 |
Common names
Knitbone, common comfrey, symphytum, blackwort, healing herb and
bruisewort.
Description of the herb comfrey
Comfrey is a stout, bristly haired, perennial herb with thick roots
and large tapering lance-like leaves. Purple to pink-white, funnel
shaped flowers are borne in summer.
Parts used
The roots and rhizomes are normally used, but the leaves are also
used to a lesser degree.
|
|
| |
Properties
Comfrey is a sweet, cooling herb with expectorant, astringent, soothing
and healing effects. It reduces inflammation and controls bleeding.
It contains allantoin as well as high amounts of mucilage and also
contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids and their N-oxides (intermedine,
symphytine and echimidine), as well as tannins, triterpenes and
organic acids (including rosmarinic acid).
It is a superb wound healing herb, but the pyrrolizidine alkaloids
(PA) can be carcinogenic and also cause liver damage.
Therapeutic uses
Internal use
Comfrey was used internally for treatment of gastric and duodenal
ulcers, chronic bronchial disease, colitis, irritable bowel syndrome,
glandular swelling and rheumatism.
Internal use is not recommended due to the liver toxicity involved.
External use
Used externally for psoriasis, eczema, sores, varicose veins and
ulcers, arthritis, sprains, bunions, hemorrhoids, sore breasts during
lactation, and injuries, including fractures.
It is particularly effective in slow healing wounds and to help
repair tissue damage.
Comfrey contains an excellent cell proliferant and is used to stimulate
growth of new skin cells.
But due to the PA contained in this herb, the use of comfrey in
both oral and topical applications should be discouraged due to
the side effects that it can have..
Safety precautions and warnings
If used topically, do not use it on deep wounds, as healing on the
surface will initiate and so cause an abscess to form below.
When taking comfrey internally, great care must be taken to prevent
liver toxicity and damage, and for this reason, this herb is subject
to legal restriction in certain countries.
The PA contained in comfrey is hepatoxic, carcinogenic and mutagenic,
and the use of this herb should rather be avoided all together. |
