As the country goes sporting mad this summer, homeopathy will be called on as a holistic way to print back to good health following minor injuries.

The most common ailments suffered by athletes are bruising, torn ligaments and muscular strain, and sports personalities such as footballer David Beckham and rugby player Will Greenwood are among the six million users of homeopathy in the UK.

The most popular homeopathic treatments for sports-related problems are Arnica which is traditionally used for bruising, and Ruta for sprains or strains. While chronic joint symptoms are best seen by a qualified professional homeopath, minor injuries and ailments can be treated at home using over-the-counter remedies.

Nelsons homeopathic pharmacy was keen to discover how athletes have used homeopathy to help them achieve their goals and found out that "Olympic 100m Champion Linford Christie, recommends homeopathic Arnica to help with sporting injuries: ‘I am a fan of arnica and recommend all the Athletes in my Street Athletics programme have it in their kit bag to help with sprains and strains.’

Jayne Torvill, legendary Olympic figure skating Gold medallist and Dancing on Ice star, also trusts Arnica:  “When I fall on the ice, I treat my bruises with arnica tablets or cream, which seems to help”. And it doesn’t stop there. Homeopathy fans include Olympic tennis superstar Boris Becker, two time javelin Olympic medallist Kate Schmidt and our very own football icon and Team GB hopeful, David Beckham."

A placebo-controlled trial found that a cream containing 14 homeopathic medicines (including Arnica) was effective for treating sprained ankles*.  Research studies have also suggested that Arnica can have an anti-inflammatory effect.

*’Homeopathy in Healthcare: Effectiveness, Appropriateness, Safety, Costs’ G. Bornhoft, P. Matthieson 2011.