Synopsis

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

Arnica, particularly in the form of Arnica montana, has a long history in traditional herbal medicine for treating musculoskeletal injuries, including bruises, sprains, and ligament injuries. Its use dates back centuries in Europe, where it was applied topically to reduce pain, swelling, and inflammation associated with trauma. Traditional use is primarily topical; oral preparations are less common and more controversial. The rationale behind arnica’s application lies in its purported anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, attributed to compounds such as sesquiterpene lactones (e.g., helenalin). In folk medicine, it was often used to support recovery from injuries involving connective tissue, including ligaments.

However, scientific evidence supporting arnica’s efficacy for ligament injuries is limited and mixed. Some small clinical trials and laboratory studies suggest arnica may reduce pain and swelling after soft-tissue injury, but high-quality, large-scale studies specifically investigating its effects on torn or injured ligaments are lacking. Systematic reviews generally conclude that while arnica appears safe when used topically, its effectiveness remains unproven, and results are inconsistent. Therefore, while arnica is widely used in traditional medicine for ligament injuries, robust scientific validation is still absent.

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More about Ligaments (torn or injured)

Other ingredients used for Ligaments (torn or injured)

Other health conditions supported by Arnica (unspecified)

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