Arnica tablets, do they work?

[laura1306]

Been told to take arnica tablets heading into labour and for recovery afterwards. Can anybody say they actually worked and had a quick recovery?

I took them and recovered very quickly from internal and external tears which needed surgical repair. I also had baths with tea tree oil so I don’t know if it was one, the other, or both that worked... but something did! Good luck x

Hmm... Homeopathy only has a placebo effect. This is widely recognised now.
Paracetamol and Ibuprofen are what you will need after birth.

They do no harm.

My HV, GP and dentist all swear by them.

Someone bought me these but even co codamol didn't touch my after birth pains. No harm in trying then though.

Arnica is not for pain relief.

They do no harm.

Apart from increasing the profits of a company peddling sweets as medicine.

Essential oils have been used for centuries. Rosemary is an ingredient in pain relieving gelscforvaching joints.

Gels for aching joints

We have an NHS homeopathic clinic in our town- run by a GP who is also a homeopath.
I know many HCP who recommend the use of Arnica.

I have a degree in Chemistry and have worked in the pharmaceutical industry- I know all about the preparation of such homeopathic remedies.
I understand there is no scientific basis for efficacy.
But I use arnica.

I took them post c-section and recovered very quickly but no idea if the arnica paid any part in that!

I found it helped. If it was the placebo effect so be it but all my friends took it as well for bruising after the birth.
Not sure why the comparison with painkillers.

My surgeon actually recommended arnica when I was having a lump removed from my cheek. He said it can help with bruising. I’m very much of the school that homeopathy is a load of rubbish so was suprised when he recommended it. I didn’t bruise too badly afterwards but have no idea if that has anything to do with arnica obviously. What’s it supposed to help with in labour?

holygoats- taken after childbirth- or any trauma such as surgery, tooth extraction or injury, arnica is claimed to reduce swelling, bruising and quicken healing.

joystir59 homeopathic remedies and essential oils - herbal remedies- are completely different things.

I used it in conjunction with painkillers. It helps with bruising.

Arnica helps with healing, bruising, shock and pain relief. Can be taken with ordinary painkillers but codeine probably lessens its effect. Used by NHS as well as old hippies. Not a placebo, homeopathic remedies work on babies and animals. Good enough for royal family, used widely in Europe esp. Germany.

Not a placebo

Evidence, please.

Not a placebo, homeopathic remedies work on babies and animals
That’s because the people administering the pills (the parents, animal owners etc) are actively looking for signs of improvement in their child/pet. So the placebo effect is still taking place but in the parent/animal owner and not the child/animal. Anyone who administers homeopathic remedies to sick babies is either ignorant or completely abusive.

Used by NHS...
Not for long. The NHS has just stopped funding the largest homeopathic hospital in the UK (which is in London) because there is no evidence that homeopathy works. They’ve concluded that it’s a terrible waste of money. There are a couple of towns where the NHS still fund homeopathy, although I expect these won’t last very long at all.

Herbal arnica has those qualities. As soon as you dilute it out of solution it’s gone.

You can try it at home. Put 1 drop of squash in a glass and fill with water. Taste it. Now tip that into a pint glass and top it up. Now pour it into a bathtub full of water. Does it taste stronger than the original? No. Of course it doesn’t.

Mind you, those that believe in homeopathy are brilliant friends - they prefer empty boxes of chocolates to full ones because the chocolate is more potent.

*Anyone who administers homeopathic remedies to sick babies is either ignorant or completely abusive.
*

That's simply untrue.

I didn't think arnica was homeopathic. It's a herbal remedy - most of what we take is, isn't it? Aspirin is salicylic acid and derived from willow bark, isn't it?

I took arnica from very late pregnancy and had a very quick recovery but I did also have painkillers and, as others have suggested, it could still be a placebo effect.

Whoops, a PP already pointed out that herbal remedies and homeopathy are different things.

Arnica: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnica

Arnica is used in both herbal and homeopathic preparations.

littlepill Herbal arnica may be of some benefit - I have no idea what the evidence base for it is though.

Homeopathic arnica is a nonsense, as is all homeopathy. Diluting something until there is nothing of the original left is clearly not going to be of any benefit.

Ah didn't realise it was also used in homeopathy - I haven't used it like this, only in its herbal form.

Tootsie I did some research when I was pregnant as to its benefits (ditto raspberry leaf tea and bleeding). Have lost my notes but I remember the evidence was convincing for its herbal form. I have also used it in ointment (still herbal) form on bruises with good effects. But I imagine there are a number of factors involved: I tend to heal rapidly from cuts and bruises anyway.