Arnica is an herb used in homeopathic medicine that may offer some help for healing bruises and certain antimicrobial actions. Also called mountain tobacco or wolf's bane, arnica is most often used topically, meaning it's applied to the skin in the form of a cream, salve or ointment. All natural and herbal remedies, including arnica, could pose potential risks during pregnancy, so you should consult your doctor before using arnica while you're pregnant or breastfeeding.
Function
Arnica appears to have anti-inflammatory and soothing properties that could help in treating aches and bruises, says the University of Maryland Medical Center. Arnica contains helenalin, a type of terpenoid that is thought to provide the remedy's anti-inflammatory actions, explains the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Arnica also contains amines, the volatile oil thymol, tannins, phytosterols, cartenoids, arnicin, other terpenoids, flavonoids and coumarins that may provide antimicrobial and respiratory-stimulating effects.
Effects
Arnica could help to support pregnancy and delivery, as well as recovery from childbirth and surgery, according to the University of Michigan Health System. Arnica may help in treating bruises, backaches, burns, varicose veins, arthritis, bursitis, carpal tunnel syndrome and hemorrhoids. Topical arnica remedies might reduce pain and inflammation due to insect bites, sprains and bone fractures, says the University of Maryland Medical Center. Arnica is perhaps best known in homeopathy for treating overexertion, physical trauma and sore muscles. The remedy may also help in treating eye strain and injuries, gout, fibromyalgia and wounds. No widely-accepted scientific research supports the use of arnica for treating any medical condition, however.
Considerations
Although arnica is sometimes used as a homeopathic treatment to support pregnancy, labor and delivery, and recovery from childbirth, you shouldn't use arnica unless your health-care provider advises you that it's safe to do so. Don't take arnica internally--by mouth--unless the herb is extremely diluted in the form of a homeopathic remedy, and only when it's prepared by a qualified homeopathic practitioner, warns the University of Maryland Medical Center. Keep in mind that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration considers oral arnica unsafe, but topical arnica use appears to cause no significant health risks, says the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
Dosage & Application
The most common topical forms of arnica remedies include tinctures, creams, ointments and liniments. You can use the tincture in compresses, poultices and even mouthwashes. The tincture is most commonly used in a 1:10 ratio of arnica to 70-percent ethanol, says the University of Maryland Medical Center. Creams and ointments typically contain at most 15-percent arnica oil or 20- to 25-percent tincture. Ask your doctor about the correct dosage and application of arnica before using the herbal remedy during pregnancy.
Warning
Taking arnica preparations by mouth can pose serious health risks, including potential death, cautions the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Oral arnica preparations can lead to tachycardia, coma and fatality. Arnica preparations applied to the skin can sometimes cause dermatitis, burning and skin irritation, but these side effects are rare. Although topical applications of arnica generally don't pose any health risks, you should still consult your physician before using arnica if you're pregnant or breastfeeding, advises the University of Maryland Medical Center.
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