The Consumer Guide to Comfrey
In This Guide...
Benefits and Uses
Recent findings
Types of products
Safety
References
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Caution: Do not take this herb internally (by mouth) except by medical prescription and under close medical supervision. It is potentially toxic. Read our Consumer Guide before purchasing this herb!
Comfrey is a popular folk herb derived from the roots and leaves of a plant (Symphytum officinale) of the borage family. It is also known as "boneset" and "knitbone".
Benefits and Uses:
Comfrey has traditionally been taken internally as a digestive aid and, more frequently, applied externally to promote the healing of wounds and broken bones. Applied topically, comfrey is easily absorbed through the skin and reaches deep tissue.
Recent findings:
Scientists have identified compounds like allantoin in comfrey that promote cell regeneration and help relieve inflammation resulting from bruises, sprains, insect bites, and skin conditions. Of the dozens of scientific inquiries into comfrey in recent years, the vast majority has investigated its potential liver toxicity.
Types of products:
It is frequently combined with calendula, witch hazel, St. John's wort, arnica, and other herbs in salves and ointments. It is available fresh and dried, and in concentrated drops, tinctures, and extracts. Allantoin is now widely used in bodycare products for its skin-soothing properties.
Safety:
Oral ingestion of comfrey is now rare, due to concerns about potential liver toxicity from compounds known as pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which are more concentrated in the roots than the leaves. The American Herbal Products Association recently placed comfrey on its Restricted Use List, for external use only. Some herbalists feel that the toxicity issue remains open.
- Abbott, P.J., "Comfrey: assessing the low-dose health risk,"Med J Aust (1988), 149(11-12):678-82.
- Couet, C.E., "Analysis, separation, and bioassay of pyrrolizidine alkaloids from comfrey (Symphytum officinale)," Nat Toxins (1996), 4(4):163-7
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