Arnica montana is an incredible plant called upon in our most common times of need. Specifically, arnica flowers are used topically for bumps, bruises, and muscle soreness. In other words, for basic discomforts of the human experience. It’s so effective, however, that it has made its way onto United Plant Savers’ At-Risk List.
As with all of the botanicals we carry, we are always seeking the most sustainable ways to source herbs to ensure we are engaging in a practice that is beneficial to our farm partners, our customers, and the environment. Luckily, we know some incredible farmers, and after many conversations and a years-long commitment of partnership, we were able to commission a plot of this specialty plant to be grown on a farm in Spain.
This past year, we visited our Spanish farm partner—a generational family farm that specializes in the growing of arnica and crafting of extracts and topical remedies. Their production model is quite different from most in that they grow their crops primarily on small plots throughout the town. We are very grateful to sponsor a specific field to help expand their farm while also meeting our sourcing needs.
Farming arnica is a specialized and labor-intensive process. The plant requires specific conditions and grows best at high elevation, generally between 5,000 and 11,000 feet. High elevation also means more extreme variation in weather. In addition, climate change has not gone unnoticed by producers in this region and, in fact, significantly impacted this farmers' arnica crops the previous year. Where winter used to gradually shift into spring with brief and gentle rains, the storms have gotten significantly more intense and drawn out. Some plants may weather this fine, but this negatively impacts arnica’s ability to set flowers, which is the part most commonly used for wellness.
In addition to this, this crop is quite labor-intensive to harvest and process. To maximize the yield of the crop, the farmer must harvest the flowers in waves to ensure that the flowers are picked at just the right moment to maximize quality and active compounds. Sometimes farmers have to harvest the field a dozen times to get the full flush of the crop. Arnica plants also only grow up to be about 2 feet tall, making the manual harvest harder on the body when compared to taller plants.
The work isn’t over after harvest, however. The flowers have to be dried quickly and delicately to protect the integrity of the material. This farm partner has a special solar-powered drying system that is used right in the fields. This yields dried arnica flowers at peak freshness and quality.
Another highlight of this trip to Spain was getting to experience European herbalism culture. The matriarch of the family shared a wealth of knowledge of traditional European herbal remedies. For centuries, women known as remeieres traveled between remote mountain villages in the region to practice as healers in the long-standing traditions of European herbalism. As with many traditions, this became increasingly uncommon with the prevalence of Western medicine and a population that shifted to the cities. However, our farm partner, along with many other collaborators in the region, has made a concerted effort to document and protect these historical traditions, recipes, and methods to preserve them for future generations. This care of cultural traditions preserves the sense of a place with a deep connection to its past and unique identity.
As we reflect on the trip to Spain, we are reminded of the communities that our botanical sourcing supports. Mountain Rose Herbs’ independent ownership allows us to be flexible in our sourcing and to support small-scale farming operations. It also ensures that we can follow the guidance of non-profits like United Plant Savers who are doing crucial work to raise awareness about at-risk plants. It is our honor to support these fam communities while bringing the herbal community high-quality and sustainably sourced arnica flowers to support their wellness and joy.
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