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Herb library · Herb · Arnica montana

Arnica

A yellow mountain daisy sold mainly as a gel, cream or ointment for bruises, sprains and sore muscles. It is used on unbroken skin only: taken by mouth, the plant itself is poisonous.

Serious warning

Arnica is poisonous when taken by mouth. The NIH's LactMed database says oral botanical arnica products should be avoided because of their many toxic components, and European regulators accept arnica for use on unbroken skin only.

Traditional use

Native to the mountains of Europe. In medieval Europe it was used for bruises, injuries, varicose veins, gout, rheumatism, indigestion and heart complaints. Germany's Commission E (1984) limited it to use on the skin because of possible risks when taken inside. Today it is sold as creams, gels and tinctures for bruises, sprains and muscle pain, and in very dilute homeopathic products.

What studies show

  • Limited

    Hand osteoarthritis: a Cochrane review found moderate evidence from a single study of 174 people that arnica gel worked about as well as an ibuprofen gel for pain and function over three weeks, with a similar or somewhat higher rate of side effects. It is one trial.

  • Insufficient

    Bruises, sprains and muscle pain: the European Medicines Agency looked at clinical studies in people with bruises and soft-tissue or joint pain. It saw a possible effect on pain and bruising but said no firm conclusions could be drawn, because the studies were small and some had no control group. Its approval for these uses rests on long-standing use.

Be careful of

Cautions

  • NoteFor use on the skin only. The NIH's LactMed database says taking botanical arnica products by mouth should be avoided because of the plant's many toxic components.
  • ConditionDo not put it on broken skin or open wounds (EMA).
  • AllergyIt can cause itching, redness and eczema. Do not use it if you are allergic to arnica or other plants in the daisy family, such as chamomile, marigold, dandelion or sunflower.
  • PregnancySafety in pregnancy and breastfeeding has not been established, and EMA does not recommend it during pregnancy. LactMed reports that a mother's use of arnica tea probably caused a blood disorder (hemolytic anemia) in one breastfed infant.
  • ConditionNot recommended for children under 12 (EMA, lack of data). If symptoms last more than 3 to 4 days or get worse, see a doctor.
  • Ask a clinicianTalk with a clinician or pharmacist before using this if you take prescription medicines, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are giving it to a child.

From the old books

What herbals and dispensaries of the past printed. History, in their words.

“Internally, in large doses, arnica causes heat in the throat, nausea, vomiting, purging, spasmodic contractions of the limbs, difficulty of respiration, and sometimes inflammation of the alimentary canal, and coma. There is no known antidote to its poisonous influences; vegetable acids have been recommended. Two fluid ounces of the tincture has produced death.”
Harvey Wickes Felter and John Uri Lloyd, King's American Dispensatory (1898), vol. 1, p. 280. See the page of King's American Dispensatory, vol. 1, p. 280 (opens in a new tab) · Read the full passage from King's American Dispensatory, vol. 1, p. 280

Sources

  1. Community herbal monograph on Arnica montana L., flos (opens in a new tab) · EMA · read September 25, 2026
  2. Arnica flower: summary for the public (opens in a new tab) · EMA · read September 25, 2026
  3. Assessment report on Arnica montana L., flos (opens in a new tab) · EMA · read September 25, 2026
  4. Arnica (LactMed, Drugs and Lactation Database) (opens in a new tab) · NIH · read September 25, 2026
  5. Topical herbal therapies for treating osteoarthritis (Cochrane review, 2013) (opens in a new tab) · NIH · read September 25, 2026

Reviewed September 25, 2026.