What are the benefits and harms of arnica flower

 

What are the benefits and harms of arnica flower

 

Arnica flower is a flower belonging to the asteraceae family, and it is characterized by its anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, it has been used since ancient times in homeopathic medicine to relieve inflammation and treat muscle and joint pain. In this article, we will learn about the benefits and harms of using this flower.

 

The benefits of arnica flower

 The use of this flower depends on anecdotal evidence, and there is a need for many scientific studies that confirm the benefits of this flower. Below we will mention some of the most popular benefits of it:

1.       Reducing inflammation

This flower contains anti-inflammatory properties, but there are conflicting scientific studies conducted to prove the effectiveness of using this flower in reducing inflammation.

 

             For example, one study found that applying arnica flower gel contributed to reducing the pain                 associated with arthritis, and the effect of using this gel was similar to the effect of the anti-                     inflammatory drug ibuprofen, and another study found that eating 5 arnica flower pills for a                     month twice a day,

             On the other hand, the majority of scientific reports and studies indicated that the use of this                   flower is not effective in relieving pain and inflammation, especially when taken in the form of               pills, so it is necessary not to rely entirely on the use of products that contain this flower to                     reduce inflammation, without consulting a specialist doctor.

 

2.       Arnica for bruises

This benefit is similar to the previous one, in that there is a conflict between the results of scientific studies that dealt with the ability of this flower to reduce bruises, for example, one study concluded that using a gel containing 20% of this flower with some other ingredients such as vitamin K and retinol, contribute to alleviating small bruises. On the other hand, there are many scientific studies that indicated the ineffectiveness of using this flower in relieving bruises, knowing that most of these studies used a small amount of this flower, because as we mentioned at the beginning of the article, it is famous for using this flower in homeopathic medicine that focuses on relieving some materials and use a small amount of them to get the optimum result.

 

3.       Arnica flower for hair

There is a lot of anecdotal evidence that indicates the ability of this flower to prevent and treat hair loss and dandruff, in addition to reducing inflammation of the scalp due to the anti-inflammatory properties of this flower, through the use of hair care products that contain within its components this flower, whether oil or shampoo. Or a hydrogel which is a product that is 99% water.

 

Despite this anecdotal evidence, one study on a woman suffering from hair loss concluded that using this flower oil did not improve hair loss, and therefore there is a need for more scientific studies confirming the effectiveness of this flower in promoting hair health. Important note: As we mentioned, there is a contradiction in the results of scientific studies, which confirm the effectiveness of this medicinal flower, so it cannot be relied upon for any therapeutic purposes, without consulting a doctor.

 

 

Harms of arnica flower

 

There are a number of damages that may result from the use of this flower on the skin, or by mouth, and below we mention some of these damages:

 1.       Topical Use

             Overuse of this flower on the skin, especially on sensitive or broken skin, may cause allergic                   reactions and dermatitis.

             2.       By mouth

            there are a number of harms that may occur when taking the pills of this flower orally,                            including:

 

·         Sore mouth and throat.

·         stomachache.

·         diarrhea.

·         vomiting.

·         shortness of breath.

·         Bruising speed.

·         fast heartbeat

·         Hypertension.

·         The speed of bleeding, so the use of the products of this flower, two weeks before undergoing surgery, because it may increase bleeding before and after the operation.

In addition to the aforementioned harms, we warn against pregnant, breastfeeding or children eating any of the products of this flower or using it topically, because there are no scientific studies confirming the safety of its use for these groups, and a doctor should be consulted if it is used when taking some medicines to avoid its effect on the effectiveness of some medicines.