SoothingWell-Known
Arnica Montana
Also known as: Arnica, Leopard's Bane, Wolf's Bane
Medically reviewed by ChokChok · Updated April 15, 2026
The Alpine meadow flower every German grandmother has on the bedside table — and the first ingredient sports physios reach for.
What It Does
Anti-inflammatorySoothes bruisingCalms rednessSupports wound healing
Deep Dive
Arnica montana is a daisy-family perennial native to European mountain meadows and a pillar of German and homeopathic medicine since the 1500s. The active sesquiterpene lactones (helenalin, 11,13-dihydrohelenalin) have genuine anti-inflammatory activity — clinical trials support topical arnica for bruising, muscle soreness, and post-procedure swelling. In skincare, it anchors Weleda's Arnica line and shows up across Kneipp, Dr. Hauschka, and most German natural pharmacies. Important safety note: never apply to broken skin (the same sesquiterpenes can be toxic internally) and contact allergy is real — patch test first.
