Arnica is one of the best-known medicinal plants from traditional naturopathy. The plant from the order Asterales (Asterales) also has a decorative look to offer, which makes it quite attractive for cultivation in the garden.

Arnica has been used as a medicinal plant for thousands of years

The importance as a traditional medicinal plant

Arnica has been described as an effective natural medicine by important people (such as Hildegard von Bingen) for several centuries. A wide variety of trivial names for arnica have therefore become regionally established throughout Europe over the centuries:

  • Bergwohl rental
  • angel weed
  • dyer flower
  • mountainroot
  • mountain path wide
  • lady's wort
  • catchweed
  • motherwort
  • Wulfbloeme
  • etc.

Arnica is not only one of the so-called Marian plants, which play a role in the consecration of herbs on the Assumption of Mary. Arnica bouquets were also traditionally planted at the corners of crop fields where the beneficial arnica fly (Trypeta arnica) could lay their eggs. Arnica is said to have positive effects on the following health problems:

  • inflammation
  • to cough
  • flu
  • diarrhea
  • rheumatism
  • bruises
  • poorly healing wounds
  • etc.

Internal use is vehemently discouraged for self-dosing, but allergic skin irritation can also occur with external use.

Characteristics of Arnica

  • Name: Arnica
  • Botanical name: Arnica montana
  • Plant family: daisy family (Asteraceae)
  • preferred soil: acidic pH
  • Growth height: between 30 and 60 cm
  • Lifespan: perennial
  • Flower color: yellow
  • Leaf shape: oblong
  • Flowering time: approximately from May to September (depending on location)

Grow arnica yourself in the garden

For cultivation in the garden for medicinal purposes, you should get real arnica seeds if possible, since the varieties bred for industrial cultivation usually contain less high concentrations of active ingredients. Due to the toxic components in the arnica plants, you should only use them as an external preparation for muscle and joint problems anyway. In terms of location, the plants are relatively undemanding as long as there is no strong competition from neighboring plants. It can be sown under glass from February and outdoors from May. However, the flowers often do not appear until the third year after the seeds have been sown.

tips

Collecting arnica for personal use is not permitted everywhere, as the plant is protected in various countries. Cultivation in the garden is an alternative, as care can be taken to ensure that cultivation is free of any contamination.

Category:

Herbs