DESCRIPTION

Arnica (or Tobacco Savoyards because in some valleys the farmers smoke the leaves), is a herbaceous plant 20 to 60 cm high. Oval-oblong leaves forming a basal rosette. Leaves stem little opposite and much smaller than the basal leaves. At the end of the stem, usually a single capitulum, rarely more, 5 to 8 cm in diameter, surrounded by hairy bracts and consisting of many flowers ligulate edging and flowers tubulated inside. The fruit is a 5mm achene, topped with an egret.

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HISTORY

This plant has received over the centuries many popular names according to its use:

• falling grass: this qualification reflects its ability to reduce blood effusions

• preacher's grass: indicates its property to prevent hoarseness

• holy herb: because of its quick and almost miraculous effects

• grass to sneeze: the crushed fresh flowers cause sneezing (the name of arnica is also a deformation that comes from the Greek word "ptarnica" which means "makes sneeze")

Some medicinal properties of arnica have been known since antiquity. It was already recommended in the twelfth century to reduce hematoma. Goethe, who was suffering from heart problems, claimed that this plant had saved his life. The flowers contain choline, known to act on the nerve conductivity, as well as other substances that lower the blood pressure and accelerate the heart, but also toxic products causing paralysis, headaches and hallucinations, even, in high doses, death. It is perhaps for this reason that arnica was once considered the emblem of danger. In 1778, Horace Benedict de Saussure wrote that the peasants of "Chamouni" dried the leaves of arnica and used them as ersatz tobacco. This practice was also known in Sweden, where the leaves, but also the rhizome and the fruits, were smoked under the name of "tobacco of sheep" or "tobacco of the Vosges" or "tobacco of the Savoyards". Arnica was once also used to color tissues. The tincture of arnica sometimes enters into the composition of cosmetics, shampoos, hair lotions or bath adjuvants.

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HABITAT

Scattered in the Alps and in all Alpine regions; meadows, pastures and clear-woods; on slightly calcareous and dry clay soils; up to over 2500 m altitude.

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PARTICULARITIES

It is a very poisonous plant that animals fear. They avoid grazing in areas where Arnica grows. Medicinal plant fetish mountain, it is still widely used nowadays in a traditional way. For example, externally treats bruises, oedemas, dislocations, bruises, muscle and joint disorders, inflammation of the oral cavity and throat, boils, insect bites and superficial phlebitis . Arnica is used in dyeing for external use.

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THREAT

This flower is protected, do not pick it !

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