by ANASTASIA STEPHENS, Daily Mail

Used to treat bruising, muscular strains, wounds and swelling, arnica is one of the most popular homeopathic remedies in Britain.

Derived from the European plant, Arnica montana, the little white tablets - containing arnica solution watered down hundreds of times to form a homeopathic 'ultra-dilution' - are one of the few 'alternative' medicines to have found their way on to most people's bathroom shelves.

Proponents claim the treatment can reduce swelling dramatically, prevent muscular soreness and alleviate postoperative trauma. But according to a new report, published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, the positive effects of arnica are all in the mind.

The remedy, claims the paper, is only as likely to reduce swelling, bruising and pain as a placebo. The research, led by Professor Edzard Ernst, head of complementary medicine at Exeter University, followed three groups of 64 patients who were having surgery on their wrists because of carpal tunnel syndrome.

The first group took a high dose of arnica, the second took a low dose, while a third were given a placebo. The results showed no significant differences in pain, swelling or bruising between the groups.

The findings - which essentially suggest the treatment is useless - could have thousands of disappointed consumers relegating their arnica supplies into their dustbins. But would they be doing the right thing?

Based on the theory that 'like cures like' homeopathy has always been controversial - it treats illness by giving patients substances that cause the very same symptoms. However, the remedies are given in minute amounts and are often so diluted that there is little or no active ingredient in them.

Yet the fact remains that thousands of practitioners and patients swear by arnica's remarkable curative powers. Theresa Hale, founder of London's Hale Clinic, a pioneering centre for complementary medicine, has relied on it for years.

'I use it at home all the time for bruises and sprains,' she says. 'I gave arnica to my mother just two weeks ago when she fell over and her leg began to swell - it went back down within three hours.'

And arnica seemed a godsend for 43-year-old actress Nicola Redmond when she fractured her left wrist. 'When I slipped off a step-ladder and crashed to the floor, most of the impact was taken by my left wrist which swelled to more than

twice its usual size,' says Nicola, who lives in Blackheath.

'I took some arnica immediately. The swelling went down by about an inch-and-a-half all round within half an hour. Even though my wrist was still very tender and sore, I can't imagine it would have recovered to that extent without the arnica.

'I still had to go to hospital to have a splint fitted for the fracture, but the arnica seemed to help immensely.' The treatment has also provided vital support for her work.

When I was performing in a production of Macbeth at the National Theatre, I used arnica to help protect my voice,' says Nicola. 'Projecting your voice night after night in a large theatre can make you go hoarse. The arnica stopped that.

'Some of the other actors tried it, too, and absolutely swore by it.' Sold as pills or as a cream, the remedy has been used for hundreds of years.

It is widely used in Germany and France by medically qualified doctors, and it is also routinely administered in casualty units in hospitals.

Made from a yellow daisy-like flower, the active components of arnica include sesquiterpene lactones and flavonoids which are known to reduce inflammation and ease pain. It also contains thymol, an essential oil that fights infection, and carotenoid, a powerful antioxidant.

It is believed to work by stimulating the activity of white blood cells and dispersing fluid that accumulates around damaged, swollen joints.

Cumulatively, its effect is to boost immunity, accelerate healing and fight inflammation. It also helps the body combat bacterial infection.

Roger Savage, senior homeopath at the Cambridge Complementary Health Practice, says the study was poorly designed and ran the risk of putting people off an effective treatment.

THIS study is very flawed,' he says. 'The principles of homeopathy are the reverse to orthodox medicine - the lower the dose, the more powerful the effect. The study used high doses which wouldn't be very effective and could cause side effects. And, for serious post-operative pain, homeopaths would design an individual treatment.'

Dr Peter Fisher, homeopathic physician to the Queen and clinical director of the Royal London Homeopathic Hospital agrees. 'The researchers set up the study in the wrong way and misinterpreted their findings so we don't feel it proves anything,' says Dr Fisher, who is also a GP.

'Arnica has stood the test of time. Homeopaths have used it for more than 200 years to treat injuries, in particular swelling and bruising.'

Even Professor Ernst concedes the study does not necessarily discount arnica or the effectiveness of homeopathy. Laboratory tests, he says, have found that ultra-dilute homeopathic remedies do induce a response in immune cells.

He also admits that similar dilutions have significant effects on animals, which cannot 'will themselves better' to cause a placebo effect.

But this won't convince hundreds of British doctors who remain highly sceptical of homeopathy. Cynics such as Dr John Flemming, a GP based in North London, says the research proves that homeopathic remedies just don't work.

'They don't contain any active ingredient, so how can you expect them to work?' he says. 'In all likelihood, when people take arnica and feel better, it's because of the placebo effect, just as this research shows.'

• Homeopathic remedies are available in different potencies or dilutions.

The most common are 6C (diluted 600 times) used for long-standing ailments, and 30C (diluted 3,000 times) for emergency and acute symptoms.

• Try Nelson's Arnica, 84 tablets for £4.60; or Boots Homeopathic Remedies, Arnica 6C pillules (84 pills) £3.80; or Arnica 30C pillules (84 pills) £4.50.

• Creams and ointments should be applied gently to bruised areas, then rest the damaged tissue.

•Try Nelson's Arnica Cream, £3.95 for 30g, Boots Herbal Arnica Cream, £3.60 for 30g tube.