Arnica - incredible potential in skincare 🌼

 👩‍🌾 My personal journey with arnica

I myself discovered arnica in the 1990s when I was a competitive swimmer 🏊‍♀️ After hours of hard training, it was well known among athletes that arnica oil was fantastic for relieving sore muscles and reducing swelling. I used Weleda's good arnica oil extensively in massages and really felt the effect on my body 🤩

Many years later, when I had my daughter Ylva, I needed a good eye ointment. With swollen eyes during childbirth 👩‍🍼 and a lack of anything that really worked, my old friend, the sunflower 🌼, came back to mind.

I knew that arnica could work wonders on bruises, and with careful testing, Vossabia Eye Balm born in the fall of 2007 - it was perfect timing, because guess what, I had bags under my eyes from lack of sleep the first few days after giving birth! 🙌 It was a relief when I had Eye balm ready! It fixed the bags in a couple of nights! And I bet there are many customers who have experienced the same thing over the years:

Arnika – a story of healing and skincare ❤️‍🩹

Arnica has been used in Europe for over 500 years and is known for its anti-inflammatory, healing and soothing properties, as written about in the Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology 🙌 This plant has fascinated both herbalists and modern scientists, and today there are over 800 skin care products with arnica extract, including our own Augebalsam 👁️

We grow organic arnica at Vossabiagarden which we process and use in production 🌼 When it is empty, we buy organic arnica extract from Urtegaarden via Sunvita.

💛 Someone has really put their love into the plant: Italian skincare brand FD Dolomites Italy has specialized in arnica for over 50 years, with extensive research and use of arnica extract in various ways. They have included arnica in absolutely all of their products, and in their recent rebranding, they have made the plant the cornerstone of their business. They write:

"Our rebranding represents more than just a change of image; it is a testament to the development of a company that has listened to and interpreted the needs of a changing society. Arnika is the symbol of our unique knowledge – the fruit of 50 years of experience and research."

🙋‍♀️ I recognize myself in this vision – using nature on the skin is both beautiful and sustainable, and it is based on knowledge of herbalism and holistic health 🌱💚 and it is so wonderful when people get such good effects and help with their skin problems 💖 Just check out what Esther writes: 

🤔 Why choose arnica in skincare?

Arnica extract has many benefits:

🌼 Reduces inflammation and swelling
Arnica extract is known for its anti-inflammatory properties. It can help reduce swelling, making it ideal for calming puffy eyes, reducing redness, and soothing irritated skin. This is especially helpful for those with sensitive or acne-prone skin 😉

🌼 Speed up the healing process
Arnica extract is known for its ability to accelerate the healing process 🩹 It can help heal bruises, minor cuts, and wounds. The extract stimulates the flow of white blood cells, which help remove accumulated fluid from muscles, joints, and injured tissues.

🌼 Relieves pain and sore muscles
Arnica is often used in topical treatments to relieve pain and soreness. It is especially effective for muscle soreness and soreness after exercise or physical activity, making it a great addition to your post-workout skincare routine 🏃‍♀️🚴💪

🌼 Improves the appearance of the skin
The benefits of arnica extract for the skin include reducing inflammation, promoting healing, and improving the overall appearance of the skin. It helps even out skin tone, reduce dark circles, and improve skin texture, giving the skin a healthier, more youthful appearance ✨

Many of our customers love it! 👇

​The Food Safety Authority's misinformation ‼️

Despite the positive effects of arnica products on customers, arnica's extensive use both historically and currently, various studies, legal use in accordance with EU cosmetics regulations, and mandatory safety assessments for players in the industry, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority has written on its website that arnica is dangerous in cosmetics and that it can affect the heart and nervous system. This is misinformation and misleading consumers. They have even encouraged consumers to contact them and suggest products with arnica. Consumers naturally become anxious and worried, and this is unfortunate in so many ways 😔

I have written to the Norwegian Food Safety Authority and asked for documentation that what they write is true, but they admit in their response that their claims are based on taking arnica by mouth, not applying it to the skin. Nevertheless, they write that it applies via the skin. So! If it's not intentional, I don't know 😥 This is bad and weakens trust in the body that is actually supposed to protect us 😠 They also admit that it is legal to use arnica in cosmetics and that the important thing is that manufacturers should be safety-approved for skin products, and that it is about dosage that chemists, and not the Norwegian Food Safety Authority, have the professional expertise on.

⚠️ The Norwegian Food Safety Authority is creating unnecessary fear among consumers in this way. As long as arnica is legal in accordance with the EU's cosmetics regulations (and the Norwegian Food Safety Authority is supposed to follow the EU, Norway does not have its own cosmetics regulations), and when the product is also risk-assessed and safety-cleared by a chemist, then everything is in perfect order. Why don't they write that on their website?

‼️ And Vossabia Eye Balm is safe and safety-approved, and the dosage is well within all limits. However, consumers who read the Norwegian Food Safety Authority's brief information about arnica in cosmetics are left with the impression that it is dangerous and illegal 😱 I think the directorate needs to sort that out :confused: In my opinion, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority should rather inform consumers about the safe use of arnica and avoid creating confusion.

However, it is important to take some precautions when handling arnica extract ⚠️

As with all skin care products, including those that are 100% natural, contact allergies can occur with itching, rashes and dry skin. This also applies to the use of arnica products, So always do a small patch test on your skin, and avoid using on skin that is not healthy and clean .

🚨 But, be careful that one should Avoid taking arnica extract by mouth as it can be toxic when taken internally and can have more serious consequences.

👇 Here is a simple checklist when using arnica extract:

- Avoid internal use:
Arnica extract should never be ingested, as it is toxic when taken internally. Keep arnica extract out of the reach of children.

- Patch test:
Do a patch test before using arnica extract on your skin. Apply a small amount to a discreet area and wait 24 hours to see if you have an allergic reaction.

- Avoid damaged skin:
Do not apply arnica extract to broken skin, as it may cause irritation.

A tribute to nature 💚

I have enormous and deep respect for plants and humans' use and understanding of plants through hundreds and thousands of years in all cultures, and not least the ability to acquire knowledge about the original medicine through thousands of years.

Because plants are not alternative medicine. Plants have always been the original 🌱💚

What Avellino farms wrote really struck a chord with me, and I hope it inspires you too:

"Plants are not just an 'alternative' – they're the origin. Long before pharmacies and lab-made formulas, humans relied on the wisdom of nature to heal, nourish and sustain. Every tea leaf, herb, and flower carries a story of how deeply intertwined we are with the Earth. Maybe it's time we stopped seeing plants as a trend and started recognizing them as the foundation of wellness they've always been."

Let's celebrate the original medicine - plants 🌸🌱🌹🌿

Try our Eye Balm and experience for yourself what arnica can do for you. Maybe this will be the start of your love story with the sunflower? 🌼

If you also want to grow this hardy, late-growing and perennial yellow jewel in your garden, I recommend organic seeds from solhatt.no 🌼 In February I will start again and sow more arnica inside the plant cellar in Opal to constantly increase production 🌼🐝

Warm regards,
Queen bee 🐝 in Vossabia