Does arnica for pain relief work?

I’ve had chronic joint pain for years. Unfortunately, I can’t take ibuprofen anymore because it messes with my guts. I tried a couple of creams that contain something called arnica and discovered that they provide relief. Should I be wary of them? Are they Food and Drug Administration-approved? — Jack B., Portsmouth, N.H.

A: If you want to find an alternative to ibuprofen, trying a cream or gel-based remedy containing Arnica montana (the FDA does not regulate such herbal products) might be right for you. Careful, though — it’s liver toxic and can be poisonous if ingested orally.

Generally, arnica is sold as a homeopathic cream or gel to treat joint and muscle pain and to resolve bruising. Because there isn’t a lot of solid research backing its effectiveness, its benefits often are written off as a placebo effect. We say, if arnica cream or gel works for you, then it works for you. And emerging science may explain how.

Back in 2011, Dr. Russ Greenfield appeared on “The Dr. Oz Show” to talk about homeopathic remedies for pain. One of the favourites (Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen use it) was arnica. As the docs explained, the idea behind homeopathic remedies is that they use very small, diluted amounts of a substance to alert your body to a problem like inflammation, and then nudge the body to fix things on its own. And just recently, a study sponsored by a company that makes homeopathic products and the University of Verona in Italy was published in Plos One. It suggests that topical arnica may switch gene expression on and off and mobilize cells in the skin to ease inflammation and promote wound healing.

In the meantime, before you use it, check with your doc. You may have adverse reactions even to small amounts of some topical pain relievers (especially if they contain salicylates) if you’re taking aspirin, blood thinners or other meds.

Mehmet Oz, M.D. is host of “The Dr. Oz Show,” and Mike Roizen, M.D. is Chief Wellness Officer and Chair of Wellness Institute at Cleveland Clinic. Email your health and wellness questions to Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen at youdocsdaily@sharecare.com.