Does comfrey actually work?
According to the same research review, results also suggested that comfrey can help treat osteoarthritis, as well as some injuries, such as ankle sprains. A study reported in Phytotherapy Research also suggests that creams containing comfrey root can help relieve upper and lower back pain.
What does comfrey do to liver?
As noted above, comfrey contains substances called pyrrolizidine alkaloids that are both toxic to the liver and carcinogenic. The main form of liver disease seen with comfrey is a blockage of small veins that can lead to liver cirrhosis and eventually liver failure (hepato-occlusive disease).
Does comfrey heal broken bones?
Comfrey may not be an obvious choice, but it has always been such a kind plant to the garden that it should come as no surprise that is kind to the body, too. Once known as knitbone, Symphytum officinale has a long history of wound healing, particularly broken bones, torn muscles, sprains and aches.
Does comfrey cause liver damage?
When taken by mouth: Comfrey is LIKELY UNSAFE for anyone when taken by mouth. It contains chemicals (pyrrolizidine alkaloids, PAs) that can cause liver damage, lung damage, and cancer. The FDA has recommended that all oral comfrey products be removed from the market.
Is comfrey an anti inflammatory?
Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) acts as an anti-inflammatory to promote healing of bruises, sprains, and open wounds when applied topically. The roots and leaves of this plant contain the protein allantoin, which stimulates cell proliferation and promote wound and bone healings.
Can I drink comfrey tea?
While you can make comfrey tea at home, health experts do not advise that you drink the tea. 2 For that reason, some fans of the herbal treatment make comfrey tea, allow it to cool, and apply it topically to the skin or to areas of the body where aches and pains are present.
Is comfrey good for tendons?
A herbal practitioner survey of the external use of comfrey in the United Kingdom indicated that comfrey is rated most effective for fractures, wounds, post-surgery healing, and problems with tendon, ligament, and muscle; while it is less effective for treating boils, hemorrhoids, and varicose veins (Frost et al., 2014 …
Is comfrey leaf toxic?
Comfrey has toxic substances that can cause severe liver damage and even death. You should never take comfrey by mouth. The toxic substances in comfrey can be absorbed by the skin. Even creams and ointments should be used for only a short time, and only under a doctor’s supervision.
Is comfrey an invasive plant?
Because it is a very deep root, it is extremely difficult to eradicate once established. Between the self-seeding and root regrowth, comfrey can become invasive. There is a sterile species of comfrey, Symphytum x uplandicum ‘Bocking 14’, which eliminates the self-seeding problem in the garden.
Is comfrey good for wrinkles?
Comfrey is considered to be an essential anti-aging ingredient, because it contains both allantoin and rosmarinic acid. Allantoin promotes the growth of new skin cells and rosmarinic acid acts as a painkiller and reduces inflammation. Comfrey softens skin and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Does comfrey help inflammation?
Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) is sometimes used on the skin to treat wounds and reduce inflammation from sprains and broken bones. Comfrey roots and leaves contain allantoin, a substance that helps new skin cells grow, along with other substances that reduce inflammation and keep skin healthy.
What is comfrey used for?
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 joints in degenerative arthritis, acute myalgia in th … Comfrey: a clinical overview
Is Comfrey a carcinogen?
Although comfrey has been used as a food crop, and as a forage crop, in the past 20 years scientific studies reported that comfrey may be carcinogenic, since it appeared to cause liver damage and cancerous tumors in rats.
Why is comfrey so difficult to eradicate?
Comfrey, like other perennials, may be difficult to eradicate in order to plant other crops. The high moisture content and unpalatability for some livestock species make utilization of comfrey as a feed difficult.
Is comfrey good for back pain?
A study done in mice indicated that oral comfrey has antiproliferative effects ; the leaves showed wound healing properties ; and the root extract was useful in relieving acute back pain and osteoarthritis of the knee . However, comfrey contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids that are hepatotoxic and carcinogenic .