Arnica
Also called Arnica montana, mountain arnica, leopard's bane, arnica gel, homeopathic arnica.
Best grade B across 14 graded outcomes Botanical Last checked
The short answer
From 29 sourcesArnica is sold as herbal gels and creams for sore joints, bruises and muscles, and as homeopathic pills. An arnica gel matched ibuprofen gel for hand osteoarthritis in one 204-person trial (grade B), but creams did not reduce bruising after eyelid surgery, and homeopathic arnica trials are mixed. Arnica can cause contact allergy and is toxic by mouth as an herb.
Every graded outcome on this page
14 rows · line = participants- BGrade BHand osteoarthritis pain and function: arnica gel vs ibuprofen gelJointsn 204
- CGrade CKnee swelling after knee surgery (homeopathic 30x, three trials)After surgeryn 319
- CGrade CMuscle soreness after a marathon (homeopathic D30, pooled)Muscle sorenessn 82
- DGrade DContact allergy to arnica in dermatology patientsSkin allergyn 443
- DGrade DPain, bruising and swelling after carpal tunnel surgery (homeopathic)After surgeryn 62
- DGrade DPain, swelling and jaw stiffness after wisdom tooth surgery (topical)Oral surgery recoveryn 60
- DGrade DLeg pain after calf-raise exercise (topical cream)Muscle sorenessn 53
- DGrade DRecovery after carpal tunnel release (pills plus ointment)After surgeryn 37
- DGrade DBruising after face-lift surgery (homeopathic)Bruisingn 29
- DGrade DBruising after rhinoplasty (oral arnica)Bruisingn 22
- DGrade DMuscle soreness and recovery after downhill running (topical)Muscle sorenessn 20
- DGrade DLaser-induced facial bruising (topical gel)Bruisingn 19
- ∅No effectMuscle soreness after long-distance running (homeopathic 30x)Muscle sorenessn 400
- ∅No effectBruising, swelling and appearance after upper eyelid surgeryBruisingn 136
- 11 more graded outcomes, in the evidence chapter
Key facts
- Two different products
- Herbal arnica (gels, creams, tinctures made from the flowers) and homeopathic arnica (pills diluted as far as 1:10^30) share a name but not a dose314
- Strongest human evidence
- Hand osteoarthritis (B): an arnica gel was not inferior to 5% ibuprofen gel for pain and hand function over 21 days in 204 people; Cochrane rated the evidence moderate54
- Bruising
- 10% arnica ointment did not improve swelling, bruising or appearance after upper eyelid surgery in 136 patients, and an arnica gel did not change laser bruises in 1989
- Muscle soreness
- Mixed: topical arnica increased leg pain 24 hours after calf exercise in 53 people, and eased tenderness only at 72 hours after downhill running in 20 trained men67
- Homeopathic arnica
- A 1998 systematic review found no good evidence it beats placebo; a 2021 meta-analysis of surgery trials found a small effect that just missed significance against placebo (g = 0.18, p = 0.059)1112
What it is
Arnica (Arnica montana) is a daisy-family plant used in skin gels and creams and as highly diluted homeopathic pills; the herb is not for eating.
How it works
ProposedArnica flowers contain flavonoid glycosides, terpenoids, amines, coumarins and volatile oils, and sesquiterpene lactones such as helenalin and its esters. The sesquiterpene lactones are the main cause of the allergic and irritant skin reactions arnica can provoke. How a topical arnica gel would ease joint pain is not established in the sources here. Homeopathic preparations are serial dilutions, for example 30x (1:10^30), and NCCIH finds little evidence that homeopathy works for any specific condition.3202111413
Forms side by side: gel, ointment, homeopathic pills and the herb
4 forms named in our sources. The rest show what our data holds, and say plainly where it holds nothing yet.
Arnica forms compared
4 forms| 4 forms | Gel (tincture-based) | Ointment or cream (10% to 20%) | Homeopathic arnica pills or globules (6C, 30C, 30x, D30) | Tea, tincture or herb taken by mouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Absorption in people | Applied to the skin over the painful joint; no human data on how much is absorbed.5 | Applied to intact skin; no human absorption data.8 | Taken by mouth as highly diluted pills (30x is 1:10^30); NCCIH notes that some products labelled homeopathic contain substantial amounts of active ingredients.1413 | Not studied in people for any benefit.3 |
| Tolerance | Adverse events in 4.8% vs 6.1% with ibuprofen gel in the hand trial; arnica can cause contact allergy.519 | LactMed says arnica should not be used on broken skin and may cause allergic skin reactions.3 | Adverse events did not differ from placebo in a hand-surgery trial; one rhinoplasty patient had itching and rash.1722 | LactMed says oral botanical arnica should be avoided because of its many toxic components; maternal arnica tea probably caused haemolytic anaemia in one breastfed infant.3 |
| Studied for | Hand osteoarthritis (B); bruising (no effect) | Bruising after eyelid surgery (no effect); muscle soreness (mixed, D) | Soreness and recovery after running and surgery (mixed; C to no effect) | Not graded: unsafe by mouth |
- Arnica gel (tincture-based)
- Arnica ointment or cream (10% to 20%)
- Homeopathic arnica pills or globules (6C, 30C, 30x, D30)
- Absorption in people
- Taken by mouth as highly diluted pills (30x is 1:10^30); NCCIH notes that some products labelled homeopathic contain substantial amounts of active ingredients.1413
- Tolerance
- Adverse events did not differ from placebo in a hand-surgery trial; one rhinoplasty patient had itching and rash.1722
- Studied for
- Soreness and recovery after running and surgery (mixed; C to no effect)
- Arnica tea, tincture or herb taken by mouth
What the human research says
Human trials only, one row per outcome. The form line shows what each trial actually tested. Grades follow our evidence-grading policy.
Trial map
14 graded outcomes, largest study first14 graded outcomes: 3 improved, 5 mixed, 4 no effect, 2 worsened. The largest, a 2001 observational study of 443 people on contact allergy to arnica in dermatology patients, found a worsening. One other outcome found a worsening: leg pain after calf-raise exercise (topical cream) (53 people).
1Contact allergy to arnica in dermatology patients
Worsened · Grade D · Observational, 443 people, 2001
Consecutive patients patch-tested at a dermatology clinic
Dose, result and source| Outcome | Found | People | Study | Who was studied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contact allergy to arnica in dermatology patients | Worsened | 443 | Grade D · Observational, 2001 | Consecutive patients patch-tested at a dermatology clinic |
| Muscle soreness after long-distance running (homeopathic 30x) | No effect | 400 | No-effect grade · RCT, 1998 | Runners expecting delayed-onset soreness after long-distance races (519 randomized) |
| Knee swelling after knee surgery (homeopathic 30x, three trials) | Mixed | 319 | Grade C · RCT, 2006 | Patients having arthroscopy (227), knee replacement (35) or cruciate ligament reconstruction (57) |
| Hand osteoarthritis pain and function: arnica gel vs ibuprofen gel | Improved | 204 | Grade B · RCT, 2007 | Adults with radiologically confirmed, symptomatic osteoarthritis of the finger joints |
| Bruising, swelling and appearance after upper eyelid surgery | No effect | 136 | No-effect grade · RCT, 2016 | Patients having bilateral upper blepharoplasty, with one untreated eyelid as internal control |
| Muscle soreness after a marathon (homeopathic D30, pooled) | Improved | 82 | Grade C · Meta-analysis, 2003 | Marathon runners from two randomized placebo-controlled trials (Oslo Marathon 1990 and 1995) |
| Pain, bruising and swelling after carpal tunnel surgery (homeopathic) | No effect | 62 | Grade D · RCT, 2003 | Adults having elective carpal tunnel surgery |
| Pain, swelling and jaw stiffness after wisdom tooth surgery (topical) | Improved | 60 | Grade D · RCT, 2024 | Patients (mean age 27) having impacted lower third molars removed |
| Leg pain after calf-raise exercise (topical cream) | Worsened | 53 | Grade D · RCT, 2010 | 53 subjects doing a standard calf-raise protocol, one leg arnica and one leg placebo |
| Recovery after carpal tunnel release (pills plus ointment) | Mixed | 37 | Grade D · RCT, 2002 | Patients having bilateral endoscopic carpal tunnel release |
| Bruising after face-lift surgery (homeopathic) | Mixed | 29 | Grade D · RCT, 2006 | Patients having rhytidectomy at a tertiary care centre |
| Bruising after rhinoplasty (oral arnica) | Mixed | 22 | Grade D · RCT, 2016 | Patients having rhinoplasty with nasal bone osteotomies by one surgeon (9 arnica, 13 placebo) |
| Muscle soreness and recovery after downhill running (topical) | Mixed | 20 | Grade D · RCT, 2014 | Well-trained men with delayed-onset muscle soreness |
| Laser-induced facial bruising (topical gel) | No effect | 19 | Grade D · RCT, 2002 | Patients with facial telangiectases treated with a pulsed dye laser |
Every graded row
14 rowsShowing 14 of 14 outcomes. Human trials only.
BGrade BHand osteoarthritis pain and function: arnica gel vs ibuprofen gelJointsNot inferior to ibuprofen gelRCT
n 204 · 2007
Improved Pain and hand function improved equally in both groups, with no differences in any secondary endpoint, so arnica gel was judged not inferior to ibuprofen gel. Adverse events: 4.8% with arnica, 6.1% with ibuprofen.
- Design
- RCT, n = 204, 2007
- Population
- Adults with radiologically confirmed, symptomatic osteoarthritis of the finger joints
- Form
- Arnica gel (50 g tincture per 100 g, DER 1:20) vs 5% ibuprofen gel
- Dose
- Topical gel as directed in the trial
- Duration
- 21 days
- Source
- Reference 5 · PubMed 17318618 (opens PubMed)
CGrade CKnee swelling after knee surgery (homeopathic 30x, three trials)After surgerySignificant in 1 of 3 trialsRCT · 3 studies
n 319 · 2006
Mixed All three trials showed a trend toward less swelling, but the difference was significant only after ligament reconstruction (−1.80%, 95% CI −3.30 to −0.30); arthroscopy and knee replacement showed no significant difference.
- Design
- RCT, 3 studies, n = 319, 2006
- Population
- Patients having arthroscopy (227), knee replacement (35) or cruciate ligament reconstruction (57)
- Form
- Homeopathic Arnica 30x globules vs placebo
- Dose
- 5 globules before surgery, then 5 globules three times a day
- Duration
- Until day 1 or 2 after surgery (primary outcome)
- Source
- Reference 14 · PubMed 17105693 (opens PubMed)
CGrade CMuscle soreness after a marathon (homeopathic D30, pooled)Muscle sorenessLess soreness (P = 0.04)Meta-analysis · 2 studies
n 82 · 2003
Improved Soreness right after the marathon was lower with arnica (P = 0.04); muscle enzymes, a measure of cell damage, did not differ.
- Design
- Meta-analysis, 2 studies, n = 82, 2003
- Population
- Marathon runners from two randomized placebo-controlled trials (Oslo Marathon 1990 and 1995)
- Form
- Homeopathic Arnica D30 pills vs placebo
- Dose
- Five pills morning and evening
- Duration
- From the evening before the race to 3 days after
- Source
- Reference 16 · PubMed 14587684 (opens PubMed)
DGrade DContact allergy to arnica in dermatology patientsSkin allergy1.13% sensitizedObservational
n 443 · 2001
Worsened 5 of 443 (about 1.13%) reacted to arnica and 9 to marigold; testing with the Compositae or sesquiterpene lactone mix alone missed some arnica allergies.
- Design
- Observational, n = 443, 2001
- Population
- Consecutive patients patch-tested at a dermatology clinic
- Form
- Arnica extract patch test
- Dose
- Patch test
- Duration
- Single test series
- Source
- Reference 19 · PubMed 11722485 (opens PubMed)
DGrade DPain, bruising and swelling after carpal tunnel surgery (homeopathic)After surgeryNo difference vs placeboRCT
n 62 · 2003
No effect Pain (P = 0.79) and bruising (P = 0.45) at day 4 did not differ from placebo, nor did swelling or painkiller use.
- Design
- RCT, n = 62, 2003
- Population
- Adults having elective carpal tunnel surgery
- Form
- Homeopathic arnica 30C or 6C tablets vs placebo
- Dose
- Three tablets a day
- Duration
- 7 days before and 14 days after surgery
- Source
- Reference 17 · PubMed 12562974 (opens PubMed)
DGrade DPain, swelling and jaw stiffness after wisdom tooth surgery (topical)Oral surgery recoveryLess pain to day 5; swelling unchangedRCT
n 60 · 2024
Improved Pain scores were lower than with standard therapy alone up to day 5, and limited mouth opening (trismus) was smaller on days 1, 3 and 5 (P < .05); facial swelling was not reduced by arnica.
- Design
- RCT, n = 60, 2024
- Population
- Patients (mean age 27) having impacted lower third molars removed
- Form
- Topical arnica added to standard therapy (antibiotic plus NSAID) vs standard therapy alone; a third arm used mucopolysaccharide polysulfate
- Dose
- Topical application (amount not stated in the abstract)
- Duration
- Measured on days 1, 3, 5 and 10 after surgery
- Source
- Reference 25 · PubMed 37913818 (opens PubMed)
DGrade DLeg pain after calf-raise exercise (topical cream)Muscle sorenessMore pain at 24 h (3.04 vs 2.36)RCT
n 53 · 2010
Worsened Pain scores 24 hours after exercise were higher on arnica-treated legs than on placebo legs (3.04 vs 2.36, p < 0.005); there was no difference at days 3 and 4, and muscle tenderness and ankle range of motion did not differ.
- Design
- RCT, n = 53, 2010
- Population
- 53 subjects doing a standard calf-raise protocol, one leg arnica and one leg placebo
- Form
- Topical arnica cream vs placebo cream
- Dose
- Applied right after exercise and at 24 and 48 hours
- Duration
- 4 days
- Source
- Reference 6 · PubMed 20807867 (opens PubMed)
DGrade DRecovery after carpal tunnel release (pills plus ointment)After surgeryLess pain at 2 weeks onlyRCT
n 37 · 2002
Mixed Grip strength and wrist swelling did not differ, but pain at 2 weeks was significantly lower in the arnica group (P < .03).
- Design
- RCT, n = 37, 2002
- Population
- Patients having bilateral endoscopic carpal tunnel release
- Form
- Homeopathic arnica tablets plus herbal arnica ointment vs placebos
- Dose
- As directed in the trial
- Duration
- 2 weeks
- Source
- Reference 23 · PubMed 11892685 (opens PubMed)
DGrade DBruising after face-lift surgery (homeopathic)BruisingSmaller bruise area on 2 of 4 daysRCT
n 29 · 2006
Mixed Patients and staff saw no difference, and colour change did not differ; the bruised area was smaller with arnica, significantly so on 2 of 4 days measured.
- Design
- RCT, n = 29, 2006
- Population
- Patients having rhytidectomy at a tertiary care centre
- Form
- Homeopathic Arnica montana vs placebo
- Dose
- Perioperative, as directed in the trial
- Duration
- Up to postoperative day 10
- Source
- Reference 18 · PubMed 16415448 (opens PubMed)
DGrade DBruising after rhinoplasty (oral arnica)BruisingSmaller bruises (P < 0.1 threshold)RCT
n 22 · 2016
Mixed Bruise extent was 16% to 33% smaller with arnica, with significance claimed on day 7 using a P < 0.1 threshold (P = 0.097); intensity differences were mixed. One person had itching and rash.
- Design
- RCT, n = 22, 2016
- Population
- Patients having rhinoplasty with nasal bone osteotomies by one surgeon (9 arnica, 13 placebo)
- Form
- Oral perioperative Arnica montana vs placebo
- Dose
- Perioperative, as directed in the trial
- Duration
- Measured on postoperative days 2/3, 7 and 9/10
- Source
- Reference 22 · PubMed 25954844 (opens PubMed)
DGrade DMuscle soreness and recovery after downhill running (topical)Muscle sorenessLess pain at 72 h onlyRCT
n 20 · 2014
Mixed The arnica group reported less pain and muscle tenderness 72 hours after the run. Arnica did not change strength or jump performance, or blood markers of muscle damage and inflammation.
- Design
- RCT, n = 20, 2014
- Population
- Well-trained men with delayed-onset muscle soreness
- Form
- Topical arnica vs placebo on thigh and calf muscles
- Dose
- Every 4 waking hours
- Duration
- 96 hours
- Source
- Reference 7 · PubMed 23947690 (opens PubMed)
DGrade DLaser-induced facial bruising (topical gel)BruisingNo difference vs vehicleRCT
n 19 · 2002
No effect Bruising scores did not differ between arnica and vehicle, whether the gel was used before (P = 0.496) or after (P = 0.359) laser treatment.
- Design
- RCT, n = 19, 2002
- Population
- Patients with facial telangiectases treated with a pulsed dye laser
- Form
- Arnica gel on one side of the face vs vehicle on the other
- Dose
- Twice a day
- Duration
- 2 weeks before or 2 weeks after the laser
- Source
- Reference 9 · PubMed 12174058 (opens PubMed)
∅No effectMuscle soreness after long-distance running (homeopathic 30x)Muscle soreness45.2 vs 41.0 mm (n.s.)RCT
n 400 · 1998
No effect Mean 2-day soreness scores were 45.2 mm with arnica and 41.0 mm with placebo (95% CI 8.81 mm favouring placebo to 0.51 mm favouring arnica); race times did not differ.
- Design
- RCT, n = 400, 1998
- Population
- Runners expecting delayed-onset soreness after long-distance races (519 randomized)
- Form
- Homeopathic Arnica 30x pills vs indistinguishable placebo
- Dose
- As directed in the trial for 5 days
- Duration
- 5 days after the race
- Source
- Reference 15 · PubMed 9758072 (opens PubMed)
∅No effectBruising, swelling and appearance after upper eyelid surgeryBruisingNo difference vs placeboRCT
n 136 · 2016
No effect There was no difference between arnica and placebo in overall appearance, swelling, bruising, redness, pain or satisfaction at any time point; untreated eyelids did as well as treated ones.
- Design
- RCT, n = 136, 2016
- Population
- Patients having bilateral upper blepharoplasty, with one untreated eyelid as internal control
- Form
- Arnica ointment 10% vs placebo ointment
- Dose
- Applied to one periorbital area after surgery
- Duration
- Assessed at 3 days, 7 days and 6 weeks
- Source
- Reference 8 · PubMed 27348641 (opens PubMed)
What the numbers add up to
Each point is worked out from the data and the sources numbered on this page, with the arithmetic shown under it. It adds no new data and is not medical advice.
Arnica gel vs ibuprofen gel in numbers
In Cochrane's analysis of the hand trial, pain differed by 3.8 points on a 100-point scale between the two gels, a 4% difference, while total adverse events were 13% with arnica and 8% with ibuprofen.4
The largest homeopathic trial was negative
Studied doses
Doses used in research, shown against the official limits. They describe the studies, not a recommendation for you.
Studied doses in research, not advice. These are amounts used in research, not personal advice. Your clinician or pharmacist can say what fits you.
Doses studied in human trials
Doses studied in human trials ranged from a single 10% ointment course after eyelid surgery and arnica gel twice a day for 2 weeks to a tincture-based gel used for 21 days on the hands and topical arnica every 4 waking hours for 4 days after running. Homeopathic trials used 6C, 30C, 30x or D30 pills, typically three to five pills one to three times a day from before surgery or a race until up to 2 weeks after. These are research regimens, not product directions.8957171416
When trials measured an effect
4 outcomes| Outcome | Measured at | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Hand osteoarthritis pain | Measured at 21 days | Randomized comparison with ibuprofen gel5 |
| Muscle soreness after running | Less pain at 72 hours, not earlier | Placebo-controlled trial in 20 trained men7 |
| Bruising after eyelid surgery | No difference at 3 days, 7 days or 6 weeks | Placebo-controlled trial in 136 patients8 |
| Pain after wisdom tooth surgery | Lower pain than standard care alone from day 1 up to day 5 | Randomized trial in 60 patients, without placebo25 |
Interactions and safety
Published interactions only: each row cites a source. No row means none was found in our sources, not that a combination is safe.
What Arnica meets
2 cited rowsMedicines 1
Supplements and foods 1
- Reference summary
Choose a medicine or supplement above to read its cited rows here.
Also cited:
Warfarin and other blood thinners
ReviewReference summary
Warfarin and other blood thinners: A 2000 pharmacy review lists arnica flower among herbs that may raise bleeding risk or add to warfarin's effect, noting that nearly all herb-warfarin information comes from lab, animal or single case data. No clinical interaction study was found.
Source 27, Am J Health Syst Pharm (2000)
Other daisy-family (Asteraceae) plant products
ReviewReference summary
Other daisy-family (Asteraceae) plant products, for example chamomile, calendula, echinacea: People sensitized to one Asteraceae plant can react to others; LactMed lists chamomile, chrysanthemum, dandelion, marigold and sunflower. In patch testing, arnica and marigold allergies often came with reactions to propolis and fragrance mix.
Source 21, Contact Dermatitis (2002); Source 3, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (2024); Source 19, Contact Dermatitis (2001)
Interactions
2 agents| Agent | What the source says | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Medicines1 | ||
| Warfarin and other blood thinners | A 2000 pharmacy review lists arnica flower among herbs that may raise bleeding risk or add to warfarin's effect, noting that nearly all herb-warfarin information comes from lab, animal or single case data. No clinical interaction study was found.27 | Review |
| Other supplements1 | ||
| Other daisy-family (Asteraceae) plant productse.g. chamomile, calendula, echinacea | People sensitized to one Asteraceae plant can react to others; LactMed lists chamomile, chrysanthemum, dandelion, marigold and sunflower. In patch testing, arnica and marigold allergies often came with reactions to propolis and fragrance mix.21319 | Review |
Check with what you take
Kept on this device onlyAdd what you take. We list every interaction our evidence profiles cite between Arnica and your picks, and between your picks.
- Loading names…
Add a supplement or medicine you take to check it against Arnica.
Starting from one medicine? The interaction checker rates how serious each pair is, on a curated list of 19 entries for 11 medicines. This cabinet has no severity rating: it lists every interaction row our supplement pages cite.
Who should be careful
8 groups- Daisy-family allergy
- People allergic to Asteraceae (Compositae) plants such as chamomile, chrysanthemum, dandelion, marigold or sunflower may react to arnica; about 1% of patch-tested dermatology patients were sensitized to it.31920
- Broken skin
- LactMed says arnica should not be used on broken skin.3
- Anyone, by mouth (non-homeopathic)
- Oral botanical arnica (tea, tincture, herb) should be avoided because of its many toxic components, according to LactMed.3
- Pregnancy
- There are no pregnancy safety data: a 2001 safety assessment found no reproductive or developmental toxicity data for arnica extracts. Swallowed arnica has caused severe gastroenteritis, a fast heart rate and death, and LactMed advises against oral botanical arnica for anyone.283
- Breastfeeding
- Homeopathic and topical arnica are usually considered safe while breastfeeding, but maternal arnica tea probably caused haemolytic anaemia in one breastfed infant (LactMed).3
- Products labelled homeopathic
- NCCIH notes that some products labelled homeopathic contain substantial amounts of active ingredients and can cause side effects and drug interactions.13
- Liver
- LiverTox rates arnica an unlikely cause of liver injury (likelihood score E): no liver injury has been reported with topical or homeopathic use. It notes that FDA classes arnica as an unsafe herb by mouth.29
- Blood thinners and surgery
- A pharmacy review lists arnica flower among herbs that may add to warfarin's effect or raise bleeding risk; the data are mostly from lab, animal or case reports.27
Homeopathic arnica and herbal arnica are not the same product
4 notesThe same name covers a measurable plant extract and a remedy diluted far beyond it.
- Herbal arnica
- Gels and ointments are made from flower tinctures or extracts and contain the plant's sesquiterpene lactones, which explains the allergy risk; the hand osteoarthritis gel held 50 g of tincture per 100 g.52021
- Homeopathic arnica
- Pills such as 30x are diluted 1:10^30. A 1998 systematic review concluded the claim that homeopathic arnica works beyond placebo is not supported by rigorous trials; a 2021 meta-analysis found a small effect against placebo that did not reach significance (p = 0.059).141112
- How they are regulated
- In the US, homeopathic products are regulated as drugs under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; the FTC said in 2016 that their efficacy claims need the same scientific evidence as other health claims.13
- Arnica in food
- US regulations list arnica flowers among natural flavouring substances permitted in alcoholic beverages only.2
How to read the label
What to check on the Supplement Facts panel.
How to read the label
3 checksHerbal or homeopathic?
Where not to use it
Herbal arnica products are for intact skin; they are not for broken skin or for swallowing.3
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to common questions; the numbers link to the sources below.
Common questions
8 answersDoes arnica gel work for arthritis pain?
Does arnica make bruises fade faster?
The best trial says no: 10% arnica ointment did not reduce bruising after eyelid surgery in 136 patients, and a 2025 systematic review of eyelid-surgery trials found no significant benefit from arnica. An arnica gel did not change laser bruises; one small study of a 20% ointment under occlusion found faster fading than petrolatum.826910
Does arnica reduce muscle soreness?
Does homeopathic arnica work after surgery?
Can you take arnica by mouth?
Is arnica FDA-approved?
No arnica product in the sources here is FDA-approved for a condition. Homeopathic products are regulated as drugs, and NCCIH notes FDA has warned that some homeopathic products are not evaluated by FDA for safety and effectiveness. Arnica flowers are allowed as a flavouring only in alcoholic beverages.132
Is arnica safe to use before surgery?
What are the side effects of arnica?
On the skin, the main risk is allergy: its sesquiterpene lactones, such as helenalin, are strong sensitizers, and about 1.1% of dermatology patients reacted on patch testing. LiverTox rates arnica an unlikely cause of liver injury (score E). Swallowed as an herb, it can cause stomach upset, vomiting and worse.19202928
Sources
29 sources: trial abstracts, NIH fact sheets and reference databases. Numbers in the text link here.
Sources cited on this page
29 sources- 1PubChem compound summary: Helenalin (CID 23205)Database National Library of Medicine, 2026 · pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 221 CFR 172.510 Natural flavoring substances and natural substances used in conjunction with flavors (arnica flowers: in alcoholic beverages only)Guideline Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, 2026 · ecfr.gov
- 3Arnica. Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed).Database National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, 2024 · PMID 30000888
- 4Topical herbal therapies for treating osteoarthritis.Systematic review Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2013 · PMID 23728701
- 5Choosing between NSAID and arnica for topical treatment of hand osteoarthritis in a randomised, double-blind study.RCT Rheumatol Int, 2007 · PMID 17318618
- 6The effect of topical arnica on muscle pain.RCT Ann Pharmacother, 2010 · PMID 20807867
- 7The effects of topical Arnica on performance, pain and muscle damage after intense eccentric exercise.RCT Eur J Sport Sci, 2014 · PMID 23947690
- 8Arnica Ointment 10% Does Not Improve Upper Blepharoplasty Outcome: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial.RCT Plast Reconstr Surg, 2016 · PMID 27348641
- 9Effects of topical arnica gel on post-laser treatment bruises.RCT Dermatol Surg, 2002 · PMID 12174058
- 10Accelerated resolution of laser-induced bruising with topical 20% arnica: a rater-blinded randomized controlled trial.RCT Br J Dermatol, 2010 · PMID 20412090
- 11Efficacy of homeopathic arnica: a systematic review of placebo-controlled clinical trials.Systematic review Arch Surg, 1998 · PMID 9820349
- 12Is Homeopathic Arnica Effective for Postoperative Recovery? A Meta-analysis of Placebo-Controlled and Active Comparator Trials.Meta-analysis Front Surg, 2021 · PMID 34977136
- 13Homeopathy: What You Need To KnowFact sheet National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, 2026 · nccih.nih.gov
- 14Homeopathic arnica therapy in patients receiving knee surgery: results of three randomised double-blind trials.RCT Complement Ther Med, 2006 · PMID 17105693
- 15Homeopathic Arnica 30x is ineffective for muscle soreness after long-distance running: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.RCT Clin J Pain, 1998 · PMID 9758072
- 16Effect of Arnica D30 in marathon runners. Pooled results from two double-blind placebo controlled studies.Meta-analysis Homeopathy, 2003 · PMID 14587684
- 17Homeopathic arnica for prevention of pain and bruising: randomized placebo-controlled trial in hand surgery.RCT J R Soc Med, 2003 · PMID 12562974
- 18Effect of homeopathic Arnica montana on bruising in face-lifts: results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.RCT Arch Facial Plast Surg, 2006 · PMID 16415448
- 19The seamy side of natural medicines: contact sensitization to arnica (Arnica montana L.) and marigold (Calendula officinalis L.).Observational Contact Dermatitis, 2001 · PMID 11722485
- 20[Arnica allergy].Review Hautarzt, 1980 · PMID 6993423
- 21Contact sensitization from Compositae-containing herbal remedies and cosmetics.Review Contact Dermatitis, 2002 · PMID 12492516
- 22Perioperative Arnica montana for Reduction of Ecchymosis in Rhinoplasty Surgery.RCT Ann Plast Surg, 2016 · PMID 25954844
- 23Use of Arnica to relieve pain after carpal-tunnel release surgery.RCT Altern Ther Health Med, 2002 · PMID 11892685
- 24Perioperative Homeopathic Arnica and Bromelain: Current Results and Future Directions.Systematic review Ann Plast Surg, 2020 · PMID 31800557
- 25Can Topical Agents (Arnica and Mucopolysaccharide Polysulfate) Reduce Postoperative Pain, Edema and Trismus Following Mandibular Third Molar Surgery?RCT J Oral Maxillofac Surg, 2024 · PMID 37913818
- 26Interventions for reducing bleeding and swelling in eyelid and periocular surgeries: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.Systematic review Orbit, 2025 · PMID 41264874
- 27Potential interactions between alternative therapies and warfarin.Review Am J Health Syst Pharm, 2000 · PMID 10902065
- 28Final report on the safety assessment of Arnica montana extract and Arnica montana.Review Int J Toxicol, 2001 · PMID 11558636
- 29Arnica MontanaDatabase LiverTox (NCBI Bookshelf), 2023 · ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
What changed
Every dated change to this page: what changed, who made it and why.
Change log
3 entries| Date | Change | Who and why |
|---|---|---|
| evidence, safety, interactions, FAQ, questions | Added a graded row for topical arnica after wisdom tooth surgery (2024 trial, 60 patients, no placebo) with its time-to-effect, and the 2025 systematic review of eyelid-surgery trials (no benefit from arnica) to the bruising answer. Added LiverTox (likelihood score E), a pregnancy note (no reproductive toxicity data; oral arnica unsafe), and a warfarin and bleeding caution from a 2000 pharmacy review. Cut the FAQ from 11 to 8 (side effects and before-surgery questions added; open-cut, breastfeeding and interactions answers now covered by the safety section and page questions) and added bones-and-joints and hair-and-skin goal-hub links. PubMed search to October 2026: the 2021 homeopathic meta-analysis does not report a pooled n, so it stays in the FAQ and key facts rather than as a row; a 2026 ten-person homeopathic crossover after tooth extraction was too small for a row. | Writer: Kymata Health EditorialTrigger: A–Z audit against docs/supplements/AUDIT-STANDARD.md |
| all | New page. Every PMID checked with NCBI E-utilities (esummary title, year and journal) and its abstract read with efetch, including the LactMed record; NCCIH's homeopathy page, 21 CFR 172.510 on eCFR and PubChem read on the date shown. Herbal and homeopathic arnica rows are kept apart in the forms table; the 20% ointment bruising trial is cited but not graded because its abstract gives no participant count. | Writer: Kymata Health EditorialTrigger: new page |
| forms | The forms table's tolerance row is labelled "Tolerance" instead of "GI tolerance": it covers gels and creams on the skin as well as pills and tea. No evidence row or grade changed. | Writer: Kymata Health EditorialTrigger: adversarial review |
Supplement & Nutrient Encyclopedia. Educational information only; it is not medical advice and does not replace a clinician. Dietary supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Statements about supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA.