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Arnica: Postoperative pain and swelling relief after dental surgery

  • Dr. Viv Rolfe
    Dr. Viv Rolfe

    I am a gut physiologist, BSc, PhD, MBA, with a Foundation in Herbal Medicine and a life-long passion for using and researching herbs. I have worked in the food industry to enhance our understanding of human and animal health, and carried out research on the use of natural ingredients including herbs and spice in the diet. As Head of Research at Pukka Herbs I established over thirty university partnerships and involved students in herbal research on topics ranging from sleep, cognition, muscle function and the gut microbiome. The herbs we researched included turmeric, shatavari, ashwagandha, andrographis and many more.

    I am now Director of my own company Curiosity Research Ltd, working as an independent herbal researcher, educator and writer. I am Academic Co-director at the National Centre for Integrative Medicine in Bristol, delivering business and research modules on the masters-level Diploma in Integrative Medicine. I am co-founder of the Cotswold Herb Centre whose aim is to grow people’s love and use of herbs through delivering workshops and herb walks in Gloucestershire where I live. My happy place is on my allotment surrounded by borage, teasles, feverfew and balm.

  • 3:45 reading time (ish)
  • Research seeds
Arnica Postoperative Pain And Swelling Relief After Dental Surgery

Topical application of arnica cream demonstrated a reduction in postoperative pain and swelling following dental surgery to extract a molar tooth.

In this article, we summarise,“Can topical agents (arnica and mucopolysaccharide polysulfate) reduce postoperative pain, edema and trismus following mandibular third molar surgery?” (1).

Plant name and species

Arnica (Arnica montana)

Aim of study

The study aim was to compare the topical application of arnica and standard treatment on pain and swelling following the removal of third molar teeth.

Study method

This was a single blinded randomised controlled trial carried out at a single dental practice. All patients had molar teeth extracted under local anaesthesia. Everyone received standard therapy, which was the use of antibiotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs twice per day. 


There were three parallel study groups:

  • Control (standard therapy only)
  • Topical arnica cream (+ standard therapy)
  • Topical mucopolysaccharide polysulphate (+ standard therapy)

Mucopolysaccharide polysulphate (MPSP) is an anti-inflammatory and anticoagulant treatment. Both arnica and MPSP topical treatments were applied on the skin of the face along the jawline local to the removed tooth.

The outcome measures were examined at day 1, 3, 5 and 10 post-surgery. The following measures were taken:

  • Oedema (three measures taken at five reference points)
  • Subjective pain (using a visual analogue scale)
  • Maximal mouth opening (in mm)
Dr. Viv Rolfe

I am a gut physiologist, BSc, PhD, MBA, with a Foundation in Herbal Medicine and a life-long passion for using and researching herbs. I have worked in the food industry to enhance our understanding... Read more

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