St. John’s Wort

Arnica montana is a plant with yellow flowers of 20 to 30 cm that can be found in the mountains. The base of the flower is a rosette. Its fruit, like the seed, is topped by a pappus, with brown or white bristles. Arnica has a slight sweet fragrance. Harvesting takes place at the beginning of flowering, from May to June.

It is particularly present between 1200 and 2600 metres above sea level in France and in Central and Northern Europe. It grows only on acidic and nutrient-poor soils and becomes increasingly valuable over time due to its rarity and low flower yield.

Arnica has been used for many centuries to treat blows, sprains and various pains as well as to remove bruises. Indeed, descriptions of its therapeutic virtues can be found in the medical treaties of ancient Greece.