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Arnica montana (also known as leopard's bane, wolf's bane, mountain tobacco and mountain arnica), is a European flowering plant with large yellow capitula.
Distribution and habitat
A. montana is endemic to Europe, from southern Iberia to southern Scandinavia and the Carpathians. It is absent from the British Isles and the Apennine and Balkan Peninsulae. A. montana grows in nutrient-poor silcaceous meadows up to nearly 3000 m. It is rare overall, but may be locally abundant. It is becoming rarer, particularly in the north of its distribution, largely due to increasingly intensive agriculture. In more upland regions, it may also be found on nutrient-poor moors and heaths.
Form
A. montana has tall stems (20–60 cm), supporting usually a single flower head. Most of the leaves are in a basal rosette, but one or two pairs may be found on the stem and are, unusually for composites, opposite. The flower heads are yellow, approximately 5 cm in diameter, and appear from May to August.
Medicinal uses
This plant is often used as remedy in herbal medicine. When the plant is in flower, the entire plant is used. An infusion of the leaves, used externally, is used as a treatment for bruising and sprains, but should not be used on broken skin, as it may lead to irritation. A cream or diluted tincture may be applied to treat alopecia.
Toxicity
When taken internally, Arnica montana in its pure form does not function as a remedy. When prepared properly, and taken in the prescribed manner, A. montana, can be taken internally to reduce swelling and bruising associated with plastic surgery. Be aware that it must be prepared properly because the plant in its pure form contains compounds that, if ingested, inhibit liver function in the human body which, in turn, causes death in most cases. Because of these internal effects, Arnica was once used as a means of assassination. Countermeasures to accidental ingestion include carbon or charcoal ingestion to absorb traces of the toxins in the digestive tract and the ingestion of liquids to dilute the concentration of toxins.
External links and references
- http://botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/a/arnic058.html
- http://healthyherbs.about.com/od/monographs/p/arnica.htm
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"Arnica montana"