When taken by mouth: Homeopathic arnica is possibly safe. Homeopathic products often contain no active ingredient, so side effects are unlikely. It is also possibly safe to take arnica in the amounts found in food. But the Canadian government is concerned enough about its safety to prohibit its use in food.

While generally safe and arguably effective when applied topically, arnica is no delicate flower. The herb contains a toxin called helenalin, which is deadly if consumed in large quantities. Arnica can be used to flavor food, but some countries have banned culinary use entirely, in an attempt to prevent accidental poisoning. But no matter what you do, your experience is likely to differ from other peoples’ because pain isn’t static or standard.You’re pregnant or breastfeeding (chestfeeding). While arnica has clear pain-relieving properties, as we’ve emphasized, there’s also a lot about it that we still don’t know. For that reason, it’s important that you don’t use arnica if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding (chestfeeding). Most of that research has been done in laboratory settings, on cells that have been taken from humans,” she says. “They’re just starting human research in a clinical setting.” Wolf M, Tamaschke C, Mayer W, and Heger M. [Efficacy of Arnica in varicose vein surgery: results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study]. Forsch Komplementarmed Klass Naturheilkd 2003;10:242-47. View abstract.

Sorrentino L, Piraneo S, Riggio E, et al. Is there a role for homeopathy in breast cancer surgery? A first randomized clinical trial on treatment with Arnica montana to reduce post-operative seroma and That’s because, in 2021, a review of studies on herbal therapies for osteoarthritis concluded that arnica gel is about as effective as topical NSAIDs for inflammation and pain relief. There’s one big caveat, though: The findings were not clinically significant.

Infusing Arnica Oil

You take corticosteroids, blood pressure medication, anticoagulants or certain herbal supplements. Arnica has over 150 bioactive components, so it’s little wonder that it doesn’t play nicely with all medications.

The U.S. government doesn’t regulate arnica, so you can’t be completely sure how much of the toxic material you’re consuming when you eat or drink it. More on that later. DIY productsTveiten D, Bruset S, Borchgrevink CF, and et al. Effects of the homoeopathic remedy Arnica D 30 on marathon runners: a randomized, double-blind study during the 1995 Oslo marathon. Comp Ther Med 1998;6:71-74. No authors listed. Final report on the safety assessment of Arnica montana extract and Arnica montana. Int.J.Toxicol. 2001;20:1-11. View abstract. Vegan lip balms don’t have to be boring either. You can still add a lovely tint to them by using dried raspberry, clay or beetroot powder to create a hint of blush. Robertson A, Suryanarayanan R, and Banerjee A. Homeopathic Arnica montana for post-tonsillectomy analgesia: a randomised placebo control trial. Homeopathy. 2007;96:17-21. View abstract. Tuten C and McClung J. Reducing muscle soreness with Arnica montana: Is it effective? Alternative and Complementary Therapies 1999;5:369-72.

If you go shopping for arnica products, you may find them available in loose flower or tea form. While arnica is sometimes used to flavor food, it’s poisonous, and — according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) — not safe to consume in its pure form. In fact, some countries prohibit its use in food altogether. Kleijnen, J., Knipschild, P., and ter, Riet G. Clinical trials of homoeopathy. BMJ 2-9-1991;302(6772):316-323. View abstract. While not strict about the brand of arnica her patients use, she does encourage purchasing from manufacturers that are located in the U.K. or European Union, as they’re more tightly regulated than companies producing arnica products in the United States. Homeopathic preparations Ciganda C, and Laborde A. Herbal infusions used for induced abortion. J Toxicol.Clin Toxicol. 2003;41:235-239. View abstract.It’s similarly important to avoid arnica if you’re taking a blood thinner like heparin because the herb can further thin your blood. Lyss G, Schmidt TJ, Merfort I, Pahl HL, et al. Helenalin, an antiinflammatory sesquiterpene lactone from Arnica, selectively inhibits transcription factor NF-kappa B. Biol Chem 1997;378:951-61. View abstract.