Comfrey (Symphytum officinale)

be careful with this herb. it's a good herb but be careful. i usually only use it 10 days at a time or so and only a few times in a year. see these links

Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids in Comfrey

List of all pyrrolizidine alkaloids in comfrey and related research on toxicity.
www.comfreycentral.com

Safety Issues Affecting Herbs: Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids

ITM Online provides education, and offers theraputic programs with a focus on natural healing techniques, such as herbal formulas, acupuncture, massage, diet, nutrition, and general health care. ITM is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization. The primary focus of its efforts is the...
www.itmonline.org
 
Comfrey: A Clinical Overview

Comfrey: A Clinical Overview - PMC

Comfrey has a centuries-old tradition as a medicinal plant. Today, multiple randomized controlled trials have demonstrated the efficacy and safety of comfrey preparations for the topical treatment of pain, inflammation and swelling of muscles and ...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Conclusion:

In the 17th century, Nicholas Culpeper (1616–1654) mentioned comfrey in his enlarged version of The English Physitian (Culpeper, 1656). He stated: ‘It is said to be so powerful to consolidate and knit together (…) and a Syrup made thereof is very effectual for all those (…) outward Wounds and Sores in the Fleshy or Sinewy part of the Body whatsoever’. He recommended comfrey among many other complaints for ‘Inward Wounds & Bruises, Wounds, Ruptures, broken Bones, Inflamation, Gout, and Pained Joynts.’

Today, this historical statement is widely supported by modern clinical data. Several recent randomized clinical trials substantiate the efficacy of topical comfrey preparations in the treatment of pain, inflammation and swelling of muscles and joints in the case of degenerative arthritis, acute myalgia in the back, sprains, contusions and strains after sports injuries and accidents, also in children aged 3 and over.
Click to expand...
 
The efficacy and safety of comfrey

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The efficacy and safety of comfrey - PubMed

Herbal medication has gathered increasing recognition in recent years with regard to both treatment options and health hazards. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids have been associated with substantial toxicity after their ingestion as tea and in the setting of contaminated cereals have led to endemic...
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top