[Omeo33] Art 0827 - JRSM, 2003, 96 (2), 60-65

[Gino Santini]

Homeopathic arnica for prevention of pain and bruising: randomized  
placebo-controlled trial in hand surgery
C Stevinson, V S Devaraj, A Fountain-Barber, S Hawkins, E Ernst

Homeopathic arnica is widely believed to control bruising, reduce  
swelling and promote recovery after local trauma; many patients  
therefore take it perioperatively. To determine whether this treatment  
has any effect, we conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled,  
randomized trial with three parallel arms. 64 adults undergoing  
elective surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome were randomized to take  
three tablets daily of homeopathic arnica 30C or 6C or placebo for  
seven days before surgery and fourteen days after surgery. Primary  
outcome measures were pain (short form McGill Pain Questionnaire) and  
bruising (colour separation analysis) at four days after surgery.  
Secondary outcome measures were swelling (wrist circumference) and use  
of analgesic medication (patient diary).
62 patients could be included in the intention-to-treat analysis.  
There were no group differences on the primary outcome measures of  
pain (P=0.79) and bruising (P=0.45) at day four. Swelling and use of  
analgesic medication also did not differ between arnica and placebo  
groups. Adverse events were reported by 2 patients in the arnica 6C  
group, 3 in the placebo group and 4 in the arnica 30C group.
The results of this trial do not suggest that homeopathic arnica has  
an advantage over placebo in reducing postoperative pain, bruising and  
swelling in patients undergoing elective hand surgery.

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