A bright yellow alpine wildflower used in European medicine for centuries as a topical remedy for bruises, sprains, and muscle soreness. Arnica is one of the genuinely useful topical anti-inflammatory herbs — but the same compounds that make it effective also make it toxic to swallow. The rule is simple: arnica goes on skin, never in the mouth.

Topical arnica gel or cream eases bruising, swelling, and soreness from minor injuries
Eases muscle soreness after exercise
Topical use after surgery may reduce bruising and swelling — used by some surgeons before and after procedures
Long traditional European use specifically for bumps, bruises, and physical injury
Approved by Germany's Commission E for external use on bruises, sprains, and muscle soreness
Homeopathic arnica (highly diluted) is considered safe for internal use; the herbal preparation is not

Never swallow non-homeopathic arnica — the herbal tincture or extract is toxic, causing irregular heartbeat, dizziness, vomiting, and at higher doses cardiac arrest

Never apply to broken skin or open wounds — absorption increases dramatically

Skin irritation and contact dermatitis are common with prolonged topical use

Possible cross-reactivity with ragweed and other daisy-family allergies

Skip during pregnancy and nursing

Keep arnica products away from children — mistaken ingestion is the most common arnica poisoning

Limit continuous topical use to a couple of weeks at a time

Related literature · not reviewed for these claims

These papers were imported by topic. They may concern plants, laboratory work, or different preparations. Inclusion here does not establish a human health benefit or support the claims above. How to read our sources →

Identification and characterization of five anti-mitotic sesquiterpene lactones from Arnica cordifolia.
Lockwood TC, Williams DE, Molina L · Pharmaceutical biology · 2026
Hyaluronic-Acid Nanocapsules with Plant Extracts: Characterization and Antimicrobial Activity Against Skin Microbiota.
Lenart-Boroń A, Ratajewicz A, Czernecka-Borchowiec N · Materials (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026
Assessment of Likelihood Ratio of the Medicines Enlisted under the Rubric "Pain, Knee, Motion, Amelioration" in the Extremities Chapter of Kent's Repertory.
Roy U, Pal RK, Saha S · Homeopathy : the journal of the Faculty of Homeopathy · 2026
Sesquiterpene lactones in micropropagated Arnica montana shoots after elicitation-insights into metabolite accumulation and transcriptional regulation.
Sozoniuk M, Trendafilova A, Mishev K · Scientific reports · 2026
Correction: Distinct Arnica montana L. extracts modulate human T cell activation in different ways via differential inhibition of NFκB and NFAT pathways.
Berschneider KM, Wetterauer B, Sticht C · Frontiers in immunology · 2025

Memorial Sloan Kettering About Herbs · EMA Herbal Medicinal Product Monographs · American Botanical Council HerbMedPro · Memorial Sloan Kettering About Herbs · EMA Herbal Medicinal Product Monographs · American Botanical Council HerbMedPro

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