The real arnica (Arnica montana) used to play a role not only in natural medicine, but also as a spiritually significant magic herb. As a result, the plant was almost eradicated in many areas of Central Europe.

The flowers of the meadow buffalo look confusingly similar to arnica

The historical confusion of arnica

Although arnica was probably already used as a medicinal herb in Celtic and Germanic times, most of the evidence in medieval sources probably refers to other plants. For example, Hildegard von Bingen in her "Physica" is said to have not meant the arnica with the wolf nest, but rather a spurge plant. Various sources from the 16th century probably confused arnica with other plants. For example, Alisma is the water plantain or the frog's spoon herb. These other plants have often been misattributed to have the medicinal benefits that, when carefully dosed, have been attributed to arnica.

Optical doubles of the arnica plant

There are various plant species in Central Europe with which arnica can sometimes be confused:

  • willow-leaved elecampane (Inula salicina)
  • the sword-leaved elecampane (Inula ensifolia)
  • Orange hawkweed (Hieracium aurantiacum)
  • the meadow goat's beard (Tragopodon pratensis)
  • the ox-eye or ox-eye (Buphtalmum salicifolium)

Arnica is therefore often confused with other plants, as it resembles numerous other plants with its yellow flowers. However, real arnica does not have to be confused with other plant species for dangerous effects to occur when used: after all, the toxic effect of arnica is so strong that it is no longer approved for internal use.

Determine the real arnica safely

The real arnica resembles a number of other plants with its flowers, which are typical of daisy family plants, but connoisseurs can still identify the plant relatively clearly visually. In Central Europe, arnica usually blooms between May and August. The cup-shaped inflorescences usually have a diameter of 4 to 8 cm. 14 to 17 multi-veined ray florets attach around the tubular florets. The leaves are hairy in arnica and (in contrast to, for example, oxeye) opposite. The leaves are arranged in a rosette form and are ovate to lanceolate. The aromatic scent, which does not occur in this form in willow-leaved elecampane, is also characteristic of the blossoms of arnica.

tips

The cultivation of arnica for medicinal purposes is quite controversial nowadays, since the dosage on your own can cause big problems and lead to severe poisoning. Therefore, tinctures and extracts for external use are better bought in specialist shops.

Category:

Herbs