Arnica and Comfrey Cream 60Ml: 10

Arnica and Comfrey Cream 60ml: £10 Arnica, comfrey and gotu kola are used by herbalists to support healing and reduce inflammation and topically they can help with arthritic symptoms. Contents Base cream* arnica (Arnica Montana), comfrey (Symphytum officinale), gotu kola (Centella asiatica), oil of wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens), chilli (Capsicum minimum), Lobelia (Lobelia inflata), St John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) Recent Studies Arnica (Arnica montana) is probably the herb that most people associate with reducing bruising (although care must be taken not to apply it to broken skin as it is toxic if used inappropriately); a recent human study showed arnica to be effective in reducing bruising (Leu et al., 2010). Arnica is also used by herbalists as an antiinflammatory and has been shown in recent studies to be as effective as standard antiinflammatories (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen gel in reducing symptoms of arthritis (Ross, 2008; Widrig et al., 2007) and diclofenac in a study on wound healing (Karrow et al., 2008). Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) has been shown in human studies to aid wound healing (Barna et al.,2007) and positive results have been shown in reducing symptoms of back pain (Giannetti et al.,2010; Kucera et al., 2005), athritis of the knee (Grube et al., 2007) and it was superior to conventional antiinflammatory agent dicolfenac gel in reducing symptoms in ankle sprain (D’anchise et al., 2007; Predel et al., 2005). Gotu kola (Centella asiatica) is used for wound healing and intial studies support this. In addition, in a human study, a topical application of madecassoside, extracted from gotu kola showed an improvement in sun-aged skin (Haftek et al., 2008) and an extract increased firmness and elasticity of skin (Martelli et al,. 2000). References Barna M, Kucera A, Hladícova M, Kucera M. (2007) [Wound healing effects of a Symphytum herb extract cream (Symphytum x uplandicum NYMAN: ): results of a randomized, controlled double-blind study] Wien Med Wochenschr. 157(21-22):569-74. German. D’Anchise R, Bulitta M, Giannetti B. ( 2007) ‘ Comfrey extract ointment in comparison to diclofenac gel in the treatment of acute unilateral ankle sprains (distortions)’. Arzneimittelforschung. 57(11):712-6. Giannetti BM, Staiger C, Bulitta M, Predel HG. (2010) ‘Efficacy and safety of comfrey root extract ointment in the treatment of acute upper or lower back pain: results of a double- blind, randomised, placebo controlled, multicentre trial’. Br J Sports Med. 44(9):637-41. Epub 2009 May 21. Grube B, Grünwald J, Krug L, Staiger C. (2007) ‘Efficacy of a comfrey root (Symphyti offic. radix) extract ointment in the treatment of patients with painful osteoarthritis of the knee: results of a double-blind, randomised, bicenter, placebo-controlled trial’. Phytomedicine. 14 (1):2-10. Epub 2006 Dec 13. Haftek M, Mac-Mary S, Le Bitoux MA, Creidi P, Seité S, Rougier A, Humbert P.(2008) ‘Clinical, biometric and structural evaluation of the long-term effects of a topical treatment with ascorbic acid and madecassoside in photoaged human skin’. Exp Dermatol. 17(11):946-52. Epub 2008 May 21. Karow JH, Abt HP, Fröhling M, Ackermann H. (2008) ‘Efficacy of Arnica montana D4 for healing of wounds after Hallux valgus surgery compared to diclofenac’. J Altern Complement Med. 14(1):17-25. Kucera M, Barna M, Horàcek O, Kàlal J, Kucera A, Hladìkova M.(2005) ‘Topical symphytum herb concentrate cream against myalgia: a randomized controlled double-blind clinical study’. Adv Ther. 22(6):681-92. Leu S, Havey J, White LE, Martin N, Yoo SS, Rademaker AW, Alam M. (2010) ‘Accelerated resolution of laser-induced bruising with topical 20% arnica: a rater-blinded randomized controlled trial’. Br J Dermatol. 163(3):557-63. Martelli L, Berardesca E, Martelli M.( 2000) ‘ Topical formulation of a new plant extract complex with refirming properties. Clinical and non-invasive evaluation in a double-blind trial’. Int J Cosmet Sci. 22(3):201-6. Predel HG, Giannetti B, Koll R, Bulitta M, Staiger C. (2005) ‘Efficacy of a comfrey root extract ointment in comparison to a diclofenac gel in the treatment of ankle distortions: results of an observer-blind, randomized, multicenter study’. Phytomedicine. 12(10):707-14. Ross SM. ( 2008) ‘ Osteoarthritis: a proprietary Arnica gel is found to be as effective as ibuprofen gel in osteoarthritis of the hands’ . Holist Nurs Pract. 22(4):237-9. Widrig R, Suter A, Saller R, Melzer J. ( 2007) ‘ Choosing between NSAID and arnica for topical treatment of hand osteoarthritis in a randomised, double-blind study’. Rheumatol Int. 27(6):585-91. Epub 2007 Feb 22. *Base cream ingredients, produced by ProLine Botanicals

Proline INCI Listing Base Cream

Aqua Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Cetearyl Alcohol Stearyl alcohol Glycerin Polysorbate 40 Cocos Nucifera Isopropyl Myristate Glyceryl Stearate PEG-100 Stearate Disodium hydrogen phosphate Boxus chinensis Sorbitan palmiate Citric acid Phenoxyethanol Methylparaben Ethylparaben Butylparaben Propylparaben Isobutylparaben Α-tocopherol acetate