Mexican Arnica flower head powder – Heterotheca inuloides

This perennial plant, native to Mexico, is renowned for its yellow flowers rich in natural active ingredients. In powder form, it allows for rapid incorporation into homemade preparations for external use, with a homogeneous diffusion of the aromatic and resinous principles.

Description

Fine yellow to light brown powder obtained by pulverizing dried flower heads. Its fragrance is warm, resinous, and camphorous. It can be used directly or mixed with oils, butters, or clays, depending on the recipe chosen.

Nomenclature

• Common names: Mexican arnica, arnica del país
• Latin name: Heterotheca inuloides
• Family: Asteraceae
• Part used: Flower head
• Form: Powder
• Origin: Mexico, Central America
• English name: Mexican arnica powder
• Name in German: Mexikanische Arnika Pulver
• Name in Spanish: Polvo de árnica mexicana
• Name in Italian: Polvere di arnica messicana
• Name in Arabic: مسحوق الأرنيكا المكسيكية (Mas'houq al-Arnika al-Maksikiyya)

Main virtues

Mexican arnica powder is traditionally used for external applications in the form of a paste or dry powder. It is valued for its ease of incorporation into artisanal treatments, particularly cosmetics and massages.

Main constituents

Flavonoids, triterpenes, sesquiterpene lactones, essential oils, tannins.

Use and dosage

• Poultice: Mix the powder with a little warm water to form a paste, apply locally.
• Cosmetics: add to homemade masks, balms or creams.
• Care powders: sprinkle on compresses or mix with other plant powders.

Precautions, side effects and contraindications

• External use only.
• Avoid application to damaged or irritated skin.
• May cause an allergic reaction in people sensitive to Asteraceae.

History and origin

Mexican arnica is an integral part of ancient Mexican medicinal practices. In powdered form, it extends its traditional use by adapting to the contemporary needs of artisanal natural cosmetics.

Miscellaneous information

• Storage: away from light, in an airtight container.
• Packaging: kraft bag, metal box, tinted pot.
• Appearance: Fine brownish-yellow powder.
• Odor: camphoraceous, warm, resinous.

Sources and references

• Pl@ntUse – https://uses.plantnet-project.org
• Traditional Mexican Pharmacopoeia
• Ethnobotanical corpus of Central America
• Works on Latin American popular herbal medicine

🔎 Information

The products on aromacentre.fr are not medicines. They are natural, plant-based treatments. All usage advice on our site is for informational purposes only. Any additional requests should be made to a qualified healthcare professional. In accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 on nutrition and health claims made on foods, we are unable to publish this information on the site. Taking this product does not exempt you from consulting a doctor or prescribing it. Ask your doctor or healthcare practitioner for advice. Be sure to read the precautions for use before using any medicinal plants. The use of herbal preparations is not recommended without consulting your doctor or pharmacist. The substances they contain may interact with medications prescribed by the patient, reducing their therapeutic effectiveness or causing toxicity. They can also worsen the weakening of the body's vital functions, thus exposing the patient to increased morbidity and life-threatening risks.

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