Arnica montana seeds, organic
$3.95 – $20.00
Family: Aster (Asteraceae)
Hardy to Zones 4 to 9, best at elevation up to 6,000 feet
Clump forming alpine herbaceous perennial native to the the mountains of Central Europe. Flowers very large, on long, sturdy stalks. This is the official plant. Traditional usage (TWM): antiinflammatory. Standard preparations include tincture, homeopathic, oil infusion, salve and cream. Arnica montana makes sturdy clumps in the native habitat, and should be planted in moist, acid soil in the full sun at about 2 feet between plants, in order to approximate the natural spacing requirements. We have had some success with growing these at around 2,000 feet elevation, and have received reports of good success from folks living at 8,000 feet in the Rockies. Plant prefers a moist, lime-free, acidic loam soil in part shade or sun. Does well in rock gardens. At low elevation, give moist shade. To cultivate, use standard flower seed planting method, where the seeds are pressed into spongy potting soil and kept evenly moist and cool until germination, which occurs in a couple of weeks. Light dependent germinator. Work up in pots before transplant.
Packet contains 50 Seeds
1 g contains ~670 seeds
Certified Organically Grown
Question
Diane –
I have been told by a very experienced botanist/herbalist that —unlike most herbs— Arnica Montana must be used in its fresh state (as opposed to dried) for full medicinal purposes. I have not found any information to support this theory. Do you have any information of such? Or can you refer me to a resource that may?
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Richo Cech –
Hello Diane,
Thanks for your note. You can check Making Plant Medicine on page 112-114 for recipes using both the dried and the fresh plant/flowers of Arnica montana. For tincture making, the fresh herb is very nice. The tincture of the dried herb is somewhat stronger. For oil extraction (the oil infusion) the dried plant is preferable, as the water in the fresh herb is inimical to the oil. Richo
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Diane –
Thank you so much for the quick reply, Richo. But if the fresh flower will make a more potent oil infusion, could I simply “cook off” the moisture after infusion…or let it settle, and then and separate it manually? I want the most healing benefit I can get.
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Richo Cech –
Hello Diane,
The fresh flower does not make a more potent oil infusion–to make a good oil infusion one dries the plant first, so that the oil can extract it, without the plant water getting in the way. I really encourage you to read chapter 10 of “Making Plant Medicine.” I am not the first to make these products, and I am not making this up. There are established methodologies for producing oil infusions and for the most part one uses dried material. Saint Johns Wort is an exception to the rule. Regarding Arnica, the flowers tend to puff out into seeded heads when set to dry. This is why one picks them in early stages of ripeness, and also why one does not worry about fluff in the tincture/oil infusion–the flavonoids and sesquiterpene lactones are still in there. richo
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Diane Harrell –
Richo, I purchased two of your books (second hand) and was so excited to start growing arnica, then read this depressing note on a package of seeds…”With the third year, from July on, you can start harvesting and carefully drying the flowers of your Mountain Arnica plants…”. Does it REALLY take 3 years to get useable flowers?!? If that’s the case, I’ll have to buy them rather than grow them.
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Richo Cech –
Hello Diane,
The Arnica montana may flower as early as the first year and you can use the flowers any time they occur, you don’;t have to wait 3 years. Arnica chamissonis is easier to grow and makes more flowers that definitely occur in the first year.
Richo
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Diane –
Therapeutically speaking, is Chamissonis -though easier to grow- as potent as Montana?
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Richo Cech –
Yes, these were assessed decades ago through the German Commission E monographs and shown to be interchangeable.
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Diane –
Great! Good to know! I will try growing both 😉
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Question
Rose Hughes –
Will your arnica seeds come back in stock this spring?
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Richo Cech –
yes, we will be enabling this shortly
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Question
Natasha Snide –
Can you notify me when these are back in stock?
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Richo Cech –
Yes, it won’t be long. richo
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Kathrina Stahl –
What arnica plant or seeds is best for the tincture you make with vodka the one you take by mouth, kind of like a herbal pain killer, please I need to know, thanks!
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Richo Cech –
Hi Kathrina, I’m not too sure about all this. Herbalists sometimes prescribe Arnica tincture (made of A. montana or A. chamissonis) internally in very small doses and generously diluted in plenty of cold water. But Arnica is usually used externally only. I’m thinking you might have this confused with Wood Betony (Stachys officinalis) which is harmless and more in keeping with the uses you’re describing. Richo
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Question
Cindy M Koster-Chambers –
Is it poisonous to touch the plant while preparing it for a salve ?
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Admin Richo Cech –
Hello Cindy,
No, Arnica is not a poisonous plant. It is a low-dose botanical, meaning it does its work at very low concentrations, and in most cases is used externally. If you’re going to rub it on your skin in prepared form, there is little to fear from handling the plant with your hands when preparing it! For a level-headed assessment of handling and preparation protocols for arnica, see “Making Plant Medicine.”
Richo
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Heather –
Hello, would there be any point trying this at sea level, acidic soil, zone 5? Thanks kindly.
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Richo Cech –
Well, I always try everything and keep going with what survives. It is a vestige of Darwinianism I will probably never jettison. Your best bet is Arnica chamissonis, and we have a large number of very nice plants available, as well as seed. Richo
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Diane Harrell –
What is the shipping cost (USPS First Class) within Oregon for one packet of 50 seeds?
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Richo Cech –
one packet would accrue a shipping cost of $2.90. If you ordered $10.00 worth of packets the shipping would be free.
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