Guest guest Posted March 21, 2006 Report Share Posted March 21, 2006 HI!A friend had a question about the use of arnica cream.... when is it best to use this? Also, what is the difference between the pills and cream. Thanks in advance for your feedback. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 23, 2006 Report Share Posted March 23, 2006 Hello, I use both and love them both. If you have a fresh bruise, it's important (I think) to get both the remedy inside ya and on ya! I have found that doing so after an injury makes all the difference in the world. I am a recovering "Fibromyalgiac" and a fall or bump could send me into weeks worth of pain - but not anymore. I just use the Arnica (in combination) after an injury and go to bed stiff and sore - but woke in the morning perfectly fine with no bruises whatsoever. And *no* FMS "flare-up" either. This is more than a miracle to me... it has truly given me my life back. As far as the difference between the two, I would say one is a homeopathic remedy and one is an herbal tincture or compound. Herbs have contradictions, interactions and guidelines that should be followed. Homeopathic remedies are safe and have no contradictions or interactions. I have 3 versions on hand right now (remedy, tincture and gel lotion) and really don't like to be without any of them. The tincture is awesome when my old whiplash injury wants to act up - shuts the pain down right now. I do prefer the safer homeopathic remedy to the tincture though and only use it from time to time. My favorite gel is made by Roberts and is sold at GNC. I mention this because I have not seen it in many actual health foods store and I think it is superior to the cream in a toothpaste tube that most stock instead. It has no smell whatsoever and immediately soaks into the skin without leaving any stickiness or anything and that makes it easy to use where ever whenever without worrying about getting it on your clothes. I'm not sure I really answered your question... I guess the best thing I can say is that Arnica in all it's forms if indispensable in the first aid kit - for aches, pains, bruises, menstrual cramps, surgery, injury of any kind - and each form has it's good points. Homeopathic remedies are the most affordable and are safe for all ages so at least have it on hand all the time. Hope this helps, Mouse jdicanio wrote: HI! A friend had a question about the use of arnica cream.... when is it best to use this? Also, what is the difference between the pills and cream. Thanks in advance for your feedback. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 23, 2006 Report Share Posted March 23, 2006 Hi, Arnica cream and massage oils help with bruising, muscle soreness/stiffness and are applied externally, though not on broken skin. They speed up the circulation where the stiffness/soreness/bruising occurred; thereby speeding healing. The scent of Arnica isn't bad; I like it, and of course with massage it's also relaxing. Arnica in any form is still an herb - with a massage oil, it will usually be found in Almond Oil; with a cream, usually some type of oil base - then made into a cream, which works just as well. The pills work internally, and they speed up circulation in general. If you're using Arnica for localized bruising or stiffness, I'd stick with the cream or oil. If you're looking to speed up circulation in general, then it seems the pills would be the way to go. I've never used the pills but I really like the massage oil. I " have " heard of people taking the pills before, during and after a long plane flight for jet-lag, with good results, but they have to take quite a few of them. The only kind of any allergic reaction I've heard of is a red rash, which goes away when you distcontinue use. Hope that helps some Marilyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 23, 2006 Report Share Posted March 23, 2006 I like the arnica gel best. It absorbs and isn't greasy. When my friend dislocated her knee I directly put arnica gel on it and although she had to have her leg in a cast for most of the summer, the doctors were amazed that it had no swelling or bruising despite the bad condition. Works awesome for anything that would normally swell or bruise. Traumeel homeopathic remedy is also good for that. It comes in many forms, for internal and external use for any injuries. Sharon , jdicanio wrote: > > HI! > A friend had a question about the use of arnica cream.... when is it best > to use this? Also, what is the difference between the pills and cream. > > Thanks in advance for your feedback. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 23, 2006 Report Share Posted March 23, 2006 Hello everyone, I just signed on yesterday, and came across this very interesting info about arnica - which is something I'm wondering about these days. Thanks for the info from both folks here - great stuff! I wonder if you could talk a bit more about whether or not you find anica useful for " old " injuries that don't really involve bruising any longer? I have an elbow and forearm which gets a bit sore at times. The forearm seems to be fascia and tendon related (repetitive motion injury), and some of all of the elbow pain may be related to that, as well (since they tend to get sore at the same times). I used some arnica gel (but nothing else) on them both the other day, and got several hours of relief. Is this something I could use long term to help actually HEAL this old injury, or is this just relieving some of the pain and related issues of the day? Obviously I'm wanting to actually heal what I can, rather than just " bandaid " it -- but if " bandaid " is the best I can get at this point, I'd like the " bandaid " to be the most helpful and least harmful! Thanks for your thoughts! Jent " The only thing that interferes with my learning is my education. " -Albert Einstein Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 23, 2006 Report Share Posted March 23, 2006 A friend of mine who has some mild heart trouble (which behaves itself if she chews one or two hawthorne berries a day) says Arnica gives her heart palpitations. It's potent stuff. Has anyone here ever tried to make their own homeopathic remedies? Shake-shake, dilute, shake again? I have a nice patch of Arnica happening, that I keep forgetting to harvest. Never have need of it myself, but seem to be obsessed with growing and making herbal goodies lately. Ien in the Kootenays**************************Stop. Breathe. Smile!~Padma ( my TV yoga teacher)http://freegreenliving.com************************** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 25, 2006 Report Share Posted March 25, 2006 Hi Jent, Glad to hear the Arnica helped; it tends to with soreness/stiffnes; but it is a bandaid.......not a cure. There are some things to watch out for though with arnica; ointments, gels, massage oils and creams containing 5%-25% of tincture or extract are applied topically, following the directions on whichever you have. The problem with using any of these long-term is that there are a couple of side effects that you could develop. They're exema, rash or edema. If any of these occur, the arnica should be discontinued. I have the massage oil, but it's 'very' diluted and have never had any problems with it, though I don't use it often. But it is OK for short term use or every now and then. Kind of a bandaid! Since arnica tends to help with stiffness/swelling - maybe you have some localized inflammation that you're not aware of? - there's an esential oil out there that's been used in Thailand for many years, called Plai, and if diluted 10% in a carrier oil or even a cream or some shea butter - then massaged into where you need it, it's been known to eleviate pain for about 18 hours (and that's with surgery!) I've been putting off a hip replacement (injury related as well) for going on 7 years now, and Plai is what I use; it's safe and there's been quite a bit of testing on it. Take care and hope you're not sore today. Forgot to ask, is the soreness at all weather-change related? Marilyn , Jent Lynne <jentlynne wrote: > > Hello everyone, > > I just signed on yesterday, and came across this very interesting info about > arnica - which is something I'm wondering about these days. Thanks for the > info from both folks here - great stuff! Is this something I could use long term to help > actually HEAL this old injury, or is this just relieving some of the pain and > related issues of the day? > Thanks for your thoughts! > > Jent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 27, 2006 Report Share Posted March 27, 2006 Hi Marilyn, --- katlnhat <katlnhat wrote: > Glad to hear the Arnica helped; it tends to with soreness/stiffnes; > but it is a bandaid.......not a cure. > There are some things to watch out for though with arnica; Thanks for the info - it's good to know! > Since arnica tends to help with stiffness/swelling - maybe you have > some localized inflammation that you're not aware of? - there's an Yeah, I'm really not sure what's going on with this elbow. One allopath blew it off with " sounds like it's going to be arthritic. Oh well. " (Aaarrgghh!) Another says it's related to my tendonitis/ " tennis elbow " in my forearm. The treatment that has actually helped my " tennis elbow " is actually NOT that for tendonitis, but for fascia problems (when it starts to 'gunk' up, and helping it soften and heal is what helps). I'm going to see a naturopath on Friday for some other stuff - I may ask her what SHE thinks about the elbow. Might as well throw in yet another opinion about it > esential oil out there that's been used in Thailand for many years, > called Plai, and if diluted 10% in a carrier oil or even a cream or I will keep an eye out for it - thanks! > been quite a bit of testing on it. Take care and hope you're not > sore today. Forgot to ask, is the soreness at all weather-change > related? I am a bit sore today, but no, it doesn't seem to be weather related at all. When my forearm fascia is making me sore, then the elbow also gets sore (sometimes my same-side shoulder gets sore, too). Which is what makes me think it's all fascia-related - but I could be wrong. The forearm and outside of the elbow tend to be a mild pain - the elbow inside tends to be a dull, " warmish " ache that seems to throb just a bit. But again - most of the time it isn't something that's just excrutiating. It's just enough to make life uncomfortable. Rest helps if it's really, really hurting, but rest seems to make little difference when it's just sore. Heat feels really good on it (ice/cold does not) - actually, heat feels good on my whole arm. To work on the fascia, I've started massaging it with a golf ball (which seems just the right size for me), so I don't wear out my other hand. There are also 2 trigger points for this kind of pain in my " Trigger Point Therapy " (by Clair Davies) book that I should start working on, too. Anyway, thanks for all your help! Jent " The only thing that interferes with my learning is my education. " -Albert Einstein Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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