Recipe
Arnica infused oil
- Herb:
- Arnica Arnica montana
- Method:
- Herbal oil
- Plant part:
- Flower
About 20 minBeginnerRecipe science profile
Procedure
- Put dried arnica flower heads into a clean, dry jar and cover fully with oil (about 1 : 5).
- Stand the jar in a water bath for 2–3 hours at 40–50 °C, or close it and leave in a warm place out of the sun for 3–4 weeks, shaking daily.
- Strain through cloth, squeeze well and pour into a dark bottle. Label 'arnica — external use only'.
- Rub a small amount into intact skin over a bruise or strained muscle, for a few days at most.
Extraction
- Herb:
- 1 part dried flower heads to 5 parts oil by volume
- Solvent:
- vegetable oil (olive, sunflower); warm maceration for 2–3 h or cold maceration for 3–4 weeks
- Shelf life:
- 6–12 months in a dark bottle in a cool place
- Target compounds:
- lipophilic sesquiterpene lactones (helenalin) and essential oil enter the oil
Notes
External use only. Do not apply to broken skin or if you are allergic to the daisy family (chamomile, yarrow). Stop if redness or itching appears.
Why it works
Oil pulls the lipophilic constituents (sesquiterpene lactones, volatile oil) out of the flower heads; tradition links these to the external effect on bruises. A home macerate is not standardised — strength depends on flower quality and extraction time.
Literature
- EMA HMPC — Arnicae flos, European Union herbal monograph — Traditional external use for bruises, sprains and local muscular pain; only from age 12.
Related
Arnica — Herb card
Herbal oil — Processing method detail