You may develop painful, swollen knees from an injury caused by overuse or by trauma that results in a strained ligament or a sprained muscle. Arthritis may also cause pain, stiffness and swelling in your knees. Arnica is a traditional herbal remedy that is used topically to improve many ailments including muscular or joint pain. Consult your doctor to discuss whether arnica is a good choice for your situation.
Arnica
The arnica plant, or Arnica montana, is a perennial that grows about 2 feet tall and is native to the mountains of Siberia and some parts of Europe. The plant produces small, yellow flowers similar to daisies each year. These flowers have medicinal properties and have been part of traditional herbal medicine for hundreds of years.
Properties
Arnica is recommended by practitioners of herbal medicine for many painful conditions, including muscular aches and pains, bruises and sprains. The flowers contain a natural compound called helenalin, which has biological activity. Helenalin and possibly other compounds in arnica help kill bacteria and other pathogens and also suppress inflammation. Arnica also decreases swelling caused by broken bones and other injuries. These properties make arnica potentially very useful for swelling and pain in your knees.
Clinical Research
A number of clinical studies have examined the potential of arnica for pain relief. In one of these, published in "Advances in Therapy" in 2002, subjects with knee pain caused by arthritis used either arnica or a placebo topically on their knees for up to six weeks. Those applying arnica experienced less pain and discomfort than the placebo group. In another study of patients with hand pain published in "Rheumatology International" in 2007, applying arnica topically was found to be as effective in decreasing pain as ibuprofen.
Recommendations and Precautions
Arnica is available from health food stores as an additive to creams and ointments. It can also be purchased as a tincture, which should be diluted three parts to 10 parts water for use as a compress. Arnica is generally considered safe for topical use, although it may occasionally cause skin irritation or an allergic reaction. Do not use arnica on broken skin. Discuss arnica with your doctor before adding it to your regimen.
References
- MedlinePlus: Knee Pain
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Arnica
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Arnica
- "Advances in Therapy"; Arnica Montana Gel in Osteoarthritis of the Knee: An Open, Multicenter Clinical Trial; O. Knuesel et al.; September-October 2002
- "Rheumatology International"; Choosing Between NSAID and Arnica for Topical Treatment...; R. Widrig et al.; April 2007
