Arni-care cream! (Nelsons Arnica Cream - 30g)

Member Name: mummy2harry

Product:	Nelsons Arnica Cream - 30g
Date:	31/03/08 (457 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Soothing for bruises, nice smell, gentle and natural

Disadvantages: Doesn't make bruises fade

There is nothing worse for me than seeing Harry covered in little bruises. He is an active toddler and forever falling over and knocking his little arms and legs, and so little bruises keep springing up all over him. I don't like to think of him in pain, and they don't look great either, so I set off to the shop a few months ago to see if I could find something which would ease his bruises just a little bit.

I knew that Arnica was good for bumps and bruises, so I went to my local Boots store. They had nothing and suggested I try the local health food shop, as they would have more natural products in. I went across the road to Holland and Barratt and asked about Arnica products, and I was shown straight to a section of the shop which contained lots of different Arnica gels, creams and other lotions and potions. I opted for this one as it was a cream which would sink in easily, and hopefully I'd be able to apply it to Harry's bruises much more easily.

Nelsons Arnica Arni-Care cream is a product specially formulated for bruises and other knocks and bumps which we all get at some point. It is made from the plant "Arnica Montana", which is a yellow flowering plant. Arnica has long been used medicinally for bruises, and Nelsons have been making herbal remedies for many years so I hoped that this would be a successful product. The cream comes in a 30 gram metal tube, which has a foil sealing which you pierce using the lid. The screw cap seals it tightly and I haven't had it leaking or anything yet.

The design is slightly different to the pictured product on Dooyoo, I think they have modernised it a bit. It is purple and green, with "arnica" written in bold purple writing down the side of the box, and the Nelsons logo at the top. It's pretty distinctive and easy to spot on the shelf. The tube follows this colour scheme, with a predominant white body with the purple and green accents and lettering.

The cream is obviously simple to use. You simply squeeze out a small amount (which of course differs according to the size of the bruise you want to apply it to) and then rub it onto the bruise gently, as you don't want to hurt yourself. I find the cream isn't too greasy at all, and sinks in fairly well in a good amount of time. It doesn't have a particularly strong scent, just a little bit sweet and "medicinal", but is quite unisex so everyone in the family can happily use this product.

I guess the most important thing is whether or not it actually works. I had a pretty nasty bruise on my arm a couple of weeks ago, and I wanted it to stop aching and go down a bit, as I find big purple bruises quite unsightly! I applied the cream from when the bruise was at its angriest every day, with a generous amount of the cream. Whilst I didn't expect miracle results, I was a bit disappointed. I felt my bruise went down no quicker than if I hadn't used the cream, but the area didn't feel quite as tender after a few applications. I was pleased that it didn't hurt as much, because I like to think when I use this on Harry, it alleviates some of the pain of his tender little bruise, even if it doesn't really help aesthetically.

People have, and have always had, strong beliefs about herbal remedies and their effectiveness. I don't really have views one way or another, and I think it's good to try natural things on our bodies, particularly when it comes to our children, which is why I chose this product for Harry. He didn't have any reactions to it at all, and seemed okay when I was applying it. I wouldn't say its particularly effective but it did alleviate some of the tenderness directly on the bruise, so if you are after a product which is natural and helps just that little bit, this might be the one for you.

My tube of Arnica cream cost me £4.49 from Holland and Barratt, but I have since noticed my local Boots now sell this product, so perhaps there is more call for natural products. Nelsons have a website, which is www.nelsonshomoeopathy.co.uk, and lists all of their products and availability. They state the product should retail for £3.95 for a 30g tube, which I think is good value as it will last you a while.

Thank you for reading!

Summary: Good herbal cream