Arnica
Arnica is used topically for bruises and soreness. Oral use is more limited and caution is warranted.
Overview
What is Arnica?
Arnica is a flowering herb that is commonly found in homeopathic remedies. It is poisonous when consumed in greater amounts than those found in homeopathic supplements.
Dosage
There is not enough evidence to determine the optimal dose of arnica. Topical arnica gel has been used twice daily in studies.
Effect graph
Effect heatmap
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Database Snapshot
Most arnica research is concentrated in a handful of conditions.
- Osteoarthritis accounts for 2 of 2 studies (100%).
- Sparse coverage remains for Osteoarthritis.
Safety
Arnica is likely safe when used topically as directed. Oral arnica can be poisonous in amounts greater than homeopathic doses.
Takeaway
Evidence for arnica is limited to topical use in osteoarthritis, where it may reduce pain and improve function similarly to ibuprofen gel according to low-quality studies. Insufficient evidence exists for other uses. Oral arnica should be avoided except at homeopathic doses.
References
Sources2 references
SupplementDEX uses only high-quality sources to determine supplement effectiveness.
SupplementDEX Database · Osteoarthritis
2 references1.SupplementDEX Database: Osteoarthritis — Choosing between NSAID and arnica for topical treatment of hand osteoarthritis in a randomised, double-blind study2007
In 204 hand osteoarthritis patients over 21 days, topical arnica gel was not inferior to 5% ibuprofen gel for pain relief and hand function, with similar adverse event rates (~5–6%).
2.SupplementDEX Database: Osteoarthritis — Arnica montana gel in osteoarthritis of the knee: an open, multicenter clinical trial2003
An open-label trial in 79 mild-to-moderate knee OA patients found twice-daily Arnica montana gel for 6 weeks significantly improved WOMAC pain, stiffness, and function scores.