healing garden - spring - 2007