Rx: For “Feeling Fine”

Arnica is a remedy indicated for trauma and over-exertion. The individual who needs Arnica (homeopaths term this being in an “Arnica state”) will often claim that they are fine or state that they don’t want anyone to touch them. In individuals who can do so verbally, the meaning is clear. Animals will often act in one of several ways as they indicate this state: they will cower and evade touch, they may act aggressively and charge or bite (“Leave me alone!”) or they may appear stoic and “old soldier” like working and performing in spite of a history of excessive work (I’m fine, thank you.) This latter group of individuals often do their jobs well but are not engaged and often appear to retreat in their eyes when approached.

This trauma may be overt, with bruising and swelling or may be more subtle, such as the muscle pain of over-exertion or working without adequate conditioning for the task at hand. Sometimes there is a history of a “wreck”, but not always so.

Arnica is well indicated after tough labor, both for momma and babe. The “don’t touch me” maybe evident in a cow who doesn’t want her calf just as it may be indicated in a calf who doesn’t want caught/handled (or who just withdraws and allows himself to be subjected to whatever man might have in store). It’s indispensable at the track, for rodeo stock, obstetrics, during castration, for hit by car and other traumas, and is the first remedy I think about in road founder/laminitis. It’s also the first remedy to consider in cases of heart attack. The use of Arnica after surgical procedures will markedly change your use of other pain medicines.

Remember that the temporal correlation to the trauma need not be short. The body has amazing tissue memory and often remains in the Arnica state for months to years after the actual event.

Arnica also comes in as a tincture and as an ointment. These herbal preparations of Arnica certainly have a place on the shelves of the newly retrofitted pharmacy. One can use the tincture – diluted in water, as one does when one uses a tincture – to bathe traumatized areas. Handle it judiciously if the area is open, since Arnica is best not used on open wounds. (Use Calendula instead.) A body wash of Arnica tincture in a bucket of water is great for use in horses after a workout or a race.

Arnica ointment can be used as a muscle rub/massage (works best on hairless areas though it’s not necessary to clip the area or restrict the use to hairless sections – think of the clinician after a rough day or after a kick or knock) as well as being used topically on hoofs after concussion (road work, races, endurance rides, escapes and other train wrecks…) or after being trimmed close.