Our method
More and more people suffer from physical ailments, but do not want to immediately resort to chemical medicines. In recent years, homeopathy has undergone a major image change. Medicinal plants, which were ridiculed years ago, are increasingly finding their way into household pharmacies and are selling more than ever before. Whether bruises, inflammations, muscle pain or wounds, arnica can provide relief. Due to the healing effect of arnica, there are many different products that contain the active ingredients of the medicinal plant. We brought these with us to compare them and to work out important aspects.
Contents
Summary
- Arnica is available in a wide variety of consistencies, whether as an ointment, cream, tincture or to be taken as globules. You will find the product that suits you best.
- Arnica is mainly used for pain caused by blunt injuries, inflammations or skin rashes.
- As many products are purely herbal, without the addition of chemicals, they are also suitable for babies and small children.
The Best Arnica Products: Our Picks
Buying and evaluation criteria for arnica medicines
To make your next arnica product purchase decision easier, we have summarised the most important criteria so that you can find the best arnica product for you. These criteria are as follows:
Now we will explain what to look for in these criteria so that you can make a well-informed decision.
Dosage form
Since there are different dosage forms, it can be difficult to make a decision. Especially if the product is to be used on your own body. A distinction must be made between solid, semi-solid and liquid dosage forms, which have a decisive influence on the form of administration. If you prefer an external application, it is advisable to buy a semi-solid dosage form, such as an ointment, or a liquid form, such as a tincture.
Area of application
In the meantime, arnica is available in many different forms, which has greatly expanded the areas of application. Depending on the area of application, you should consider different forms of the remedy. As arnica has an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect, you can use it especially for blunt injuries, rheumatism, inflammation of the mouth and throat, and inflammation after insect bites.
Age limit
There are different types of medicine, which also have different age limits. Roughly speaking, these age limits can be divided into three age groups. If you want to use arnica on babies or toddlers, products that do not have an age limit are particularly suitable. Other products, on the other hand, should only be used on toddlers over the age of one or on children over the age of twelve.
Prescription
As there are now many different ways of using arnica, the range of medicines containing arnica is increasing enormously. In the meantime, you will not only find prescription-free medicines containing arnica, but also more and more prescription-only products. If you want to use arnica without consulting a doctor first, various ointments and creams from the drugstore or globules containing extracts of the medicinal plant are particularly suitable.
Active ingredient
Due to the large number of medicines that contain arnica, the active ingredients of the individual products also differ. You should take this into account when deciding which product to buy, especially if the person who wants to use arnica has known intolerances to various active ingredients. The most common active ingredients are sesquiterpene lactones, helenalin, flavonoids, essential oils, bitter substances and tannins.
Guide: Frequently asked questions about arnica answered in detail
What is Arnica?
Arnica not only proves itself on humans, but is also regularly used on animals. Due to its neutral smell and taste, arnica can be used without being perceived as unpleasant.
What types of arnica are there?
- Ointment
- Cream
- Gel
- Oils
- Globules
- Tea
In addition to medicinal products, some cosmetic products containing the active ingredients of arnica, such as bath additives or hand creams, have also proven themselves on the market in recent years. Which type is ultimately suitable for you depends on the one hand on your preferred application, but also on the hoped-for effect.
How much does an arnica product cost?
| Price range | Available products |
|---|---|
| Low-priced (0,50 - 3 €) | Bath salts, teas, hand cream |
| Medium-priced (3 - 7 €) | Ointments, gels, creams of well-known brands such as Kneipp and Klosterfrau as well as products of the own brands of the drugstore chains dm and Rossmann |
| High-priced (from 9 €) | globules, products of the brands Weleda and Dulà |
As you can see, you can get high-quality arnica products for little money. If you are more interested in a more concentrated composition of ingredients, you will find many helpful products in the medium-priced segment that can alleviate your complaints.
How should arnica be dosed?
Conclusion
To treat blunt injuries, inflammations or other physical complaints as naturally and gently as possible, arnica medicines are the optimal solution. Due to the many different types of products and thus the different application possibilities, there is something for everyone. In addition to the comprehensive effects of arnica, another advantage of the medicinal plant is that it avoids the use of chemically compounded products. When deciding which products to buy, however, your personal preferences and the area of application play a major role.
Picture source: Karolina Grabowska/ Pexels
