Arnica's Effectiveness to Reduce Swelling and Bruising
Study shows that Arnica significantly reduces bruising and swelling in plastic surgery and liposuction patients. Connecticut Facial Plastic Surgery conducted the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study on the use of a new, programmed-dosage regimen of a homeopathic Arnica formula made up of Arnica 1M and 12C. Surgeons tested Arnica on patients undergoing extensive deep-level facelift procedures by administering the Arnica 1M in three doses (pre-op, post-op and at bedtime on the day of surgery). Beginning the day after surgery, patients were given Arnica 12C three times a day for three days. This trial used a computerized model to ensure objective analysis of skin-color changes based on high-quality digital photographs of the groups.
Those who did not receive arnica had 11 - 41 percent more bruising than those who did receive the arnica regimen. Additionally, their recovery process (**took**) 50 percent longer. By post-op day seven, the Arnica-treated patients had 4.5 square inches less bruising on their faces than the placebo group.
The same Arnica formula was used in a separate study involving 29 women aged 18 to 45 undergoing liposuction surgery. The surgeon took photographs of the patients every week for four weeks after the procedure. Independent plastic surgeons were then asked to rank the 29 patients’ photo sets from most to least bruising/swelling after week one and again for the following weeks. Their rankings showed that the patients receiving Arnica had significantly less bruising and swelling.
- Effect of homeopathic Arnica Montana on Bruising in Face-Lifts: Results of a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo controlled Clinical Trial by B.M. Seeley et al., Arch Facial Plast Surg, 1-2/06