Homoeopathic Arnica in postoperative haematomas: A double-blind study

Objective: To determine whether homoeopathic Arnica can reduce postoperativ e haematomas in venous surgery. Design: Randomized, prospective, multicentr ic, double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Participants: 130 consecutive pa tients undergoing saphenous stripping (204 legs), hospitalized in a clinic, interventions: A homoeopathic medicine (Arnica CH5) and an indistinguishab le placebo, administered sublingually by a nurse the night before and immed iately after the operation. Outcome Measures: Clinical evaluation of haemat omas 6 days postoperatively. Results: Groups were well matched (sex, age, h istory of bleeding or thrombosis, drug intake, previous intake of homoeopat hic drugs, type of operation and anaethesia, operator). One drop-out has be en replaced. No statistically significant difference in postoperative haema tomas was found between the Arnica and placebo groups (p = 0.342), Subanaly sis of all other items did not reveal any statistical difference either. Co nclusions: In this study, with this dosage, we did not observe any preventi ve effect of homoeopathic Arnica CH5 on poststripping haematomas. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.