Mountain arnica

A protected yellow flower with beneficial healing effects. 

• mountain plant
• protected and endangered plant species
• anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antiseptic effects 

Arnica montana or mountain arnica is a protected medicinal flower. 

How to recognize it? 

The herbaceous perennial grows 20 to 70 centimeters high. Its stem is glandular and hairy, with basal green ovate leaves soft to the touch. The plant has one flower head, and its characteristic yellow flower heads appear between May and August. 

30 species of arnica differ in terms of the medicinal ingredients content, and research has shown that most of these are found in mountain arnica. Arnica became widely used for medicinal purposes in the 17th century. It has anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antiseptic effects. 

Where can we find it and why shouldn't we harvest it?

A preserved habitat of mountain arnica can also be found in the municipality of Radeče. It is on the list of endangered species, as it was gradually used for medicinal purposes to the point that it was almost extinct in Europe. Arnica is also a protected plant species in Slovenia and should not be harvested in the wild.