Evidence supporting the use of: Arnica
For the health condition: Bites and Stings

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Arnica (Arnica montana) has been traditionally used in herbal medicine to relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and promote healing of bruises, sprains, and minor wounds. Its use for bites and stings is primarily rooted in this long history of folk and traditional medicine, especially in Europe. The rationale is that arnica’s anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties may help alleviate swelling, pain, and irritation associated with insect bites or stings.

However, scientific evidence supporting arnica’s efficacy specifically for bites and stings is limited. Most clinical research on arnica has focused on its topical application for bruises, muscle pain, or postoperative swelling, with mixed results. For example, a few randomized controlled trials suggest modest benefits for reducing pain and swelling in musculoskeletal injuries, but these findings cannot be directly extrapolated to bites and stings.

There are anecdotal reports and historical references to arnica being used as a poultice or ointment for insect bites, but robust clinical trials examining this use are lacking. Additionally, arnica should never be ingested or applied to broken skin due to potential toxicity and risk of allergic reactions. In summary, arnica’s use for bites and stings is primarily justified by tradition, and while its anti-inflammatory compounds (such as helenalin) offer a plausible mechanism, scientific validation for this specific application is lacking.

More about arnica
More about Bites and Stings

Other ingredients used for Bites and Stings

Abrus
Abuta
Achyranthes
Aconite
Adrenergic amines
Alchornea
Aloe vera
Alstonia scholaris
American Liverleaf
Amor seco
anamu
Angelica
angel\'s trumpet
Aquilegia formosa
Arani
Ardisia
Arisaema
arnica
Asclepias cordifolia
ash
Asteraceae
avens
babchi
Baccharoides anthelmintica
balsam
Baphicacanthus cusia
Barleria
basil
bee products
bee propolis
bentonite
beta caryophyllene
beta-pinene
betel
Bidens pilosa
bisabolene
bishop\'s weed
bitter grass
black cumin
black nightshade
black root
black walnut
black-eyed Susan
blackboard tree
borneol
boxthorne
Brazilian peppertree
buckthorn
bасора
cajuput
Calendula
Calotropis gigantea
camphor oil
capillary artemisia
castile soap
cedar
Centipeda
chamomile
chickweed
Chinese raisintree
cinquefoil
citronella
Clerodendrum indicum
cocklebur
colloidal silver
copaiba oil
cowherb
curcumen
curcumin
devil\'s club
Dichrostachys glomerata
Echinacea
echinacea purpurea
Eclipta
emu oil
Erodium cicutarium
essential oil blend
eucalyptus
eugenol
Eupatorium
Euphorbia
European Elder
European five-finger grass
fang-feng
fern
Ficus religiosa
fir
fleabane
Fomes fomentarius
gallotannin
gamma-terpinene
geranium
giant blazingstar
Glechoma hederacea
Gnaphalium
goldenseal
green tea
Guazuma ulmifolia
hairy arnica
heal-all
Helicteres isora
hemp
hemp oil
henna
Herb Robert
herbal blend (proprietary)
Homalomena
honey
honeysuckle
Horsemint
horseradish
hound\'s tongue
Huang hua
Hyaluronidase
Hydrocolloid
Ilex
impatiens
Indian coraltree
isobutylamides
Jessica\'s sticktight
labrador tea
Laggera pterodonta
Lantana camara
lavender
lemongrass
Leptospermum scoparium
Lesser speargrass
Lewis's monkey flower
lime
Litsea
lodhtree
Lysimachia
Macaranga indica
Mahonia
Malva sylvestris
marigold
Marking Nut Tree
Matapalo Tree
Matico
melaleuca alternifolia
Melia
Menthol oil
Milkweed
Monoterpenes
Morning glory
Mountain horopito
Mugwort
Mustard
mustard seed
Nasturtium
Neem tree
Nimbidin
nut grass
oregano
Osha
Oxystelma
p-menthane-3,8-diol
paederia foetida
papaya
Papayotin
paw paw
Pellitory
Petiveria
Peucedanum
phenolic compounds
Phyllanthus
plantain
Plectranthus amboinicus
Pluchea
Plumbago zeylanica
Portulaca
prepared aconite tuber
Propolis
purple Tephrosia
Quisqualis
red spiderling
resin
Rhus glabra
rosemary
Rubia yunnanensis
rue
sage
Sapindus mukorossi
schizonepeta
Self-Heal
Sensitive Plant
Sesbania
Sesquiterpenes
shen-chu
Sickle-leaf hare's ear
siler root
Sinapis arvensis
Smartweed
Smooth Alder
Soapberry
Solanaceae
Solanum indicum
Southernwood
Spanish Needle
Sphaeranthus indicus
Spikenard
Spilanthes
Stellaria dichotoma
Stereospermum
Storax
Sweet Annie
Sweet Bay
Tagetes
Tansy
Tea Tree Oil
Terpenoids
Terpinen-4-ol
thyme
Thymol
Thymus
Trumpet Vine
turmeric
Vervain
vitamin C
vitamin E
Weak Jumby Pepper
Winter Savory
Wintergreen
Witch Hazel
xanthium (cockleburs)
Yerba Mansa
zanthoxylum
Zinc
Zingiberene

Products containing arnica

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