• What is it?
• How to use it
• Other uses
• Side effects
• FAQs
• Takeaway

You may think that when you get a bruise there’s nothing to do but wait for it to heal.

So you may be surprised to learn that a common herb can help bring those purples and greens back to their natural shade, and even reduce pain and inflammation in the process.

Available research suggests that arnica can help reduce bruising. You can apply arnica to your skin in the form of gels or lotions. It’s also sometimes taken in a homeopathic dose by mouth.

What is arnica?

The scientific name for arnica is Arnica montana. It’s also known as:

• Mountain tobacco
• Leopard’s bane
• Wolf’s bane
• Mountain arnica

The flower of the arnica plant has been used for hundreds of years for its apparent benefits. Traditionally, it’s been used to reduce:

• pain
• swelling
• bruising

Arnica for pain

Arnica is often used for pain management, but research on its effectiveness is mixed.

A 2016 review of studiesTrusted Source found that arnica was effective at easing pain after surgery compared with a placebo. It concluded that homeopathic arnica could be a viable alternative to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), depending on the condition being treated.

A 2021 reviewTrusted Source indicated arnica in gel/cream or extract form might aid in chronic pain management.

However, one 2010 double-blind study looked at the effects of arnica on muscle pain in 53 subjects. It found that, when compared with a placebo, arnica lotion actually increased leg pain 24 hours after atypical muscle use.

Arnica for bruising and swelling

Another 2021 reviewTrusted Source indicated that homeopathic arnica had a small effect in mitigating excessive hematoma or bruises after surgeries compared with a placebo.

A 2020 systemic reviewTrusted Source of 29 articles suggested that arnica might reduce ecchymosis (discoloration of the skin usually caused by bruising) if used after rhinoplasty and facelifts or facial procedures.

A 2017 analysisTrusted Source of 11 trials of more than 600 patients from the same year suggested that arnica, combined with cold compression and tape, could lower eyelid bruising and swelling after rhinoplasties.

Still, a 2021 reportTrusted Source by the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) did not support the use of arnica to reduce ecchymosis following oculofacial surgeries.

More research is needed to confirm the effectiveness of arnica for pain, bruising, and swelling, as well as appropriate doses.

How to use arnica

Arnica comes in the following forms:

• gel
• lotion
• pain patches
• tissue salts
• pills
• teas

You can find many arnica products online, but experts say you’ll want to speak with a healthcare professional about reputable brands.

Jennifer Gordon, MD, a board-certified dermatologist with Westlake Dermatology in Austin, suggests applying gels and lotions to the affected area three to four times per day or as directed by your healthcare professional.

Alexander Zuriarrain, MD, FACS, a quadruple board-certified plastic surgeon with Zuri Plastic Surgery, recommends avoiding your eyes, since arnica lotions can cause burning in that area.

Gordon says patches should be applied near the site of the pain as directed. Zuriarrain notes people can typically use patches twice daily. Usage instructions will be on the box.

People using tissue salts will want to dissolve the recommended amount into the bath to soak and then hop in the tub, Gordon says. Again, you’ll find the recommended amount on the box and can consult with a healthcare professional first about dosage.

Gordon recommends speaking with your doctor and pharmacist about reputable brands and dosages, particularly for oral arnica products like tablets and teas.

Once a product has been approved by your doctor and pharmacist, carefully follow the directions on the label for dosing and brewing teas.

Arnica is listed as a poisonous plant by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and is considered unsafe for oral ingestion. However, homeopathic remedies are extremely diluted, and most studies on homeopathic arnica have found it safe for use.

The FDA hasn’t approved any homeopathy remediesTrusted Source, including arnica, and hasn’t evaluated any arnica remedy for effectiveness or safety. Always talk with your doctor before you start any complementary treatments, including homeopathic arnica.

Are there any side effects of using arnica?

As mentioned, arnica is considered unsafe for ingestion by the FDA. Consuming arnica can lead to:

• diarrhea
• vomiting
• nausea
• internal bleeding

It’s possible to overdose even on homeopathic arnica.

A 2013 studyTrusted Source documents the case of an individual who overdosed on homeopathic arnica and experienced vomiting and a temporary loss of vision.

According to the Memorial Sloane Kettering Cancer Center, you should avoid ingesting arnica if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, as it can harm the baby. In one case, a person drank arnica tea, and her 9-month-old nursing baby became lethargic 48 hours later. The baby was treated and his symptoms eventually disappeared.

You also shouldn’t ingest arnica if you’re on warfarin (Coumadin) or any blood-thinning medication. Research from 2000Trusted Source indicated that alternative therapies, including arnica, could interact with warfarin.

Topical use of arnica can lead to contact dermatitis in some people, so do a patch test before applying arnica lotion to a large area of the skin. If you’re allergic to sunflowers or marigold, it’s likely that you’re also allergic to arnica.

Don’t ingest arnica if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding or chestfeeding, or taking blood-thinning medication. Don’t apply arnica to sensitive skin or open wounds. Always do a patch test before applying arnica lotion to the skin.

Frequently asked questions

Want to learn more? Get the FAQs below.

Does arnica interact with medications?

A study from 2000Trusted Source confirmed that, when ingested, arnica could interact with blood-thinning medications, such as warfarin. This is because arnica could make anticoagulants (blood thinners) more effective.

How much arnica should I take for bruising?

There isn’t an evidence-based consensus on how much arnica to take for bruising.

It “depends on which product and how it’s dosed,” Gordon says. “The bottle will tell you how and how much to use. If you know you have surgery coming, we often recommend starting 2 weeks prior to the surgery.”

Is arnica for bruising or swelling?

More research is needed to definitively say arnica is effective at treating bruising or swelling. Data is currently mixed.

One 2021 reviewTrusted Source indicated arnica was slightly more effective at reducing bruises than a placebo, and an analysis suggested it could lessen eyelid bruising post-rhinoplasty if combined with cold compresses.

But the AAOTrusted Source doesn’t endorse using arnica to lower ecchymosis after oculofacial surgeries.

How do you get rid of a bruise in 24 hours?

Zuriarrain says it’s important to manage expectations when trying to get rid of a bruise.

“It is not logical that a bruise will resolve within 24 hours,” he says. “It takes the body a longer time frame to heal from a bruise, as it’s a collection of blood vessels that burst and need to be dissolved by the body’s cells.”

Zuriarrain says people may see faster improvement in the bruise quality by using a combination of arnica and massage therapy.

The bottom line

According to research, arnica might be able to reduce bruising and swelling when applied topically or taken as a homeopathic treatment in pill form.

Arnica may also have a range of other useful medical benefits. Check with your doctor before using any type of arnica if you have any concerns.

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• Experts say doctors diagnose and treat Black Americans differently for pain management.
• They say this is partly because of the mistaken belief of some medical professionals that Black people feel pain differently than white people.
• Experts are encouraging the medical profession to make changes to avoid this and other systemic discriminatory practices.

“He made me feel like I was a drug addict and he knew I was a physician and I don’t take narcotics.”

Dr. Susan Moore said that and much more in a video she recorded from her hospital bed last December, then posted to Facebook.

The 53-year-old Black physician was being treated for COVID-19 at Indiana University Health North Hospital (IU Health).

In her video, Moore said that the white doctor treating her was dismissive of her request to continue the remdesivir antiviral treatment she had started.

She said he wouldn’t give her anything for pain until she pushed to get a CT scan that showed her condition was worsening.

Moore called her treatment racist.

“You have to show proof that you have something wrong with you in order for you to get the medicine. I put forth and I maintain that if I was white, I wouldn’t have to go through that,” she said.

Two weeks later, Moore died from COVID-19 complications.

Her video went viral and has reignited a call to end discrimination for Black people seeking healthcare.

“She was not just any patient saying they’re being racist, she was a doctor and she knew how she should be treated. That’s why her voice was so powerful,” said Dr. Camara Phyllis Jones, MPH, an adjunct professor at the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta.

In a statement to Healthline, IU Health officials said an external review is being conducted by “six leading national and local healthcare and diversity experts with a demonstrated track record of patient advocacy and expertise on systemic racism, cultural competency, diversity and inclusion.”

Racial bias in medical care

Jones said there’s a history of doctors assuming Black patients are drug seeking.

“That includes those who have sickle cell and go to the hospital in pain and in a crisis,” she told Healthline.

Multiple studies have shown that racial disparities in healthcare are particularly evident when it comes to treating pain.

A 2016 study reported that Black Americans are less likely to be treated for pain, and when they do get treatment, they’re given a lower dose of pain medicine.

Why?

In part, the study stated, because beginning in medical school, some students hold false beliefs that Black people are biologically different from white people.

These students don’t believe Black people feel pain in the same way, that Black people have “thicker skin” than white people.

A Duke University study in 2000 reported that medical students asked to evaluate chest pain showed racial biases even before they began their clinical work.

Experts say those beliefs are rooted in slavery.

“In the 1830s and ’40s, the field of medicine was basically experimenting in order to justify slavery as an institution. The goal was to show that Black bodies were inferior to white bodies, that they were less sensitive to pain, which justified inflicting pain,” said Janice A. Sabin, PhD, MSW, a research associate professor at the University of Washington who studies the role of implicit bias in racial disparities in healthcare.

But one medical school professor told Healthline she sees some progress on that front.

“In my own experience I see attitudes being different,” said Keisha Ray, PhD, an assistant professor at the McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

“The students find statements that Black people don’t feel pain like white people silly. Their clinical experience and time in the classroom tell them otherwise. So, anecdotally I see changes,” Ray said.

“Research like this, although disheartening, gives us the tools to better educate medical students so they can become great physicians for Black people and help reduce some of the barriers Black people face in healthcare,” she added.

Systemic bias in healthcare

Experts say it’s not a surprise that there’s racial bias in the medical field, as healthcare mirrors the larger society.

“The root is white supremacy ideology, a false belief in a hierarchy that puts white people at the top, and it results in a dehumanization of people of color,” Jones said. “And there are cultural and societal barriers to achieving health equity.”

Ray said Black people face more obstacles than white people in getting medical care, and once in the clinical setting, Black people often experience bias in the diagnostic testing and treatments healthcare professionals use.

“Institutional racism in healthcare stops Black people from receiving good care that leads to good health outcomes,” she said.

Working on a fix

The American Medical Association has set out a series of goals and policiesTrusted Source to recognize racism as an urgent public health threat and to mitigate its effects.

“There are ways to test your own bias. We often use the implicit association test in research and as an educational tool,” Sabin told Healthline. “You can take that information and say, ‘This is an area that I need to be careful about as I care for patients or interact with others.’”

“What we need to do is train more Black doctors. But to do that we need amazing preschools, we need to help families so that children don’t grow up in poverty. We need massive investments in communities of color,” Jones said.

The White Coats Black Doctors Foundation is working to increase diversity in the medical profession by encouraging and supporting the development of future Black physicians.

For now, Jones said you might want to take along an ally to your doctors’ appointments.

“A family member might be able to advocate for you and ask questions on your behalf,” she said. “But, unfortunately, now because of COVID-19 that’s often not possible.”

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• How they work
• Drug features
• Side effects
• Interactions
• Warnings
• Takeaway

Introduction

Ibuprofen and naproxen are both nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). You may know them by their most popular brand names: Advil (ibuprofen) and Aleve (naproxen). These drugs are alike in many ways, so you may even wonder if it really matters which one you choose. Take a look at this comparison to get a better idea of which one might be better for you.

What ibuprofen and naproxen do

Both drugs work by temporarily preventing your body from releasing a substance called prostaglandin. Prostaglandins contribute to inflammation, which may cause pain and fever. By blocking prostaglandins, ibuprofen and naproxen treat minor aches and pains from:

• toothaches
• headaches
• backaches
• muscle aches
• menstrual cramps
• the common cold

They also temporarily reduce fever.

Ibuprofen vs. naproxen

Although ibuprofen and naproxen are very similar, they aren’t exactly the same. For example, pain relief from ibuprofen doesn’t last as long as pain relief from naproxen. That means you don’t have to take naproxen as often as you would ibuprofen. This difference may make naproxen a better option for treating pain from chronic conditions.

On the other hand, ibuprofen can be used in young children, but naproxen is only for use in children 12 years and older. Certain forms of ibuprofen are made to be easier for younger children to take.

The following table illustrates these as well as other features of these two drugs.

	Ibuprofen	Naproxen†
What forms does it come in?	oral tablet, liquid gel-filled capsule, chewable tablet*, liquid oral drops*, liquid oral suspension*	oral tablet, liquid gel-filled capsule
What is the typical dose?	200-400 mg†	220 mg
How often do I take it?	every 4-6 hours as needed†	every 8-12 hours
What is the maximum dose per day?	1,200 mg†	660 mg

*These forms are for children ages 2-11 years, with dosage based on weight.
†Only for people 12 years or older

Interactions

An interaction is an undesired, sometimes harmful effect from taking two or more drugs together. Naproxen and ibuprofen each have interactions to consider, and naproxen interacts with more drugs than ibuprofen does.

Both ibuprofen and naproxen can interact with the following drugs:

• certain blood pressure medications such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors
• aspirin
• diuretics, also called water pills
• the bipolar disorder drug lithium
• methotrexate, which is used for rheumatoid arthritis and some kinds of cancer
• blood thinners such as warfarin

Additionally, naproxen can also interact with the following drugs:

• certain antacid drugs such as h2 blockers and sucralfate
• certain drugs to treat cholesterol such as cholestyramine
• certain drugs for depression such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)

Use with other conditions

Certain conditions can also affect how ibuprofen and naproxen work in your body. Don’t use either of these drugs without your doctor’s approval if you have or have had any of the following conditions:

• asthma
• heart attack, stroke, or heart failure
• high cholesterol
• high blood pressure
• ulcers, stomach bleeding, or holes in your gut
• diabetes
• kidney disease

Takeaway

Ibuprofen and naproxen are quite similar, but some differences between them may make one a better option for you. Some main differences include:

• the ages these drugs can treat
• the forms they come in
• how often you have to take them
• the other drugs they may interact with
• their risks for certain side effects

There are steps you can take to lower your risk of serious side effects, however, such as using the lowest possible dose for the shortest time.

As always, contact your doctor if you have any questions about using either of these drugs. Questions you may consider include:

• Is it safe to take ibuprofen or naproxen with my other medications?
• How long should I take ibuprofen or naproxen?
• Can I take ibuprofen or naproxen if I’m pregnant or breastfeeding?

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