Probably the most well known of the ingredients in this formula (for a good reason!), Arnica is known to improve circulation and reduce inflammation. Super important for any injury, especially injury to thicker fibers like collagen which don’t heal very quickly due to lack of nutrients.

I harvest the yellow flowers and aerial parts of this plant in the alpine ecologies of Washington. The flowers turn into fluff when dried, so it requires a lot of the flower for the infusions. The leaves work great too. I gather only from large patches, where the native population can continue to grow for future generations. 

How it works

The constituent Helenalin is a potent anti-inflammatory, which reduces swelling and bruising, and also helps muscle soreness. Its thymol derivatives promote circulation, which cycles nutrients to an injury, and helps clear out stagnant blood (like bruises). It’s also been shown to reduce pain as effectively as a topical NSAID, which can help the post-climb tenderness and swelling that we often experience. 

Arnica is a toxic plant, so it should not be ingested or applied on open wounds.  

Some interesting studies

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17318618/ - Arnica is as effective as topical NSAIDs for pain management. 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23947690/ - Arnica helps relieve pain after eccentric exercise