Journal of Integrative Medicine 2018;16(2):72-76

doi:10.1016/j.joim.2018.01.001

Arnica montana experimental studies: confounders and biases?

Paolo BELLAVITE 1 ; Marta MARZOTTO 2 ; Clara BONAFINI 1

Affiliations

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Keywords

Arnica montana; Ethanol; Gene expression; Statistics

Country

China

Language

English

Abstract

Arnica montana is a popular traditional remedy widely used in complementary and alternative medicine, in part for its wound-healing properties. The authors recently showed that this plant extract and several of its homeopathic dilutions are able to modify the expression of a series of genes involved in inflammation and connective tissue regeneration. Their studies opened a debate, including criticisms to the "errors" in the methods used and the "confounders and biases". Here the authors show that the criticisms raised on methodology and statistics are not consistent and cannot be considered pertinent. The present comment also updates and reviews information concerning the action of A. montana dilutions in human macrophage cells while summarizing the major experimental advances reported on this interesting medicinal plant.