Arnica is Nature’s Powerful Pain Reliever

And loves to pair with other natural pain relievers

Whether you’re curious about using arnica for pain relief, or a natural-medicine skeptic, or simply someone who thirsts for knowledge, we’ve put together an overview of everything you might want to know about arnica as a healing remedy. Having developed arnica-based formulas since 1936, we know the best ways to source it, which parts of the plant to use, and how it works with other natural pain relievers. Let’s get started: 

What Is Arnica?

Arnica is a flowering plant native to the mountainous regions of Europe. Its medicinal use dates back to ancient times, with Roman soldiers reputedly climbing the Alps to collect the flowers for treating battle wounds. Today, arnica remains a staple in European medicine, where it’s more commonly prescribed than in the US. The European Union has authorized arnica topicals, and in Germany, the Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homeopathic Field of therapy includes arnica for bruising and pain after excessive strain. 

What can Arnica do? 

Arnica is a power flower against pain. According to the National Institutes of Health’s National Library of Medicine, “arnica has various pharmacologic activities, including anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antiarthritic activities.” This means that arnica can be used to help reduce symptoms of inflammation, such as swelling and pressure in the body, helping relieve pain. 

Dermatologists also sometimes recommend single-ingredient topical arnica treatments to help reduce under eye circles. 

How does Arnica help relieve pain?

Arnica can help improve blood flow, which is one of the body’s natural detoxifying processes, removing waste from the tissues and bringing in oxygen. This enhanced circulation aids in reducing pain and promoting healing. It is thought that arnica’s anti-inflammatory properties can be traced to blocking a single protein that produces inflammation. 

Arnica is Smart to Pair With Other Actives

Arnica is one way to target pain, but other natural active ingredients can help relieve pain in complementary ways. Here are other natural remedies for pain that can be used with arnica and should not be ignored:

• Aconitum Napellus (also known as Monkshood or Wolfsbane): known for its rapid action in alleviating acute pain and other symptoms of inflammation, especially in cases where the pain is sudden and intense. When combined with Arnica, which helps relieve bruising and muscle soreness, the two can provide fast acting relief from joint and back pain. 
• Baptisia Tinctoria (Wild Indigo): used to relieve joint and muscle soreness, and also stiff, bruised soreness. 
• Belladonna (Deadly Nightshade): Belladonna is used to help relieve throbbing pain (as you would find in joint or nerve pain). Belladonna offers a “cooling effect” that complements Arnica’s pain relieving action, making them a great pair when experiencing heat and swelling in an affected area such as in joint pain due to arthritis or back pain.  
• Bellis Perennis (Daisy): often used for deep tissue injuries. Combined with Arnica, the two provide a thorough treatment for minor injuries affecting multiple tissue layers, such as joint and muscle soreness.
• Calendula Officinalis (Marigold): famous for its wound-healing properties, it is an all around pain reliever for pain due to minor injury. When paired with Arnica, which supports pain and swelling relief, Calendula supports the overall healing process.  
• Chamomilla (Chamomile): known for its calming effects, especially on pain with hypersensitivity (sensitive to touch), Chamomilla is particularly useful in treating pain that is associated with restlessness and irritability, providing soothing relief. Combined with Arnica, it can provide a soothing effect that reduces physical discomfort, emotional distress and help you (finally) relax and recover. 
• Echinacea (Coneflower): this well known immune stimulant supports the body’s natural defenses. Echinacea is a smart complement to arnica, providing overall pain relief especially in the upper back and shoulder blade areas. 
• Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel): can work with arnica reduce swelling, bruising and discomfort in joints and muscles. 
• Hypericum Perforatum (St. John’s Wort): particularly understood to treat nerve pain, especially sharp, shooting pains that occur after injuries. Combined with Arnica, which addresses muscle and joint pain, Hypericum helps provide comprehensive pain relief, particularly in sensitive areas with a high concentration of nerves.
• Millefolium (Yarrow): used to help relieve spasmodic pain due to minor injury. When paired with Arnica, it can help with the treatment of minor injury where there is spasmodic pain such as in back pain. 
• Ruta Graveolens (Rue): for pain due to minor injuries to tendons and ligaments, such as sprains or strains, Rue pairs with arnica to help provide more comprehensive relief.  
• Symphytum Officinale (Comfrey): used in the treatment of minor bone injuries. When paired with Arnica, Comfrey can help with pain relief and recovery from minor fractures, sprains, and other injuries involving bone.

T-Relief For Pain Relief

Our T-Relief formula is a breakthrough in natural medicine, combining powerful levels of whole-plant arnica with 12 other active ingredients for comprehensive pain relief. Traditional homeopathy uses low level doses of one ingredient at a time, leaving a lot to be desired. MediNatura, on the other hand, has innovated formulas that include effective levels of multiple active plant ingredients that can help reduce pain in complementary ways - targeting multiple pain pathways, promoting deep and fast relief from muscle, joint and back pain. In with soothing, comfort and relief, out with soreness, pressure and pain! But you don’t have to take our word for it, Shape Magazine says T-Relief made pain “vanish” after a long day on the town. 

Got Questions? 

Our team can help you find the right T-Relief product for you, always backed by our ‘Thrilled Or It’s Free’ guarantee, so you can confidently explore the full product line at MediNatura.com.