Arnica montana
Arnica (Arnica montana)
The Real arnica (Arnica montana), among others, called Bergwohlverleih, is a plant of about 30 species of the genus Arnica in the sunflower family ( Asteraceae). It is a nature reserve.
The Real arnica was elected to the flower of the year in 1986 and medicinal plant of the year 2001.
Description
Arnica is an aromatic scented, perennial herbaceous plant, reaching heights of growth of about 20 to 60 cm. The glandular hairy stem is branched once or at most wenigästig and usually has a constant compared to two, rarely three pairs of true leaves. This is an exception within the daisy family. The basal leaves are arranged in rosettes and ovate to lanceolate and entire. The leaves are four to seven annoying and hairy.
The mostly solitary bloom conditions have a diameter of about 4.5 to 8 cm. Inflorescence bottom is hairy. You have yolk yellow tubular flowers and much annoying, orange-yellow ray florets.
The chromosome number is 2n = 38
Ecology
Arnica is a perennial, aromatic scented half- rosette plant with storage rhizome.
Its flowers are members of the "basket flower type". The female florets are yellow colored orange by the carotenoids, lutein and xanthophylls; as well as the hermaphrodite florets. They smell aromatic. Pollinators are different insects; also self-pollination takes place. Bloom time is from June to August.
The fruits are achenes with a 1 -piece rough Pappus, the spreads in dry conditions. They spread as Schirmchenflieger and water Hafter, even random dispersal by grazing animals take place. Fruit ripening is from August to October
Occurrences and locations
The distribution area includes the Alps, the Pyrenees to the Balkans and a northern spread to southern Scandinavia and the Baltic. The flowering period lasts in central Europe from May to August. Arnica preferably acidic and lean meadows and is lime-intolerant. They are also found in sparse forests. It is found from the valley at altitudes of 2800 m.
Threats and conservation
In Belgium, Luxembourg, Croatia and in Bosnia and Herzegovina Arnica is threatened with extinction, the Netherlands and Belarus gradually arnica as endangered one. In Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Romania, and in Kaliningrad (Russia), the species is considered endangered and is on sale in Germany on the Red List of Threatened Species on level 3 as " near threatened " the plant in Norway and Denmark is classified. In Austria, there is now not assume a risk.
By breeding efforts, it is now possible to develop a variety named ' Arbo ' of Arnica montana, which is suitable for field cultivation, so that the wild deposits can be spared.
Arnica as a medicinal plant
Ingredients and effects
Arnica flowers contain essential oil, flavonoids and sesquiterpene lactones which have anti-inflammatory and antiseptic. Here are the main active ingredients in esterified form in particular Helenalin and dihydrohelenalin esters known. Plants in central European regions contain more Helena Line, in the Spanish room dominate Dihydrohelenaline. In addition, acting (in the form of esters and ethers ), hydroxycoumarins, Phenylacrylsäuren and immunostimulatory polysaccharides were identified in arnica flowers among others still thymol.
Helenalin or Dihydrohelenalinester antibacterial and anti-arthritic. This can also reduce an inflammatory response. In addition, the flavonoids and Triterpendiole contained in arnica - for external use - also act anti-inflammatory.
Because of the toxicity of the Helenalins or the Diyhdrohelenalins tinctures and extracts of Arnica flowers should not be used as self-medication internally. Arnica flowers in tea can also lead to poisoning. Moreover, it is an internal application because of the narrow therapeutic inadvisable. An oral application should be rejected. In the mouse as a model organism is known that excessive doses lead to dihydrohelenalin to cardiac arrest. Helena Line can have a damaging effect on the heart.
If an external application allergic reactions can be caused (itching, rashes, blistering, allergic contact eczema, contact dermatitis). Helenalin and its esters are sensitizing and allergenic so. The foliage may cause skin irritation due to the Arnicin mentioned extract.
Use
The ancient writers as a medicinal plant Arnica was not known. Probably the earliest mention is found in Hildegard of Bingen. The plant referred to her as " Wolfsgelegena " it could be the arnica. From the 18th century arnica was actually used for ailments and diseases. The range of applications was far -ranging, in addition to bruises and general injuries also varicose veins, phlebitis, gout and rheumatism were treated. Also, found a use rather than as an analeptic and stimulant. Frequently, it has also been misused as an abortifacient.
Today, arnica is used for external application in case of injuries and rheumatic muscle and joint problems. The application is approved and clinically proven.
In external use most frequently (alcoholic ) tincture is made. This means most sesquiterpene lactones go into solution. Water-based you can also use an aqueous extract, which reach 75 % of the sesquiterpene lactones in solution. Tinctures or extracts for external use are antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory. Arnica arnica ointments or gels can achieve a therapeutic effect even in venous insufficiency.
Since the inner application is not approved, many Teepräparate were taken off the market. For external use only these are allowed, but not for continuous use. Here Arnica flowers were scalded with boiling water and sieved. Nowadays, tea making facilities, however, is not so common.
Especially in homeopathy arnica powers are often used in wounds. Numerous scientific studies could not detect any effect that these preparations.
As a drug, the following components are used:
- Arnica montana flower ( flos Arnicae, Arnicae Flores, Flores Calendulae alpinae, Flores Plantagines montanae, Ptarmicae Flores, Flores Alismae, Flos Arnicae ); Arnica flowers ( Alpine Aster flowers, mountain root flowers, blood flowers, angels flowers, angels herb Gamsblumen, Case herb flowers, arnica flowers, flowers Wolf ), the dried, whole or partially decayed inflorescence or flower head.
- Arnicae herba ( Arnicae folium, folia Arnicae, Herba Arnicae, Herba Doronicae germanici ); Arnica ( Arnica leaves, angels herb herb case, Gamskraut, arnica herb), in May before flowering collected, dried basal leaves, the stems are almost free in the trade.
- Arnicae radix ( Arnicae rhizoma, radix Arnicae, Radix Doronici germanici, Rhizoma Arnicae ); Arnica root ( Bergwohlverleih root, Lovage, random root, arnica root), the dried " rhizome " by the roots.
Extraction
Since it is difficult to grow arnica in larger quantities for the production of remedies, "wild" collected flowers are used in large quantities for the production of about arnica oils of natural remedies manufacturers. The company Weleda about deriving a large part of their annual requirement of 1300 kg dried " arnica " of the Romanian Carpathians.
Because of the difficulties in growing the North American meadow arnica (Arnica chamissonis Less ssp. Foliosa ( Nutt. ) Mag ) has since been used but contains less ingredients.
Arnica in superstition
Hildegard of Bingen leads the plant " wolfesgelegena " as a powerful aphrodisiac, mostly, but probably wrongly, is interpreted as arnica. She wrote: " When a man or a woman glows in love, then when someone touches him or on the skin with Wolfesgelegena, the wetted in love for the other burn, and when the herb is dried up, then be man or woman by the ardor almost rabid, so that they eventually become nonsensical. "
Arnica is one of the old magic plants, whereupon some common names suggest, for example, thunder Wurz, Wolf Banner, locust flower. As a bright yellow flowering plant they played earlier in the cult of the summer solstice a role. Many of these pagan customs then went over to the folk tradition. So, for example, were on St. John, so June 24, the day of the solstice, collected flowers as particularly curative.
On the eve of St. John tags inserted farmers arnica bouquets at the corners of their fields of grain. This should be the " Bilmesschnitter " stop them from destroying the crops. This was a corn demon and especially enjoyed going to the time of the summer solstice the fields of corn and put there the stalks to. This superstition is based on but probably good observation, because on arnica arnica plant stores the fly ( Trypeta arnica ), a Getreidenützling the eggs.
In some areas, arnica is also among the flowers which belonged to the bouquet of herbs consecration to Mary of the Assumption, August 15. This Arnica is one of the Marie plants. Maybe she was already assigned in pre-Christian times the mother goddess Freyja (or Freia ).
Special
Arnica has been previously added to the snuff, because the dried leaves irritated the nasal mucosa. Together with coltsfoot and mullein flowers Arnica was smoked as herbal tobacco.
Arnica is the main component of the brand image of the Thuringian Forest. Here arnica comes to the mountain meadows particularly common.
On October 15, appeared in 1975 as part of the annual output Wohlfahrtsmarken a picture of Arnica as a motif ( Michel-Nr. 511).
Trivial names
For Arnica montana L., a number of trivial names are known: Bergwohlverleih, angel herb case herb force Wurz, wound herb Wolf Flower, Arnica flower ( English), Leopard 's bane (English ), mountain tabacco ( English), Fleur d' arnica ( French)
In the German-speaking area or have been for this species, some only regionally, also more trivial names used: mountain paths Wide, Alpine Aster ( Stauf at Leiningen ), blood drive ( Silesia), Cathreinwurz ( Fusch in the Pinzgau region ), Angel herb ( Alsace ), Angel Potion ( Prussia, Lausitz), dyers flower ( Augsburg), Case herb ( Thuringia, Silesia, Swabia, Zittau ), Fallkrut ( Rendsburger pharmacy) fire Flower (Eifel, Kelberg ) Fruen Melkkrut, Gehannesblaume, Gemsblume (Bernese Oberland), Gemschenwurz, Gemschwurze (Bern), dogbane (Silesia ), locust flower ( Alsace, Thuringia ), large yellow locust flower ( Fichtelgebirge, Silesia), geel St. John flowers, St. John's wort ( Bavaria, Alsace ), locust sausages, power Rosen ( Carinthia ), power Wurz (Lungau ), caustic herb, great Luca herb, St. Luciuskraut (Alsace ), Marie herb Marie potion Münch cap, Münch root, lovage, short flower ( Entlibuch ), Schmeer flowers, Schneeberger ( Bröttigau in Grisons ), Schnupftabacksbleum (Eifel, near Nuremberg, Wössleinbach ) Sonnerwirbel (Alsace ), Ster flower ( Graubünden), star anise (Graubünden), stitch herb ( Silesia, Rendsburger pharmacy) Verfangkraut, Waldbleum, wild plantain ( at Pregellern in the collars ), dat Wohverlei (Tirol ), Wolferley ( East Prussia ), wolf ( middle Low German ), Wolfi ( middle Low German ), Wolffelein ( East Prussia, already mentioned in 1590 ), Wolfilegia ( Old High German ), Wolf Blome ( Rendsburger pharmacy), Wolf thistle ( middle High German ), Wolfzeilisa ( Old High German ), Wollvor ( in Mecklenburg ), Wolv (Danzig, Saxony ), Wolverley (Silesia, middle High German ), Wolves thistle ( middle High German ), Wolvestisteln ( Old High German ), Wolveszeiseln ( Old High German ), Wolveszeisil ( Old High German ), Wolveszeisiln ( Old High German, zeisiln within the meaning of tail), Wolvisgelegena, Wulferley (Mecklenburg), Wulfsblöme ( Ostfriesland), Wullvorley (Mecklenburg), Wulverling and Wulwesblaume (Göttingen).