Arnica: What It Is and How to Use It
Arnica (Arnica montana) is a yellow-flowered plant native to the mountains of Europe, famous in herbal tradition as the go-to remedy for bumps, bruises, and sore muscles — always used on the skin, never eaten. You'll find dried arnica flowers at William's Natural Foods, 12249 San Pablo Ave, Richmond, CA 94805, in our bulk herb section.
Available in Bulk
We carry arnica flowers in our bulk herb section, so you can grab the exact amount you want — from a small scoop for a homemade salve to a full bag for your herbal first-aid projects. Our staff can help you find the bin and bag up whatever quantity you need.
What We Carry
We stock dried arnica flowers whole, the traditional form for infusing into oils for homemade salves and liniments. We also carry arnica flower in cut and sifted form for the same external-use preparations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is arnica used for?
In herbal tradition, arnica is used externally — infused into oils, salves, and liniments applied to the skin over bruises, sprains, and sore muscles. It's one of the most well-known traditional remedies for bumps and bruises in European folk herbalism. These are traditional uses, not proven medical treatments.
Can you take arnica internally?
No — the herbal form of arnica should not be eaten or taken as a tea. Arnica contains compounds that are toxic when ingested in herbal quantities and can cause serious harm. The "arnica tablets" sold in stores are homeopathic preparations, which are extremely diluted and are an entirely different product from the dried herb. Never make tea from arnica flowers.
How do you make arnica oil?
The traditional method is to infuse the dried flowers in a carrier oil like olive or sunflower oil — covering the flowers with oil in a jar and letting them steep for several weeks, then straining. The resulting oil is used as a base for salves or applied directly to unbroken skin. Only use arnica preparations on intact skin, never on open wounds.
What's the difference between herbal arnica and homeopathic arnica?
They share a name but are completely different products. Herbal arnica is the actual dried flower, used only externally in oils and salves. Homeopathic arnica is made through extreme dilution according to homeopathic principles and is sold as pellets or tablets for internal use. If you're buying the dried flowers in bulk, you're buying the herbal form — for external use only.
Did you know? Arnica's common name "leopard's bane" comes from old European folk belief — and its mountain habitat is reflected in the species name montana, meaning "of the mountains" (source: documented in botanical references including the Missouri Botanical Garden plant profiles).
Visit William's Natural Foods at 12249 San Pablo Ave, Richmond, CA — open Monday through Friday 9 AM to 7 PM, Saturday 9 AM to 6 PM, and Sunday 10 AM to 5 PM. Our staff are happy to help you find arnica flowers in the bulk section and point you toward carrier oils for infusing.
This guide is for general information only and is not medical advice. Arnica herb is for external use only. Talk to your doctor or a qualified health professional about any health questions.