Arnica for Pain - by Anastasia Stephens

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Arnica for Pain -by ANASTASIA STEPHENS

Daily Mail

femail.co.uk - 14th June 2003

 

Used to treat bruising, muscular strains, wounds and swelling, arnica is one of

the most popular homeopathic remedies in Britain.

 

Derived from the European plant, Arnica montana, the little white tablets -

containing arnica solution watered down hundreds of times to form a homeopathic

'ultra-dilution' - are one of the few 'alternative' medicines to have found

their way on to most people's bathroom shelves.

 

 

Proponents claim the treatment can reduce swelling dramatically, prevent

muscular soreness and alleviate postoperative trauma. But according to a new

report, published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, the positive

effects of arnica are all in the mind.

 

The remedy, claims the paper, is only as likely to reduce swelling, bruising and

pain as a placebo. The research, led by Professor Edzard Ernst, head of

complementary medicine at Exeter University, followed three groups of 64

patients who were having surgery on their wrists because of carpal tunnel

syndrome.

 

The first group took a high dose of arnica, the second took a low dose, while a

third were given a placebo. The results showed no significant differences in

pain, swelling or bruising between the groups.

 

The findings - which essentially suggest the treatment is useless - could have

thousands of disappointed consumers relegating their arnica supplies into their

dustbins. But would they be doing the right thing?

 

Based on the theory that 'like cures like' homeopathy has always been

controversial - it treats illness by giving patients substances that cause the

very same symptoms. However, the remedies are given in minute amounts and are

often so diluted that there is little or no active ingredient in them.

 

Yet the fact remains that thousands of practitioners and patients swear by

arnica's remarkable curative powers. Theresa Hale, founder of London's Hale

Clinic, a pioneering centre for complementary medicine, has relied on it for

years.

 

'I use it at home all the time for bruises and sprains,' she says. 'I gave

arnica to my mother just two weeks ago when she fell over and her leg began to

swell - it went back down within three hours.'

 

And arnica seemed a godsend for 43-year-old actress Nicola Redmond when she

fractured her left wrist. 'When I slipped off a step-ladder and crashed to the

floor, most of the impact was taken by my left wrist which swelled to more than

twice its usual size,' says Nicola, who lives in Blackheath.

 

'I took some arnica immediately. The swelling went down by about an

inch-and-a-half all round within half an hour. Even though my wrist was still

very tender and sore, I can't imagine it would have recovered to that extent

without the arnica.

 

'I still had to go to hospital to have a splint fitted for the fracture, but the

arnica seemed to help immensely.' The treatment has also provided vital support

for her work.

 

When I was performing in a production of Macbeth at the National Theatre, I used

arnica to help protect my voice,' says Nicola. 'Projecting your voice night

after night in a large theatre can make you go hoarse. The arnica stopped that.

 

'Some of the other actors tried it, too, and absolutely swore by it.' Sold as

pills or as a cream, the remedy has been used for hundreds of years.

 

It is widely used in Germany and France by medically qualified doctors, and it

is also routinely administered in casualty units in hospitals.

 

Made from a yellow daisy-like flower, the active components of arnica include

sesquiterpene lactones and flavonoids which are known to reduce inflammation and

ease pain. It also contains thymol, an essential oil that fights infection, and

carotenoid, a powerful antioxidant.

 

It is believed to work by stimulating the activity of white blood cells and

dispersing fluid that accumulates around damaged, swollen joints.

 

Cumulatively, its effect is to boost immunity, accelerate healing and fight

inflammation. It also helps the body combat bacterial infection.

 

Roger Savage, senior homeopath at the Cambridge Complementary Health Practice,

says the study was poorly designed and ran the risk of putting people off an

effective treatment.

 

THIS study is very flawed,' he says. 'The principles of homeopathy are the

reverse to orthodox medicine - the lower the dose, the more powerful the effect.

The study used high doses which wouldn't be very effective and could cause side

effects. And, for serious post-operative pain, homeopaths would design an

individual treatment.'

 

Dr Peter Fisher, homeopathic physician to the Queen and clinical director of the

Royal London Homeopathic Hospital agrees. 'The researchers set up the study in

the wrong way and misinterpreted their findings so we don't feel it proves

anything,' says Dr Fisher, who is also a GP.

 

'Arnica has stood the test of time. Homeopaths have used it for more than 200

years to treat injuries, in particular swelling and bruising.'

 

Even Professor Ernst concedes the study does not necessarily discount arnica or

the effectiveness of homeopathy. Laboratory tests, he says, have found that

ultra-dilute homeopathic remedies do induce a response in immune cells.

 

He also admits that similar dilutions have significant effects on animals, which

cannot 'will themselves better' to cause a placebo effect.

 

 

Homeopathic remedies are available in different potencies or dilutions. The most

common are 6C (diluted 600 times) used for long-standing ailments, and 30C

(diluted 3,000 times) for emergency and acute symptoms.

 

Try Nelson's Arnica, 84 tablets for or Boots Homeopathic Remedies, Arnica 6C

pillules (84 pills) or Arnica 30C pillules (84 pills)

 

Creams and ointments should be applied gently to bruised areas, then rest the

damaged tissue.

 

Try Nelson's Arnica Cream, for 30g, Boots Herbal Arnica Cream, for 30g tube.

 

 

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