Arnica has been used for centuries to help treat sprains, strains, bruises, connective tissue conditions, stiffness, and to also help heal post-surgical incisions. In Europe, the demand currently outpaces the supply, says Dr. Ellen Kamhi, author of The Natural Medicine Chest. She tells Newsmax that when her son was a soccer-playing teenager, she used to carry arnica cream with her to each game.

“Whenever he was injured, we used it right away,” Kamhi says. “We could actually see the swelling immediately go down and he was right back in the game!”

Kamhi shares that common preparations of arnica include ointment, gels, and creams. She advises that you consult with your healthcare practitioner before using any new product, even if it is naturally derived.

Here are some other benefits of arnica:

• Osteoarthritis. According to WebMD, research shows that arnica gel used twice daily for three weeks reduces the pain and stiffness associated with osteoarthritis of the hand and knee. Other studies have found that the same gel, such as A. Vogel Arnica Gel or Bioforce AG, works as well as ibuprofen to reduce discomfort and improve movement in the hands.
• Diabetes. There have been some studies that show homeopathic arnica take by mouth may help with vision problems due to diabetes.
• Bruises. According to Healthline, arnica is excellent in treating bruises and is widely used among people who have had plastic surgery. A study done on people who had surgery to remove wrinkles, call rhytidectomy, showed that homeopathic arnica significantly boosted healing.

Arnica, which is derived from the flower called Arnica Montana, or the Mountain daisy, may trigger an allergic reaction to people who may be sensitive to daisies, dahlias, dandelions, marigolds, or sunflowers, according to Healthline.