What is the primary benefit of using Arnica + Bromelain?
The combination of Arnica Montana 30X Bottle plus Bromelain with Quercetin enhances the effects of each product.
Arnica Montana is a homeopathic remedy that is useful for treating bruising and swelling associated with soft tissue injury. Inflammation is the result of trauma, injury or surgery that causes an excessive amount of blood to stretch the walls of the capillaries. Fluid and white blood cells escape from the capillaries into the spaces between cells in the surrounding area. The swelling that results causes stretching of the tissues and presses on the nerve endings causing pain and adding to the stiffness that may follow. It is believed that Arnica Montana increases the flow of blood through the affected capillaries causing escaped fluids to be absorbed. The absorption of the fluids makes black and blue marks go away faster and reduces the swelling, relieving the pressure on nerve endings. This, in turn, relieves the pain and stiffness. Arnica also stimulates white blood cells, which then help disperse material trapped in bruised tissue, muscles, and joints.
Bromelain with Quercetin is a simple yet effective nutritional supplement that helps alleviate inflammation and swelling whether from injury, overuse, or surgery. Many patients who have taken Bromelain with Quercetin for surgery have continued using the product because it provides effective relief from rheumatoid arthritis.
What makes VitaMedica’s Arnica + Bromelain unique?
VitaMedica’s Arnica Montana 30X potency tablets were developed with the expertise of Apotheca – a company founded in 1987 which uses FDA registered facilities to produce the highest quality homeopathic products to the U.S. market. The formula is designed to meet the needs of patients suffering from soft tissue injury due to minor surgical procedures, trauma, or injury. Our Arnica Montana 30X is provided in a bottle with 120 tablets, which represents about a two-week supply.
Bromelain with Quercetin contains a targeted number of ingredients, formulated at a dosing level that provides effective relief from inflammation and swelling. Supplements containing bromelain are relatively easy to find; but, these products are typically sold in combination with other enzymes (e.g., papain, amylase) and are not as effective in relieving inflammation. Most enzyme formulations do not contain quercetin, which works in concert with bromelain to increase the efficacy of both. Of the bromelain supplements available, many do not provide a sufficient quantity of milk-clotting units to be effective as an anti-inflammatory.
Arnica Montana is a homeopathic medicine. What is homeopathy?
The literal interpretation of homeopathy is “like treating like”. The guiding principle behind homeopathy is that our bodies have natural defense mechanisms to aid in healing. This is often reflected as symptoms. While prescription medications tend to suppress symptoms, homeopathic medications try to elicit them. This approach helps to heal the body faster and is intended to stimulate a person’s overall resistance to infection. Another principle of homeopathy is that the healing power of a medicine can be increased or potentiated while reducing its toxicity. In other words, the healing power of a substance is increased at the same time its concentration is decreased. This is in marked contrast to allopathic medicines that use a greater potency by increasing the amount of a drug given to a patient. Each homeopathic medicine is diluted progressively and proportionately. This is accomplished either through shaking (succussion) or crushing and grinding (trituration).
What does the “30X” refer to after the name Arnica Montana?
The term “30X” refers to the potency of the Arnica Montana formulation. In the dilution process, the original tincture is called the “mother potency”. The mother potency is then diluted with alcohol or can be mixed with lactose and ground in a mortar and pestle. During each dilution process, the result of the prior dilution is used instead of the mother tincture. There are two equally valid dilution processes used that create different potencies. With the X-process, each tincture is mixed with 1-part medicine and 9 parts of diluting material (e.g. alcohol or lactose). With the C-process, the mixing ratio is 1-part medicine to 99 parts of diluting material. VitaMedica’s 30X potency means that the Arnica Montana was diluted 30 times to one part in ten (or 10 to the 30th power).
What does the term “HPUS” mean in regard to homeopathic medications?
The term “HPUS” refers to the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States. All homeopathic medicines are produced in accordance with the guidelines established by the HPUS. These manufacturing guidelines ensure the purity and potency of each product.
Why is Arnica Montana taken sublingually (under the tongue) and not orally like nutritional supplements?
Homeopathic medications contain very small amounts of an active ingredient(s) – in this case Arnica Montana. By taking the product under the tongue, the medication can pass through the mucous membranes of the mouth and into the tiny blood vessels lining the area. In this manner, the medicine enters the bloodstream directly, without being subjected to first-pass metabolism by the stomach.
If I am lactose intolerant, can I still take Arnica Montana tablets?
Most likely. Lactose-intolerant individuals lack an enzyme called lactase, which is necessary to digest lactose-based foods (e.g., milk, ice-cream) in the stomach. While the Arnica Montana tablets contain lactose, the amount is very small. Because the product is delivered sublingually, only a small portion of the lactose will reach the stomach where it can cause problems in the upper gastrointestinal tract. Depending on your lactose intolerance, will determine if you can take this product without any problems.
What does it mean by the mouth should be “clean” when taking Arnica Montana? Why is this important?
Homeopathic medicines are designed to enter the bloodstream directly through the mucous membranes of the mouth. This works best if the mouth is in its natural state, unaltered by food, beverages, etc. Strong flavors such as coffee, alcohol and toothpaste can interfere with the absorption thus the efficacy of the homeopathic medication.
Why is it important not to handle the Arnica Montana tablets?
Since homeopathic doses are very small, care should be taken to see that they reach the mouth in as pure state as possible. It is best not to handle them too much. Instead, measure the required number of tablets into the inside of the bottle cap or onto a clean, dry palm and slip them immediately under the tongue.
What is the importance of bromelain and how does it work?
Bromelain is a proteolytic enzyme (capable of digesting protein) that is extracted from the pineapple stem. Bromelain’s most common application is in the treatment of inflammation and soft tissue injury. Bromelain inhibits hormone-like compounds called prostaglandins that cause inflammation, and promotes the formation of anti-inflammatory prostaglandins. Bromelain is also helpful in breaking up hematomas, or a collection of blood that can sometimes occur from soft tissue injury.
VitaMedica’s bromelain supplement also contains quercetin. What is quercetin?
Quercetin (que-er-ce-tin) is a type of flavonoid (plant pigments that give plants & fruits their color) that has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The combination of quercetin and bromelain is used to effectively manage the body’s natural inflammatory response.
Bromelain’s strength is measured in milk clotting units or gelatin dissolving units. What do these terms mean?
Unlike vitamins and minerals, which are measured in a variety of ways including milligrams (mg), micrograms (mcg), and International Units (IU), bromelain is measured either by milk clotting units (MCUs) or gelatin dissolving units (GDUs). Since bromelain is an enzyme, MCUs and GDUs are used to measure its strength in terms of how quickly it can breakdown a protein. MCUs and GDUs are used somewhat interchangeably: 1 GDU equals 1.5 MCU. To be effective, at least 2,000 MCUs must be consumed in divided amounts over the course of the day.
Why does Bromelain with Quercetin need to be taken on an empty stomach?
To ensure that the bromelain works on the site of injury and not in aiding digestion, it is best to not take the supplement on a full stomach. Taking the supplement on an empty stomach can also help prevent any gas or digestive upset that may occur as a result of bromelain’s enzymatic action in breaking down food.
