Efficacy of Homeopathic Arnicare Pain Relief Products Based on ‘Sham Science,’ Class Action Lawsuit Alleges

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A proposed class action lawsuit alleges that Boiron misleadingly advertises its homeopathic Arnicare pain relief products, given that the active ingredient is ineffective at providing pain relief.

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The 14-page lawsuit contends that Arnicare topical creams, gels and tablets, which purportedly offer pain relief by way of the herb arnica montana, are falsely advertised, as the products’ apparent efficacy is based on “sham science.” Despite the prominent presence of “PAIN RELIEF” on product labels, the Arnicare products “do no such thing,” the case says.

The suit states that Arnicare performs no better than placebos in controlled scientific studies, and seeks to require Boiron to change product labels and provide consumers monetary relief for its “deceptive and misleading product claims.”

“Defendant has profited enormously from its false and misleading representations,” the complaint alleges.

According to the filing, homeopathic medicine is based on the erroneous belief that the more an ingredient is diluted and vigorously shaken, also referred to as “potentization,” the more potent and effective it becomes due to the release of so-called “vital energies.”

The case asserts that homeopathy is “contrary to modern medicine,” stating that any improvement in a health condition from homeopathic remedies is attributed to the placebo effect, and that the scientific community has repeatedly expressed criticism of homeopathic remedies.  

The lawsuit says that the medical benefits of arnica montana are “theoretical” to begin with, and even if the active ingredient provided some modicum of pain relief, the dosage of arnica montana in the Arnicare products is “far too small” to provide a physiological effect in humans.

Indeed, the suit highlights that numerous scientific studies have demonstrated that homeopathic arnica is particularly ineffective for the treatment of pain, with one 1984 study finding that treatment with arnica actually increased the amount of pain and swelling experienced by patients.

The lawsuit also highlights a study published in the British medical journal The Lancet that compared 110 placebo-controlled homeopathy trials to the same number of trials of conventional medicine. Per the case, researchers found that homeopathic remedies were “entirely compatible” with the expected outcomes from a placebo effect on patients and did not provide meaningful medical benefits.

“Systematic reviews and meta-analyses have conclusively demonstrated that homeopathic products perform no better than placebos,” the lawsuit summarizes.

The Boiron Arnicare class action lawsuit seeks to cover all individuals in the United States who, during the maximum period of time permitted by law, purchased the products for personal, family, or household consumption, and not for resale.

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