Arnica montana For Bruising & Swelling - YTF Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Network

YTF Cosmetic Surgery Patient Network

Arnica Montana Supplements For Bruising & Swelling After Plastic Surgery

also known as: Mountain Tobacco, Mountain Arnica, Common Arnica, Leopard's Bane and Sneezewort
plant family: Asteraceae
type: Herbaceous perennial
parts used: Roots and flowers
description: Arnica montana or Leopard's Bane is a perennial herb, growing close to the ground. The leaves form a flat rosette, from the center of which rises a flower stalk, 1 to 2 feet high, bearing orange-yellow flowers. The rhizome is dark brown, cylindrical, usually curved, and bears brittle wiry rootlets on the under surface.
habitat: Indigenous to Central Europe, in woods and mountain pastures, although it has been found in England and Southern Scotland.

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Arnica montana has been used in Europe for centuries to treat swelling, soreness and bruising. This product is often misunderstood when confused with ingesting the arnica plant in its raw form. When properly prepared, Arnica may significantly decrease the healing time or the appearance of such. There are many formulations from different companies. Sublingual (under the tongue) types are the most often recommended for plastic surgery.

warning: This herb should NEVER be taken in raw form. This plant, like many medicinal plants if ingested, can cause intestinal bleeding, abdominal cramping and sickness. Homeopathy is the medicinal use of tinctures and suspensions using herbs and other plants and should never be consumed without proper preparation. Only respectable homeopathic remedies and tinctures should be consumed.

Clinical Testing On The Efficacy Of Homeopathic Arnica Montana

Efficacy of homeopathic arnica: a systematic review of placebo-controlled clinical trials.

Ernst E, Pittler MH.

Department of Complementary Medicine, School of Postgraduate Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Exeter, England, United Kingdom. E.Ernst@exeter.ac.uk

Abstract
BACKGROUND: The efficacy of homeopathic remedies has remained controversial. The homeopathic remedy most frequently studied in placebo-controlled clinical trials is Arnica montana.

OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the clinical efficacy of homeopathic arnica.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Computerized literature searches were performed to retrieve all placebo-controlled studies on the subject. The following databases were searched: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CISCOM, and the Cochrane Library. Data were extracted in a predefined, standardized fashion independently by both authors. There were no restrictions on the language of publications.

RESULTS: Eight trials fulfilled all inclusion criteria. Most related to conditions associated with tissue trauma. Most of these studies were burdened with severe methodological flaws. On balance, they do not suggest that homeopathic arnica is more efficacious than placebo.

CONCLUSION: The claim that homeopathic arnica is efficacious beyond a placebo effect is not supported by rigorous clinical trials.

PMID: 9820349 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Homoeopathic arnica for the treatment of soft tissue injury
Overview

Injuries from bumps, falls and other accidents can cause bruising and swelling to skin and muscles. A number of treatments are available to help reduce swelling and bruising, including icing of injured areas of skin and applying creams. Homoeopathic preparations, particularly flowers from the herb arnica montana (arnica), are also used by some for the treatment for bruises, sprains and sore muscles. This evidence summary identified one systematic review and 14 clinical trials (involving 1,275 people) that examined the effectiveness of homoeopathic arnica for the easing of pain, swelling and bruising caused by a variety of accidents. Overall, the results from the trials indicate that homoeopathic arnica has no clear effect on bruising, swelling, or pain after soft tissue injury. Side effects related to the use of homoeopathic arnica for the treatment of soft tissue injury tend to mild and reversible, and include stomach irritation, tiredness (lethargy), dry mouth, and headache. However, there is no clear difference in the proportion of people experiencing side effects who took homoeopathic arnica compared to those who took a placebo. Side effects related to the use of homoeopathic arnica in general tend to be mild and reversible, and include headaches, tiredness, skin eruptions, dizziness, diarrhoea, and/or the temporary worsening of symptoms (often referred to as “homoeopathic aggravation”). Severe and potentially lethal side effects are associated with the ingestion of the essential oil or the herb itself, and only the homoeopathic preparation of arnica is safe for oral use.

Source and full article: http://www.cam.org.nz/Treatment%20Methods/Homoeopathy/soft_tissue_injury.htm

Conclusion
Although many people swear by it (mostly non-medical personnel and alternative medicine enthusiasts) and recommend it for use in plastic surgery, and I, myself have taken it for surgery, the general clinical consensus is that no difference in efficacy was noted when patients were given arnica montana or a placebo.

Please conduct your own research to determine if you would benefit from arnica montana. Above all, only take a medication, herbal or homeopathic, if your surgeon advises it.

How would you rate your experience with using Arnica montana for your plastic surgery procedure. Do you think it helped? Which product did you use?