Arnica

These are the amounts published trials administered — not a recommendation, and not a dose to copy. Trial participants were screened, supervised and given a characterised preparation. What is in a retail bottle is frequently not what was studied, and the amount that suits one person is not general advice.

• Studied for Bruising and muscle soreness, topical

  20 %

  Limited

  Topical gel applied two to three times daily · 1–3 weeks

  A concentration applied to skin, not an amount swallowed. Trials are small and several used the product manufacturer’s own outcome scales.

• Studied for Homeopathic preparations

  30 C dilution

  Not enough

  Pillules or tablets

  At 30C the preparation has been diluted past the point where any starting material remains. Trials of it are consistent with placebo, and the number describes a dilution rather than a dose of anything.

This is general information about food, not medical advice. It cannot diagnose, treat or replace guidance from a clinician who knows your history.

None of the timings below were directly compared in a trial. They reflect how the research happened to dose, or what the pharmacology implies — which is not the same as a timing being better.

• 🕐Any time

  Not enough

  Topical trials applied it soon after injury and repeated through the day. No timing comparison has been made.

  Timing was not directly compared. This reflects convention or how the compound behaves in the body, not a trial showing this window works better.