Arnica Montana Pills

Does the name wolf's bane ring a bell of familiarity? Well, Arnica montana, also known as A. Montana, is the scientific name for wolf's bane! This mostly wild flowering plant is also known by various other (some, pretty interesting!) names such as leopard's bane, mountain tobacco and mountain arnica. Arnica montana is native to the Northern and parts of North eastern Europe and can be found thriving abundantly in the regions of Southern Iberia, Southern Scandinavia and the mountainous Carpathian locales. Arnica montana and its extracts are well-known ingredients of herbal and homeopathic medicines for relieving pain and arresting inflammation. Arnica montana pills are commercially available these days and their benefits, toxicity, dosage and side effects are discussed in the subsequent paragraphs.

Arnica Montana Benefits

Its content of flavonoids and sesquiterpene lactones like helenalin make Arnica montana an excellent remedy for relieving pain and inflammation! Arnica montana pills are often used by professional athletes to arrest muscular pain brought on by sprains, strains and sports injuries. The thymol derivatives found in Arnica montana roots, as shown by studies, are excellent vasodilators which act by widening subcutaneous capillaries to facilitate smooth blood circulation in the affected area. Due to these reasons, there are a lot of areas of biological discomfort upon which Arnica montana generously bestows its beneficial endowments. The scope of Arnica's benefits are as follows:-

• Arnica montana pills are known to be effective oral medications for relieving muscular pains and decreasing recovery time. Arnica oil, Arnica gel and Arnica cream provide fast relief to local pain and swelling due to sprains and muscular strains.
• Arnica montana extracts are also known to provide relief from swellings, rashes and bumps caused by insect bites.
• The anti bacterial properties of Arnica montana are harnessed in the form of Arnica tablets to treat bacterial infections.
• Appropriate Arnica montana dosage during pregnancy and labor is known to ease labor pain leading to a more comfortable delivery.
• Many homeopathic preparations for skin conditions include Arnica montana extracts to treat scars and damaged skin tissues.

Arnica Montana Side Effects

Too much of a good thing may do more harm than good and this axion applies to Arnica montana as much as it does to everything else in the world! Arnica montana is a pretty potent herb and the helenalin content can act as a toxin in the body if not taken in correct doses! It is, therefore, usually advised not to orally consume Arnica montana preparations unless as a homeopathic preparation where the actual ingredients, therefore their effects, are diluted many times their actual strength! If ingested without proper supervision and in high doses, Arnica montana pills side effects may manifest as adverse biological symptoms like gastroenteritis! The following list includes the various Arnica side effects and adverse reactions that can be seen on toxic contact with the Arnica montana plant or its extracts:-

• Skin irritations and skin rashes, sometimes eczema, if topical application is continued for long periods
• Stomach ulcer and mouth ulcers
• Miscarriages (due to its uterus stimulating properties, Arnica montana side effects may include miscarriages and pregnancy complications if not taken under medical supervision)
• Nausea, vomiting and loose motions
• Bleeding of the digestive tract
• Vital organ damage owing to long-term use
• Arnica can worsen the condition of diabetic patients and those on anticoagulant medications by increasing bleeding

As we can see from the above discussion regarding Arnica montana benefits and side effects, this potent herb should not be used for medicinal purposes unless prescribed by a registered medical practitioner or under strict medical supervision. Popping in an Arnica montana pill every time you stretch a muscle or twist an ankle may prove more baneful (no wonder it is recognized as the bane of two animals - wolf and leopard! Poor creatures, they must have chewed up some Arnica stalks randomly and suffered the consequences thereafter!) than beneficial if consumed in a fit of self medication!