Herbal Gel Banished Bruises

Q. Yesterday I had a slow motion tumble off my bike onto my knees on the way home. They were bruised, but I was able to pedal home and get arnica gel on them in about ten minutes. I also took some homeopathic arnica pills.
My mother swears by this herb, but I had not had occasion to use it much. I applied more gel before bed and again in the morning.

Today one knee shows NO effects of having been bruised, and the other is not black and blue and barely hurts at all. I am stunned by the effectiveness of this arnica. Have studies been done?
A. Arnica montana is a flower that grows in Europe. It has traditionally been used for bruises and sprains. There is relatively little scientific evidence to support its use, but your report is not the first we’ve heard.
A recent study published in the Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery (Jan./Feb. 2006) found that homeopathic arnica pills seemed to have a small but measurable effect on bruising following a facelift.
Homeopathic tablets contain very little arnica. At higher doses, though, arnica should not be taken orally since it can be quite toxic.