Arnica Gel Sticks

[Indolent Wretch]

OK I need some advice, I've done some Google hunting around and unfortunately I've come up largely empty. I know many of you are well versed in medicinal matters so I thought I'd start a thread.

I have a lovely baby, he's 1 year old on the first of january. Like most babies his age he has a tendancy to fall from time to time and bump his head amongst other items.

My wife, who is Spanish, was in Spain earlier in the year and had recommended to her by a pharmachist a gel stick called 'Arnidol'. The idea being that you rub it on the sight of a soon to be bump/bruise and it helps prevent swelling and bruising.

My mother has also recommended a similar product to my wife and I find myself being somewhat wary of a product used to treat a baby that is being defended by people as being 'natural', after all bruising is pretty natural too.

Now I dont have the packet the product came in, and the labelling on the stick itself is very poor. The two listed ingredients are Arnica and Harpagofito (en Espanyol).

I cannot tell from the packaging or from the web whether or not the concentration of these two ingredients is of an 'active' or (spit) 'homeopathic' type. Nor do I know which other base ingredients are mixed in order to produce the stick.

Questions:

Does anyone know if this product (or a similar one) is real or homeopathic? If homeopathic I'll just chuck it away tonight.

If the ingredients are in sufficient quantity to have an effect, is the effect desirable or are there good reasons to throw it away?


If anyone has anything to tell me on this subject I'll be most grateful, thank you.

 

[El Greco]

Although there are many homeopathic preparations of Arnica Montana there are also some that are not homeopathic but contain Arnica Montana tincture in a concetration that usually is 0.9%. Since many plant extracts and tinctures exhibit pharmacological actions it wouldn't be strange for such a cream to help with bruises, however I'm not aware of any studies showing that effect for Arnica preparations. On the contrary, there is one study that has found it ineffective. There may be other studies however, it's not like I have researched the subject.

 

[Mojo]

I'm not aware of any studies showing that effect for Arnica preparations. On the contrary, there is one study that has found it ineffective. There may be other studies however, it's not like I have researched the subject.

Our local "health shop" (and many others, I'm sure) was recently displaying a mocked-up newspaper headline saying something like "Scientists find arnica gel as effective as ibuprofen gel". I haven't found anything published beyond this. I notice that it doesn't say exactly what the arnica and ibuprofen were being used for, and no mention is made of a placebo group. Are there certain types of pain for which ibuprofen is not very effective?

I haven't seen the same claim being made in press adverts. Advertising in shop windows or at point of sale in the UK is not regulated by the Advertising Standards Authority.

 

[meg]

According to this page: http://www.sinnex.hu/en/arnidol/index.html ,the main ingredients are arnica and devil's claw

I can't find any kind of credible research that shows arnica as being really useful topically, and there are precautions against it's use on an open wound, or internally.

http://www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/nmdrugprofiles/nutsupdrugs/arn_0025.shtml

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/ConsHerbs/Arnicach.html


Here are a couple links about devils claw:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/print/druginfo/natural/patient-devils_claw.html

http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/8513/31402/350412.html?d=dmtContent

It looks like some research has shown that there *might* be some use for devilsclaw in treating arthritis or lower back pain, however, I can't find anything saying it's useful as a topical preparation from bruises. Nor is it recommended for use on infants.

I am not well versed in medical matters, so perhaps my opinion is worthless, but I'll give it to you anyway.

Personally, I would throw it away. Babies put everything in their mouths, so I would think there is a good chance that your baby could ingest some and there are some risks associated with taking arnica internally. Whether it would be enough to harm her, who can say, but why risk it?

Plus, I have always followed the strictly scientific method proven by mothers everywhere that the best way to treat a child's minor bumps and bruises is to kiss it, which almost instantly makes it "all better". More serious bumps might require hugging of the whole child, or cold wet washcloths held on the affected area until the child forgets about it. Cups of cocoa have been shown to be effective in speeding the aforementioned forgetfulness.


Hope this helps

Meg

 

[Garrette]

Plus, I have always followed the strictly scientific method proven by mothers everywhere that the best way to treat a child's minor bumps and bruises is to kiss it, which almost instantly makes it "all better". More serious bumps might require hugging of the whole child, or cold wet washcloths held on the affected area until the child forgets about it. Cups of cocoa have been shown to be effective in speeding the aforementioned forgetfulness.

Adopt me?

 

[Lisa Simpson]

I tried a homeopathic arnica gel on some bruises as an experiment. I had about a dozen bruises on one leg (before anyone thinks I'm being abused, we were DIYing) and I applied the gel to half the bruises. They healed no faster than the bruises without gel. I took pictures of the whole experiment, but I don't know if I have them any longer.

 

[Amapola]

I just asked Mr. Amapola (who works in the ER) about this. This is what he had to say:

In the ER, they would not put anything at all on a bruise. He said first of all they would worry about how far the kid fell, and whether there were any potential head injuries. If that is all OK, then they would not want to put any ointment on because it is a waste of time - it does no good. The only treatment would possibly be cold packs to constrict the capillaries. To them, the bruise is no big deal because bruising is part of being a kid....... the only thing they would worry about is any underlying injury.

Mr. Amapola suggested if you have any question about the ointment that you try it on yourself, and see if there is any effect.

 

[Mojo]

Plus, I have always followed the strictly scientific method proven by mothers everywhere that the best way to treat a child's minor bumps and bruises is to kiss it, which almost instantly makes it "all better". More serious bumps might require hugging of the whole child, or cold wet washcloths held on the affected area until the child forgets about it. Cups of cocoa have been shown to be effective in speeding the aforementioned forgetfulness.

Sounds familiar.

And arnica was mentioned there as well.

 

[meg]

It certainly does! Obviously at this early stage I can't go into too much detail, but the therapy involves the practitioner gently tapping certain carefully chosen acubouchure points on the patient's body with their lips, while reciting certain words.

I love it You should write a book about it, Mojo! As a faithful practitioner of this ancient tradition, taught to me by the elders in my tribe, I can offer you lots of anecdotal evidence of miraculous cures.

 

[Loss Leader]

You know, I actually have a one year-old. It's amazing to me that your wife will use any medication not prescribed by the pediatrician. My wife will not even give the baby motrin without calling the doctor. Some sort of product whose ingredients aren't even clear? She would beat me to death if I tried to give it to the baby.

 

[El Greco]

You know, I actually have a one year-old. It's amazing to me that your wife will use any medication not prescribed by the pediatrician. My wife will not even give the baby motrin without calling the doctor. Some sort of product whose ingredients aren't even clear? She would beat me to death if I tried to give it to the baby.

I'm sure many pediatricians prescribe it as well. At least here I know they do, but it's an imported product (from UK I think) so I guess things are not much different there. Or do you think that all pediatricians approached by the company will search extensively for research that backs up the claims ?

 

[Loss Leader]

I'm sure many pediatricians prescribe it as well. At least here I know they do, but it's an imported product (from UK I think) so I guess things are not much different there. Or do you think that all pediatricians approached by the company will search extensively for research that backs up the claims ?

Regardless of the research the pediatrician does, my wife won't use anything unless prescribed by the pediatrician.

 

[El Greco]

Regardless of the research the pediatrician does, my wife won't use anything unless prescribed by the pediatrician.

The question is different: If the pediatrician prescribed something that your research has showed that it is ineffective, would you still use it ?

What if two pediatricians give conflicting advice, eg one says "use Arnica gel" and the other says "don't use it" ?

 

[Loss Leader]

The question is different: If the pediatrician prescribed something that your research has showed that it is ineffective, would you still use it ?

What if two pediatricians give conflicting advice, eg one says "use Arnica gel" and the other says "don't use it" ?

I would do whatever my wife wanted because I'm afraid of her.

 

[Amapola]

I would do whatever my wife wanted because I'm afraid of her.

 

[Boo]

From what I remember from working in an herb shop, Arnica works on bruise by reducing inflammation and swelling (like ibuprofen). Homeopathically arnica is used for nausea and vomitting.

Devils claw is used in many 'treatments' as a general vasoconstrictor (shrinks blood vessels). Most commonly in herbal 'Viagra' and compounds for ulcers.

Thus the two applied topically with some inert ingredients to help it absorb rapidly through the skin would be a fairly standard 'natural' treatment for bruising, etc.


Will it hurt, not likely unless a possible allergic reaction to one of the ingriedents. Would I use it, no. The problem with herbal medication is that potency depends on many factors, not all of which can be adequately controlled when making preperations.



Boo