Long weekend + Fun + Hikes = OUCH! Bruises and sprains means it's time to put a lil' arnica on it!
Arnica (Arnica montana) has been used for medicinal purposes since the 1500s! It has been said that the German poet and philosopher, Goethe (1749-1832), drank arnica tea to relieve chest pains. In some cases, the leaves may have been smoked, like tobacco.
Applied to the skin as a cream, ointment, liniment, salve, or tincture, arnica has been used to soothe muscle aches, reduce inflammation, and heal wounds. It is commonly used for injuries such as sprains and bruises.