Arnica for Horse Pain Relief
by Margaret Paddock of HoofandPaws.com
What Is Arnica? Arnica is a daisy like flower common in many parts of Europe, southern Russia, Canada and North America.  The flowers are collected between June and August for mainly the dried flower heads that are used as a pain reliever.

Arnica has a history of folk medicine use in many locations, including North America, Germany, and Russian. The herb has been used in folk remedies since the 16th century. Folk use includes external treatment of wounds, black eye, sprains, and contusions, as well as some internal applications. A North American indigenous tribe, the Cataulsa, prepared a tea from arnica roots to ease back pains.

Arnica is used in veterinary phytotheraphy and homeopathy. The first text ever written about plants in medicine is on clay.  The Samarians compiled it some 3000 years B.C.  Thus began the official history of phytotherapy. Homeopathy comes from the Greek words, homoios, meaning like or similar and, pathos, meaning suffering.
The word homeopathy was first used in 1796 by Dr. Hahnemann.  .
During 1678-79 arnica experienced an enthusiastic crusade as a "new remedy" in the cure of fevers. The herb was recognized in the London Pharmacopeia (1788) but fell into disuse, regaining use in later years as an application in the form of a tincture for bruises, sprains, etc. It is now commended in modern medical and domestic literature.

The active components in arnica are sesquiterpene lactones, which are known to reduce inflammation and decrease pain.  Arnica works by stimulating the activity of white blood cells that perform much of the digestion of congested blood, and by dispersing trapped, disorganized fluids from bumped, and bruised tissue, joints, and muscles.  One of arnica’s primary components, helenalin, also has a strong anti swelling effect.  It has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory qualities that can reduce pain and swelling, and improve wound healing depending on the application.  Generally arnica is not to be applied to open wounds.

Jan Thompson "I'm meticulous about the care my horses get because they work incredibly hard for me. With all the demands Eventing places on a horse, their muscles get sore—I know mine do! I use Sore No More as a liniment, brace and shampoo as part of my regular program to keep my horses comfortable." 
Jan Thompson is a three day event rider. She was an alternate rider on the U.S. Olympic team at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.
All Sore No More product for horses contains this wonderful plant, Arnica, also Rosemary, Lavender, and Lobelia and does not contain alcohol or any chemicals.  It is an all-natural herbal liniment and bath brace.  It may also be used as an oil-free massage.  As it is a cooling liniment it can be used on people too and other animals.

The original Sore No More formula also comes in Wraps that have been soaked in the liniment and ready to use and Gelotion for areas that the liquid would run off of.  The Massage Shampoo is the liniment combined with an all-natural plant based shampoo.  It contains no Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (a chemical to make suds). It rinses easily. The Sauce is for equine hoof and skin conditions.  It is anti-bacterial and anti-fungal.  This formula can also be made into a Sugardine.

Contact: Margaret Paddock
2118 Eagle View Dr
Cottonwood, Arizona 86326
Phone: 928-649-9817
Email: mmap@commspeed.net
Website: www.hoofandpaws.com

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