[On the effectiveness of the homeopathic remedy Arnica montana].

BACKGROUND

Arnica montana is a homeopathic remedy often prescribed after traumata and injuries.

OBJECTIVES

To assess whether Arnica is effective beyond placebo and to identify factors which support or contradict this effectiveness.

METHODS

All prospective, controlled trials on the effectiveness of homeopathic Arnica were included. Overall effectiveness was assessed by meta-analysis and meta-regression techniques.

RESULTS

68 comparisons from 49 clinical trials show a significant effectiveness of Arnica in traumatic injuries in random effects meta-analysis (odds ratio [OR], 0.36; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.24-0.55), but not in meta-regression models (OR, 0.37; CI, 0.11-1.24). We found no evidence for publication bias. Studies from Medline-listed journals and high-quality studies are less likely to report positive results (p = 0.0006 and p = 0.0167).

CONCLUSIONS

The hypothesis that homeopathic Arnica is effective could neither be proved nor rejected. All trials were highly heterogeneous, meta-regression does not help to explain this heterogeneity substantially.