Mountain arnica

Genus Arnica presented on the globe 32 species of herbaceous plants, of which 8 species grow in our country. Arnica mountain - and low perennial plant of the family Astrov, with broad leaves. Stem ends in one large orange and yellow basket.

Arnica grows in the meadows, coniferous and beech forests and mountain meadows. Found in the Carpathians, Western Ukraine, the Baltics. Harvest flower baskets at the beginning of flowering is dried in the shade under the canopy, the highest yield of essential oil is produced from raw materials, dried by freezing.

First described this herb Hilde-garde (1098-1179), Abbess of Bingen, near Rupertsberga and she felt her grass against contusions and bruises. In the Renaissance Italian Mattioli contributed to the spread of arnica in treating injuries. It is interesting to note that the Marquise de Sevigne (Paris, 1626 - 1696, the author of "Letters to his daughter and other works), fond of medicine, also pointed to the use of arnica in the" water of injuries "(the water was an extract from arnica, letters and milkweed).

plant was known in antiquity. Dioscorides gave the name of the mountain arnica - ptarmika "as an old folk remedy for wounds and bruises. In the XVII century as a result of distortion of the word there was "arnica". Some authors associate the word "arnica" the Greek "arnikos" or "ary" (lamb) because of the flowers, equipped with a hairy pappus, which when dried flower attached to a fluffy appearance. Russian name is also associated with the appearance of dried flowers - Barannik. As a sedative used in Western Europe as early as XI Century.

Arnica contain arnitsini, tannins, essential oil, organic acids, sugars and other substances. In folk medicine used as a styptic and anti-inflammatory agent, gives a good effect, and as a choleretic. External used for contusions and bruises, carbuncles and abscesses, and as a means of distraction. Assign as tinctures, infusions and ointments.

mountain arnica in our days has been widely used in cosmetics. Decoction of the flowers in the form of compresses treat bruises of various etiologies, when used in bruises, wounds and skin burns, used as a styptic. Similarly, the plant is used in foreign countries - Bulgaria, Poland, Austria and others are widely used in homeopathy.

Along with the mountain arnica used Chamisso arnica, which is found in the Far East, and the American view - leafy arnica. Both species are cultivated. Its quite easy to grow in home gardens. Seed reproduction in plants is rare, mainly propagated vegetatively