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WHAT IS ARNICA?
Cornbread Hemp’s newest product is a USDA organic CBD balm designed to provide easy on-the-spot application. A balm is a fragrant ointment or preparation used to heal or soothe. The key ingredients in this organic balm are Cornbread Hemp’s organic Whole Flower hemp extract, organic peppermint oil, and organic arnica oil. The peppermint oil is added for that familiar minty fragrance and tingly sensation. And it is all blended with a soothing organic shea butter base.
Essential oils like peppermint and eucalyptus oil are well known, but people are much less familiar with arnica, sometimes called arnica montana. So what is arnica montana and what is it commonly used for?
WHAT EXACTLY IS ARNICA?
Arnica is a member of the sunflower family of plants. It is herbaceous and perennial. The name “arnica” is derived from the Greek word for “lamb,” arni, which is a reference to its downy soft leaves which are fuzzy like a lamb’s ear.1 It has a pleasant pine-and-sage-like scent that it imparts to the balm, which is said to be relaxing.
The arnica plant has been known by many names including “mountain tobacco,” “mountain arnica,” “arnica montana,” “leopard’s bane” and “wolfsbane” (the latter two are not to be confused with two other plants of the same name of entirely unrelated genus Aconitum).
Arnica grows wild in the mountainous districts of the north and middle of Europe, blossoming in June and July. A few species of arnica are native to the arctic regions of Eurasia, like Siberia, and North America.
Only the flowering parts of the arnica are used in highly diluted homeopathic preparations. Arnica has bright yellow or orange daisy-like blossoms that are between two and three inches wide.2 Like other members of the sunflower or Asteraceae genus, arnica flowers appear to be a single flower, but upon closer inspection are revealed to be clusters of flowers. This arrangement functions in attracting pollinators such as bees, moths, butterflies, and other pollinating insects.3
WHAT IS ARNICA USED FOR?
Arnica is often used in homeopathic remedies, mostly because of anecdotal claims that using arnica may reduce discomfort. "Homeopathy" is a medical philosophy that the body can heal itself with the assistance of small amounts of certain plants and minerals. While there is insufficient evidence scientifically to prove that homeopathy works, there are centuries of anecdotal suggestions to back it.
Arnica homeopathic products can be found in many forms. It comes as arnica tea, or as tiny pellets that can be taken by mouth. But it is most popular for use in a variety of topical products like arnica ointment, gel, and cream. According to WebMD, research into topical arnica gel applied to the skin has revealed that there may be many potential properties in the plant to explore.4 More research and scientific evidence on the effects of arnica montana is needed, but in each clinical trial, arnica keeps showing great potential.
Arnica is considered to be an essential ingredient in the homeopathic practitioner's toolbox of supplements and balms.5Arnica montana is often used in homeopathic hair tonics and scalp oil, where the effects of arnica are said to be helpful. Arnica oil is also commonly employed in aromatherapy as a carrier oil to which essential oils are added, and arnica is used in perfumes and cosmetics for its pine-sage scent.
The versatility of arnica doesn't end there! The plant can be used as a food ingredient, but the safety of arnica cannot be maintained in large amounts, it becomes too toxic unless it is highly diluted.6
ARE THERE SIDE EFFECTS FROM ARNICA?
Some people are allergic to the whole genus Asteraceae, which includes the common irritants ragweed and dandelion. If you have allergies, be sure to check with your healthcare provider before taking arnica, or before arnica is applied topically, in order to avoid negative side effects.7
Any arnica creams or arnica gel product should be spot tested to make sure it does not cause irritation, and avoid applying an arnica gel product to broken skin. Additionally, pregnant or breastfeeding women should consult with a doctor before using arnica.
CORNBREAD HEMP'S ORGANIC CBD BALM
This ancient plant has a long track record as a folk remedy in many diverse cultures. So it made sense for us to use arnica as a key ingredient in our new CBD balm! Together with organic peppermint and eucalyptus oils, and organic jojoba oil, this balm is designed to provide topical comfort to wherever you might need it.
Like a lip balm for your body, Cornbread Hemp’s preparation comes in stick form—unscrew the top, twist the bottom of the tube and you’re ready to apply without getting your hands messy!
WHY CORNBREAD HEMP?
Cornbread Hemp strives to produce the best in high quality products made from organic hemp flowers. We do this by choosing the best option in every step of the CBD oil making process, from seed to shelf.
Due to the lack of FDA regulation, there are no requirements for CBD manufacturers to adhere to any standard during the process. The only certification a CBD oil with THC can acquire from the federal government to prove that every step of the manufacturing process is clean and safe for human consumption, is the USDA organic seal. Organic products are grown with non GMO seeds and cultivated with organic practices without the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers. We partner with organic Kentucky farms to ensure the safest material for our CBD products, including our CBD + THC gummies and our CBD pills.
We work with our farmers to cultivate the best strains of organically grown hemp. Only the flowers from the hemp plant are used for our organic sugarcane ethanol extraction. Stems and leaves don't have much CBD content, so we leave them out to get the highest potency possible.
Our CBD Balm is made with the first-pass extract from our flagship organic hemp flower extract in an organic shea butter base with organic arnica, and other essential oils. We make our products in small batches for optimum quality control.
Authenticity and safety is important when it comes to CBD! Every Cornbread Hemp product has a CannVerify hologram to prove it isn't counterfeit. And a QR code on each product's packaging allows easy access to third-party lab results for safety and potency. We only use high quality full spectrum hemp extract for our CBD products to provide the maximum potential through the entourage effect.
The CBD oil industry is vast and untamed, and it can be difficult to choose a safe and reliable CBD oil product. When choosing the best quality organic CBD balm packed with homeopathic arnica oil from a company that you can trust, choose Cornbread Hemp.
