PDR for Herbal Medicines

42/ARNICA

high concentrations can also result in primary blister

formation and necroses.

Drug Interactions: The coumarin componant may theoreti-

cally interact with warfarin, resulting in an additive antico-

agulant effect.

OVERDOSAGE

Overdoses taken internally can lead to poisonings, character-

ized by severe mucous membrane irritation (vomiting,

diarrhea, mucous membrane hemorrhage) and a brief stimu-

lation of cardiac activity followed by cardiac muscle palsy.

For mat reason, internal administration of the drug is

strongly discouraged.

DOSAGE

Mode of Administration: Arnica is used in the form of the

whole herb, cut herb or herb powder for infusions, extracts,

and tinctures; gel, oil and poultice for external application.

How Supplied: Commercial pharmaceutical preparations

include gels, ointments, tinctures, oils and plasters.

Preparation: Arnica tincture (3x to lOx dilutions with water)

is used to prepare a poultice. A tincture is prepared using 1

part Arnica flowers and 10 parts ethanol 70% v/v (according

to DAB 10). Arnica oil is an extract of 1 part herb and 5

parts slightly warmed fatty oil. Ointments are made up with

up to 15% Arnica oil or with 10 to 25% tinctures in a neutral

ointment base. Mouthwashes are prepared as a tincture in

lOx dilution.

Daily Dose: Tincture for cataplasm: tincture in 3x to lOx

dilution. For mouth rinses: tincture in lOx dilution. Oint-

ments should contain a maximum of 15% Arnica oil.

Storage: When stored, die drug should be tightly sealed and
protected from light.
LITERATURE
Anonym, Arnikabliiten nur aufterlich. In: DAZ 131(38):1949.
1991.
Beekman AC et al., Structure-cytotoxicity relationship of some
helenanolide-type sesquiterpene lactones. In: JNP 60(3):252-257.
1997.
Brandt L, (1967) Scand J Haematol Suppl 2.
Brock FE, Arnica montana bei Venenleiden. In: ZPT 12(5): 141.
1992.
Hall, IH et al., (1979) J Pharm Sci 68:537.
Halub M et al., (1975) Phytochemistry 14:1659.
Hormann HP, Kortin HC, (1995) Allergic acute contact
dermatitis due to Arnica tincture self-medication. Phytomedicine
4:315-317.

Kaziro, GSN et al., (1984) Br. J Oral Maxillofacial Surg 22:42.

Merfort I, (1984) Planta Med 50 (1):107. |

PDR FOR HERBAL MEDICINES

Merfort I, (1985) Planta Med 51 (2): 136.

Schmidt Th J et al., Sesquiterpen lactones and inositol esters

from Arnica angustifolia. In: PM 61(6):544-550. 1995.

Thesen R, Phytotherapeutika - nicht immer harmlos. In: ZPT

9(49): 105. 1988.

Weil D, Reuter HD, EinfluP von Arnika-Extrakt und Helenalin

auf die Funktion menschlicher Blutplattchen. In: ZPT 9(1):26.

1988.

Willuhn G et al., (1984) Planta Med 50 (1):35.

Willuhn G, Leven W, Luley C, Arnikabliiten DAB 10.

Untersuchung zur qualitativen und quantitativen Variabilitat des

Sesquiterepnelactongehaltes der offizinellen Arzneidroge. In:

DAZ 134(42):4077. 1994.

Willuhn G, Leven W, Qualitat von Arnikazubereitungen. In:

DAZ 135(21): 1939-1942. 1995.

Woerdenbag HJ et al., Cytotoxicity of flavonoids and

sesquiterpene lactones from Arnica species. In: PM 59(7)81.

1993.

Further information in:

Frohne D, Pfander HJ, Giftpflanzen - Ein Handbuch fur

Apotheker, Toxikologen und Biologen, 4. Aufl., Wiss. Verlags-

Ges Stuttgart 1997.

Hansel R, Keller K, Rimpler H. Schneider G (Hrsg.), Hagers ™

Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 5. Aufl., Bde 4-6

(Drogen): Springer Verlag Berlin. Heidelberg, New York, 1992-

1994.

Hausen B, Allergiepflanzen, Pflanzenallergene, ecomed

Verlagsgesellsch. mbH, Landsberg 1988.

Leung AY, Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used

in Food Drugs and Cosmetics, John Wiley & Sons Inc., New

York 1980.

Lewin L, Gifte und Vergiftungen, 6. Aufl., Nachdruck, Haug

Verlag, Heidelberg 1992.

Lyss G, Schmidt TJ, Merfort I, Pahl HL, Helenalin an anti-

inflammatory sesquiterpene lactone from Arnica selectively

inhibits transcription factor NF-kappaB. Biol Chem, 378:951-61,

1997.

Lyss G, Schmidt TJ, Merfort I, Pahl HL, Immunologic studies

of plant combination preparations. In-vitro and in-vivo studies

on the stimulation of phagocytosis. Arzneimittelforschung,

378:1072-6, 1991.

Lyss G, Schmidt TJ, Merfort I, Pahl HL, Postpartum

homeopadiic Arnica montana: a potency-finding pilot study. Br <flh

J Clin Pract, 378:951-61, 1997.

Madaus G, Lehrbuch der Biologischen Arzneimittel, Bde 1-3,

Nachdruck, Georg Olms Verlag Hildesheim 1979.

Puhlmann J, Zenk MH, Wagner H, Immunologically active

polysaccharides of Arnica montana cell cultures.

Phytochemistry, 111:1141-5, 1991.

Rom L, Daunderer M, Kormann K, Giftpflanzen, Pflanzengifte,

4. Aufl., Ecomed Fachverlag Landsberg Lech 1993.