Research by Debora Olioso, Marta Marzotto, Clara Bonafini, Maurizio Brizzi, Paolo Bellavite
What is Arnica Montana
Arnica montana, commonly known as mountain arnica and sometimes referred to as wolf’s bane or mountain tobacco, is a flowering plant and part of the sunflower family. It is widely used topically in palliative treatments for sprains, bruising, and other muscle pain or inflammation. First used by Native Americans, homeopathic physicians followed suit and used the flower compounds for contusions, swelling, chronic sores, and other bodily inflammation, starting in the nineteenth century.
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Origins, Use, and Study of Arnica Montana
Even with its long history of use in pain relief and trauma, there has been little conclusive research or evidence on how arnica works and how it promotes healing. Homeopathy published results of a study in its May 2016 issue that examined how arnica works at the cellular level.
The Research Study
For the study, whole plant extracts were applied in a wide range of dilutions to THP-1 human cells, both in macrophages and into an alternative IL-4-activated phenotype involved in rebuilding and healing tissue. The process of real-time Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) analysis was utilized to study changes in key genes. PCR is defined as “a technique used in molecular biology to amplify a single copy or a few copies of a segment of DNA across several orders of magnitude, generating thousands to millions of copies of a particular DNA sequence.”
Results and Conclusion
Results of the tests showed arnica affecting macrophages in several isolated genes, particular in CXCL1 and CXCL2 protein types. These modifications proved insightful in the research, leading to the conclusion that arnica montana does have healing affects at the cellular level in humans, in the form of modifying genes instrumental in tissue remodeling.
To read more or to purchase this research article in full, go to:
http://www.homeopathyjournal.net/article/S1475-4916(16)00012-6/abstract
References include:
http://www.medicinehunter.com/arnica
Blumenthal M, Goldberg A, Brinckmann J (eds). Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E Monographs. 1st ed., (Newton, MA: Integrative Medicine Communications. 2000). 7 - 9
https://www.google.com/search?q=what+is+pcr&oq=what+is+pcr&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.2563j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
https://www.google.com/search?q=what+is+pcr&oq=what+is+pcr&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.2563j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cytokine