Arthritis Living With Arnica as a Natural Treatment for Arthritis By Carol Eustice facebook Carol Eustice is a writer covering arthritis and chronic illness, who herself has been diagnosed with both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Learn about our editorial process Carol Eustice Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Meredith Bull, ND on September 25, 2020 facebook linkedin Meredith Bull, ND, is a licensed naturopathic doctor with a private practice in Los Angeles. She helped co-author the first integrative geriatrics textbook, "Integrative Geriatric Medicine." Learn about our Medical Review Board Meredith Bull, ND Updated on September 25, 2020 Print Table of Contents View All What It Is Benefits Research How It's Taken Warnings When working to manage your arthritis, you may consider natural remedies either as an alternative to traditional treatments or as a complement to them. Arnica is one that has gotten a lot of arthritis patients' attention because of its purported anti-inflammatory properties. While natural, arnica carries serious side effects if dosed orally and is reserved for topical use. Berndt Fischer/Oxford Scientific/Getty Images What Is Arnica? Arnica, short for Arnica montana, is a perennial plant found in the mountainous areas of Europe and North America that produces yellow-orange daisy-like flowers. Since the 1500s, the fresh or dried flowers of the arnica plant have been used for medicinal purposes. Possible Benefits Arnica is used for bruises, sprains, muscle soreness, and muscle spasms often associated with sports activity. Arnica is also used to treat muscular aches, joint pain, and arthritis. It is believed that the arnica plant has anti-inflammatory properties. Arnica has also been used for wound healing, superficial phlebitis, inflammation caused by insect bites, and swelling caused by broken bones. Research on Use for Arthritis A randomized study involving 204 people with hand osteoarthritis was published in Rheumatology International in 2007. It was found that daily arnica gel was as effective as daily ibuprofen gel, although neither treatment was compared to placebo. There also were minimal side effects with arnica. In 2002, an open-label, non-placebo controlled study was published in Advances in Therapy, which involved 79 people with knee osteoarthritis. Study participants applied arnica gel twice daily for three to six weeks. One person had an allergic reaction, but the gel was well-tolerated by most patients. Arnica gel was found to reduce pain and stiffness and improve function. Administration Arnica can be applied to the skin as a cream, ointment, liniment, salve, or tincture. It can be made into compresses or poultices. It is usually used topically because serious side effects can result from oral administration of arnica. Oral homeopathic remedies that contain arnica do exist, but they are heavily diluted to eliminate potential harm. Warnings and Precautions There are serious side effects that can occur with oral administration of arnica. It is not advised that you take arnica by mouth without medical supervision, as it can cause dizziness, tremors, and heart abnormalities. Arnica can also irritate the mucous membranes and cause vomiting. It can be fatal in large doses. The following precautions should be taken with its topical use: Arnica should never be applied to broken skin.People who are allergic or hypersensitive to arnica should obviously avoid it.If used for a long period of time, arnica can cause skin irritation, eczema, peeling of the skin, or blisters. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should avoid the use of arnica. Always discuss what you are using or taking with your doctor, including supplements and herbs. There are no known interactions with arnica. Still, it is important to discuss arnica with your doctor and be vigilant about monitoring for side effects. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Dealing with chronic inflammation? An anti-inflammatory diet can help. Our free recipe guide shows you the best foods to fight inflammation. Get yours today! Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Penn State Hershey Medical Center. Arnica. Reviewed March 24, 2015. Widrig R, Suter A, Saller R, Melzer J. Choosing between NSAID and arnica for topical treatment of hand osteoarthritis in a randomised, double-blind study. Rheumatol Int. 2007;27(6):585-91. doi:10.1007/s00296-007-0304-y Knuesel O, Weber M, Suter A. Arnica montana gel in osteoarthritis of the knee: an open, multicenter clinical trial. Adv Ther. 2002;19(5):209-18. doi:10.1007/bf02850361 Additional Reading Arnica. Overview. University of Maryland Medical Center. Last updated 5/7/2013. Arthritis Foundation. Nine Supplements to Avoid.