Arnica oil extract

  Dear readers and friends,

Today I present to you a practical herbal article regarding the oily extract of Arnica that can be added to your  pharmacy for home use. 

As in any herbal preparation with more  or less known herbs, it is always better to go to a herbalist's shop to buy them unless you are an expert and you have a healthy place to collect them.

Hydroglycolic extracts for external use

With this method it is possible to obtain both the part of active ingredients soluble in water (such as tannins, mineral salts) and the part soluble in alcohol (such as essential oils). A typical example is the propolis extract in this form which, although a little less concentrated than the normal alcoholic extract, has its validity for people who cannot stand alcohol, for children, in cases of delicate skin, etc.

Oil extracts

They are also called "digests". It is a maceration, normally in sunflower oil (other times sesame or olive oil) at a warm temperature (about 60°C) of the suitable plant. They are normally used for external use for applications, massages, etc.

This type of preparation can also be made at home, with a little care and precision, in order to have a small "home-use pharmacy". Arnica has always been known for its anti-inflammatory properties and for this reason it is used externally in the treatment of hematomas, bruises  , edema  from  trauma and in the treatment of muscle, joint and rheumatic disorders, but not only. Arnica is used against  insect bites ,  furunculosis  and  phlebitis .

In the  homeopathic field , arnica is used as a remedy against inflammatory disorders of  muscular ,  tendon  or skeletal origin and for the treatment of bruises, sprains, traumas,  strains ,  tears ,  ecchymoses  and hematomas. Furthermore, in homeopathy, arnica is used to promote  wound healing  and to counteract  capillary fragility .

Arnica oil extract

How to prepare a 20% arnica extract.

• Weigh 100 g of dry arnica purchased in herbal medicine. Put it in a wide-mouthed glass container (for example a 1 liter jar for jams) with an airtight seal. 
• Add 500 ml of almond or sesame oil. The jar must have the opening not completely closed. Place in a bain-marie container so that the water almost reaches it the brim  of the liquid contained in the vase. 
• Heat over a very low flame for 2 hours: the ideal would be to have a special thermometer that indicates the temperature of 60°C. 
• Still in the hermetically sealed container, expose to light for 1 week. Filter through a funnel with two or three layers of fine gauze or thick fabric. 
• Finally,  introduce  the arnica flowers macerated in the oil into the funnel and  place a weight on top of it for the whole night in order to "squeeze out" everything. 
• The filtrate must be placed in a dark glass bottle (or in any case in the dark). 

This preparation is truly effective in all cases of bruises, bruises, sprains in which cases it should be applied to the painful area in the morning and evening with a light massage. Wrap with a light elastic band or gauze so as not to dirty the laundry. Arnica oil made this way is more concentrated than commercially available preparations. It keeps for many months.

Be careful to place it out of the reach of children because it should not be used internally or on small wounds or abrasions, but on intact skin.

Our partnership company Green Weez offers two very interesting articles in this regard:  Crema Alla Arnica   and  Arnica Ointment 40%  very good and organic, for those who do not have time to prepare their own version at home.