Natural First-Aid Remedy for Bumps and Bruises

Danielle Durie
May 6, 2019
4 min read

Updated: Nov 10, 2020

Photo of one yellow Arnica flower and a blue sky

Arnica is the #1 First-Aid Remedy for Injuries:

Bruising and shock from injury
Head injury or issues related to an old head injury
Healing after childbirth
Healing after surgery / dental work

Arnica speeds up healing and controls bleeding, both externally and internally. It works best if taken before bruising occurs – it can prevent bruising even if swelling has started to develop.

If you’ve met anyone with any knowledge of homeopathy - especially if you’re a Mom of young children - you’ll have heard of Arnica. Some Moms will tell you they carry it in their purse wherever they go. It is an essential part of any first-aid and childbirth kit.

Arnica - the Plant

Arnica is a flower from the asteraceae family of plants, better known as the sunflower family – the same family as Echinacea and Calendula. It’s most commonly found thriving in arid, subtropical settings, i.e. harsher conditions. It’s a tough plant, mirroring the ‘tough attitude’ of someone who needs it after an injury. It grows on mountain slopes and climbers have been known to chew it to relieve their muscle soreness from exertion in high altitude.

Research on Homeopathic Arnica

There are currently 93 papers in the CORE-Hom database (Clinical Outcome Research in Homeopathy) and hundreds more in PubMed. As it is the most commonly used homeopathic remedy, it’s one of the most researched. It’s been studied in relation to many clinical situations, with both positive and negative outcomes, as expected. Effectiveness of homeopathic remedies depends on very particular symptom pictures. (See my post on understanding holistic health). A recent study found a potential mechanism of action of homeopathic Arnica (below). This would explain why it acts so beautifully post trauma!

“These findings provide new insights into wound-associated molecular events and specifically point to macrophage fibronectin production as a potential therapeutic target of Arnica m. for the treatment of wound repair.”

- Marzotto et al. 2016

When to use Arnica

Arnica is THE best known remedy. For this reason, it can often be used inappropriately. It works best on superficial bruising and injuries. When the trauma is deeper in the tissue with no visible bruising and there is damage to the muscle, Bellis perennis is often called for (see section on Sports Injuries). For Arnica to work, it’s important that this pattern of symptoms is present; it is even more likely to work if the mental state immediately after the injury matches.

Use Arnica when:

Injury is from a HIT or BLOW by a blunt object
Injury to the head (there is shock and/or issues develop long after)
Injury from SPRAINS and STRAINS in first stages with inflammation and bruising
Bruising from LABOR or pain after labor
Produces a visible bruise or under the surface of the skin
BLACK or BLUE discoloration
The pain is described as SORE and BRUISED - they may say ‘it feels like I was hit by a train’
There is a FEAR of TOUCH, they don’t want to be approached in an effort to protect themselves
They’ll say they’re fine when they are clearly not
POST TRAUMA syndrome (e.g. NIGHTMARES after car crash or a beating)

How to Take Arnica

Topical cream vs. oral preparations

You’ve probably seen Arnica cream at your pharmacy or natural health food store. You might come across herbal preparations, which are different than homeopathic preparations. There are many different brands and they vary slightly. Some are mixed with other remedies, and some are more or less potent than others. Topical creams can be useful for minor injuries and overexertion. Follow the instruction on the packaging.

Oral homeopathic preparations (pellets or liquid) of Arnica are most effective for more serious injuries.

Potency Selection Examples

For minor accidents where trauma isn’t so severe (e.g. bumps, falls, minor shock), use in 30C potency. For more severe pain and trauma (e.g. after childbirth, head injury, road accident, lots of soreness), use in 200C potency.

Dosage Examples

1 dose every 15-30 minutes until you see an improvement. If it doesn’t help in the first hours, it may not be the right remedy and you should stop repeating. Once you see an improvement, then you can repeat 2-3x a day for a couple days as needed.

If any symptoms get worse and continue to worsen, stop the remedy and contact your homeopath (or seek medical attention if necessary).

Head Injuries

Arnica is the #1 remedy for head injuries.

Miranda Castro, a well-known British Homeopath and loved by mothers and families, says this about Arnica:

“Give Arnica as a routine after a fall or bang to the head, whether or not there is concussion. For maximum benefit, wait for an egg to appear on the head (before it has discoloured), and then give Arnica; you will be able to watch the

lump disappear in front of your eyes!”

- The Complete Homeopathy Handbook

Word of Caution

Arnica can be taken seconds or minutes after a head injury and even on the way to the hospital if you suspect a more serious injury.

If you’re unsure of the severity of a head injury, seek medical attention immediately. A serious head injury can be recognized based on certain symptoms (included below).

Recognizing a Serious Head Injury

Merck Manual:

Vomiting, irritability, or drowsiness that continues for more than 6 hours
Loss of consciousness
Inability to move or feel part of the body
Inability to recognize people or the surroundings
Inability to maintain balance
Problems with speaking or seeing (for example, slurred speech, blurred vision, or blind spots)
Drainage of clear fluid (cerebrospinal fluid) from the nose or ear
Severe headache