Arnica montana

Arnica montana is a perennial flowering herb native to the mountains of Central and Southern Europe. The plant bears yellow, daisy-like flowers and has been used since ancient times in folk medicine for bruises, injuries, and muscular pain. The principal active compound, helenalin, is toxic in large amounts and has a marked effect on the circulatory and muscular systems.

Proved by Samuel Hahnemann, and included in Materia Medica Pura (published c. 1811–1821). His provings confirmed its action on trauma, haemorrhage, and shock.

Arnica represents the body’s refusal to acknowledge injury—physical or emotional. The wounded warrior who says, “I’m fine,” despite bleeding and pain. The shock absorber of the Materia Medica, it brings comfort and rapid healing when the system is thrown out of alignment by trauma. It is the remedy of falls, blows, accidents, surgeries, emotional bruises, and overwork.

• Muscles and soft tissues
• Blood vessels and capillaries
• Circulatory system
• Head (post-concussion)
• Joints and extremities
• Mind (shock, trauma, denial of injury)

The Arnica patient is one of shock and denial. There is a deep conviction that “there is nothing the matter with me,” even in the face of obvious trauma or serious injury. Clarke described this mental state as “a refusal to be helped,” where the person insists they are well while clearly suffering. Kent observed that the Arnica state reflects both physical and emotional bruising: shock after accidents, trauma, or surgery, and even long-standing emotional blows. Fear of being touched or approached is pronounced. Boericke noted fear of death, especially from heart failure, yet the patient feigns health. Dreams may be filled with frightening events, falls, and past injuries. There is often irritability with a desire to be left alone and strong aversion to consolation.

Restless sleep characterised by tossing and turning. The patient may wake frequently, especially after trauma. Dreams often involve falling or the original injury reoccurring. Kent noted that sleep was disturbed by the sensation of the bed being too hard.

Dreams of injury, falling, robbery, or past traumatic experiences. Sleep is anxious and broken. Clarke noted dreams that repeat real-life trauma events.

Keynotes: bruised soreness, denial of illness, and worse from touch or movement. Complaints follow trauma, overexertion, or shock, whether physical or emotional. The bed feels too hard. Excellent for post-surgical healing, falls, accidents, and sports injuries.

Fever after injury, with coldness and soreness. Face may be hot while limbs are cold. Pulse is weak or rapid. Boericke described fevers where the patient says, “I am well,” despite obvious illness.

Chilly with shivering, alternating with heat. Sweat may be cold or clammy. Perspiration follows effort or fright.

A chief remedy for concussion, Arnica addresses both the acute and chronic consequences of head injury. Kent noted heaviness and dullness, with confusion and vertigo after blows. Head feels hot, bruised, and sore, as if it had been beaten. Clarke described a sensation of pressure inward, worse from movement. Post-concussion syndrome with memory problems, headache, and mood changes often respond well. The scalp may be tender to touch, and headaches appear after exertion, strain, or emotional shock.

Black eyes (ecchymosis) from trauma are classic indications. Pupils may be dilated after concussion. There is pain, soreness, and bruising around the orbits. Hering noted retinal haemorrhage and aching of the eyeballs. Vision may be blurred after shock or head injury.

Ringing in the ears following trauma, especially after blows to the head or whiplash. Hearing may be impaired post-injury. Boericke mentions a sense of fullness or buzzing.

Epistaxis (nosebleed) following injury or strain, especially from overexertion. Clarke recorded bruised, sore sensation over the nasal bridge, often following trauma.

Face is pale or blotchy, sometimes with cold sweat. There may be redness in spots, or it may alternate with pallor. Clarke noted twitching of facial muscles during fever or after injury. Injuries to the jaw or cheeks respond well.

Mouth may be dry with bitter taste. Clarke described soreness of the tongue and bleeding gums after dental work or trauma. The tongue may feel heavy and bruised.

Pain in teeth after trauma or extraction. Boericke mentioned loosening of teeth and soreness of gums. Pain is worse from chewing or clenching.

Soreness after straining the voice or swallowing bruised food. Clarke noted a raw, scraped sensation after injury. Often not a central sphere of action unless injured.

Chest feels bruised, sore, and heavy. Pain worsens with coughing or deep inspiration. Arnica is indicated after blunt trauma to the ribs or sternum. Kent noted that even the bed feels too hard, especially beneath the chest and shoulders.

Palpitations with fear or exertion. Clarke reported rapid, weak pulse after trauma or loss of blood. Arnica has an affinity for the myocardium in the aftermath of physical strain, overexertion, or emotional shock.

Shortness of breath after injury to the chest or abdomen. Breathing is shallow due to soreness of the thoracic muscles. Clarke noted dry, hacking cough post-concussion or trauma.

Loss of appetite with nausea after injury. Hering described vomiting of blood in cases of abdominal trauma. Aversion to food and fear of being fed, especially after shock or fright.

Abdominal bruising or soreness after a fall, blow, or surgery. Boericke described the abdomen as feeling hard and sensitive. Haemorrhagic tendency noted in abdominal organs, with distension.

Painful haemorrhoids after childbirth or straining. Stool may be involuntary, especially after injury or during sleep. Kent emphasised the bruised soreness around the anus.

Incontinence after fright or trauma. Clarke noted involuntary urination during sleep. Urine may be dark, even bloody, especially after injury to the abdomen or bladder.

Aversion to meat and milk. Desire for sour things in some cases. Appetite diminished after trauma or fright.

Testicular soreness or pain after injury. Kent observed contusions and bruised pains following trauma to the genitals. Erections may be suppressed after emotional or physical shock.

Soreness and bruised sensation in the pelvic region, especially after labour or miscarriage. Arnica is invaluable for the postpartum period, particularly when there is a reluctance to be touched or helped. Clarke mentioned uterine haemorrhage after trauma.

Back pain after falls, lifting, or blows. A leading remedy for spinal trauma or whiplash. Kent described bruised pain in the lumbar region and between the shoulder blades. Muscle stiffness and soreness dominate.

Soreness, bruising, and lameness are hallmarks. Arnica is the premier remedy for trauma to soft tissues, including sprains, strains, and overexertion. Boericke remarked: “As if beaten.” Kent emphasised that the limbs may tremble or feel paralysed after injury. Cramps and contusions are common.

Bruises that form easily or remain for a long time. Subcutaneous bleeding, ecchymosis, and trauma-induced cellulitis. Clarke mentioned pustular eruptions in some cases. Wounds feel sore, and skin is tender to touch.

• Ruta graveolens: Also for strains and bruises, but acts more on periosteum and ligaments.
• Hypericum perforatum: For nerve-rich areas or injuries with radiating pain.
• Bellis perennis: For deeper, visceral trauma and injuries to the abdomen or breast.
• Ledum palustre: For puncture wounds, especially if coldness predominates.
• Staphisagria: For surgical trauma and emotional insult, not physical bruising.

• Complementary: Bellis perennis, Ruta, Hypericum
• Antidotes: Camphor
• Inimical: Ferrum (in some texts)
• Follows well: Aconitum, Bryonia
• Precedes well: Rhus tox, Calcarea phos.

Always consider Arnica as the first remedy for any form of trauma—surgical, accidental, athletic, or emotional. Especially effective in 30C or 200C after falls or bruising. LM potencies useful in post-operative or prolonged trauma care. Use topically in low potency (e.g. 6X) for local application unless skin is broken.

Mind

• MIND – Says there is nothing the matter
• MIND – Fear of being touched
• MIND – Ailments from shock

Head

• HEAD – Injuries, after
• HEAD – Pain, from concussion

Extremities

• EXTREMITIES – Bruised feeling
• EXTREMITIES – Overexertion, after

Skin

• SKIN – Ecchymosis
• SKIN – Tenderness, after injury

Generalities

• GENERALITIES – Bed feels too hard
• GENERALITIES – Trauma, after
• GENERALITIES – Motion, aggravates

Samuel Hahnemann, Materia Medica Pura
James Tyler Kent, Lectures on Homoeopathic Materia Medica
John Henry Clarke, A Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica
William Boericke, Pocket Manual of Materia Medica
Constantine Hering, Guiding Symptoms of Our Materia Medica