It took more than ten years of
intensive work to cultivate the special variety of Arnica whose fresh
flowers are used in the manufacture of A.Vogel’s highly effective gel.
Arnica is, for many, a really helpful plant which is used whenever
there is pain.
The 19th century hydrotherapist, Sebastian Kneipp,
was taken with it. He wrote, “I think that Arnica is the best
remedy for wounds and for that reason, I cannot recommend it
enough”. Alfred Vogel (1902-1996) passed similar judgement on
this small, bright mountain plant.
Today, all experts agree that
in therapies for contusion, bruising, haematoma, sprains, as well as
rheumatic muscle and joint complaints, Arnica plays an indispensable
role. But this popularity has its downside. The stock of Arnica has
been drastically reduced over the years by intensive farming and
excessive wild collection and as a result, the plant must be
protected.
For A.Vogel/Bioforce, the raw material for natural Absolüt Arnica
Gel was only viable if it were possible for it to be cultivated
completely organically. Experts shook their heads in disbelief as
the rare mountain plant, Arnica montana had so far resisted all
attempts at cultivation. Could it be otherwise?
Professor Ulrich Bomme from the Bavarian Regional Institute of
Agriculture in Freising (Germany) took up the challenge in 1983.
“We had to start with nothing,” he recalls. “All previous attempts to
cultivate the much sought-after healing plant had failed
miserably.” Fifteen years later, his work bore the most wonderful
fruit. In 1998 it became possible for the first time to cultivate
a large crop of mountain Arnica with a high content of active
ingredients. During these years, A.Vogel/Bioforce had worked
closely with an organic farmer who, for his part, followed Professor
Bomme’s direction. Through his enthusiasm and his own development
work, the farmer succeeded in achieving the same quality in his
cultivated crop for Bioforce as could be found in wild Arnica.
And so it is today.
In the summer when the flowers are in full
bloom and the yellow Arnica fields sway visibly in the wind, the golden
blooms are picked at a carefully chosen time and used to make the
natural A.Vogel Absolüt Arnica Gel within, at the most, 24
hours. Only flowers which are selected and picked by hand are
good enough!
Fresh Plant Gel: It doesn’t get any fresher
The flowers are delivered in a fresh, naturally pure condition to the
manufacturer, Bioforce, in Roggwil in the canton of Thurgau.
Arnica flowers which have been overheated or discoloured during
transportation are not accepted. Only fully fresh, bright yellow
flowers are used in Absolüt Arnica Gel! Even with its organic
origins, A.Vogel/Bioforce likes to be doubly sure so Bioforce
laboratory personnel take samples from the valuable harvest and examine
the raw material using tried and tested protocols. These ensure its
true identity, condition and purity from contaminants such as heavy
metals, pesticides, aflatoxine as well as freedom from any
microbiological contamination. When the Arnica flowers have
undergone this detailed examination, production of the natural remedy
can begin. At the same time, the plant material undergoes quality
control. It is examined not only to check if it is actually the correct
type (and not for example Arnica chamissonis which has fewer active
ingredients) but also that the plant material meets with the required
level of freshness and quality of active ingredients.
Seamless
quality control from seed to end product is a crucial feature of all
A.Vogel/Bioforce products.
A conveyer belt then transports the fresh flower heads to the macerator
where they are chopped up. The alcohol and water mixture, into
which the plant material is put, gently releases the valuable active
ingredients and preserves them. The remaining tincture forms the base
for Absolüt Arnica Gel.
The highest content of active ingredients
In conventional gels, extracts of dried flowers or the dried aerial
parts or roots are used. It is different with A.Vogel Absolüt Arnica Gel.
The freshly prepared flower heads exhibit a
higher content of active ingredients than all the other plant
parts. It comes as no surprise then that comparative laboratory
tests with other gels have shown that A.Vogel Rheum Gel/Absolüt Arnica Gel
exhibits the highest concentration of active ingredients and
consequently the highest content of anti-inflammatory
ingredients. Indeed, the effectiveness of the Arnica fresh plant
gel was impressively recorded in a recent clinical study under the
direction of Dr Otto Knüsel, Chief Physician at the Rheumatism Clinic
in Valens (Switzerland). After only three weeks of therapy there
was a clear reduction in pain and an improvement in joint movement.
Thanks to the high concentration of active ingredients in Arnica, the
gel fights both the symptoms and the causes of rheumatism. It can
be used whenever required to successfully fight inflammation and pain,
particularly in cases of rheumatic inflammation in the joints, in
arthritis, arthrosis and gout, muscle tension, muscle stiffness and a
stiff neck, as well as for back pains and lumbago. A.Vogel
Absolüt Arnica Gel should be applied lightly and sparingly and, since no
perfumes are added, the gel has the pleasant aroma of fresh Arnica.
Absolüt Arnica Gel – considered to be holistic
Rheumatism is not simply ‘a gout’ and Alfred Vogel (1902-1996) knew
that. Due to the complexity of the ailment, he came to the
conclusion that rheumatism, as with many other illnesses, can only be
fought successfully through the interplay of various factors.
Apart from the treatment with effective remedies such as Absolüt Arnica Gel, a carefully chosen diet coupled with an exercise
programme and naturopathic therapies is extremely important.
Healthy living can be learned. Vogel, the naturopathic pioneer,
was convinced of that! He always put the correct natural remedy
alongside natural nutrition and reliable, sound information and advice.
It was clear to Alfred Vogel that rheumatism can also be overcome,
above all, in the mind.
Watch the videoNature is just about the best thing we’ve got!