It’s considered unsafe, due to the pyrrolizidine alkaloids that comfrey contains. These are dangerous chemicals that can cause cancer, severe liver damage, and even death when you consume them. For this reason, the Food and Drug Administration and European countries have banned oral comfrey products.
is Comfrey really toxic?
Comfrey is POSSIBLY SAFE for most people when applied to unbroken skin in small amounts for less than 10 days. It’s important to remember that the poisonous chemicals in comfrey can pass through the skin. It contains chemicals (pyrrolizidine alkaloids, PAs) that can cause liver damage, lung damage, and cancer.
is Comfrey safe to take internally?
Comfrey is not recommended for internal use because of the liver damage caused by its pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Patients with hypersensitivity or allergic reactions to the plant should also avoid external use.
why was comfrey banned?
FDA bans sale of comfrey herb. a cancer-causing agent. The US Food and Drug Administration on Friday asked makers of dietary supplements containing the herb comfrey to withdraw their products due to the danger of liver damage and its possible role as a cancer-causing agent.
What are the side effects of comfrey?
Can you eat comfrey leaves?
Historically, some people have eaten comfrey leaves as a vegetable. You can also drink dried comfrey root and leaves as tea. Today, eating or taking any form of comfrey by mouth isn’t recommended. It’s considered unsafe, due to the pyrrolizidine alkaloids that comfrey contains. You may also read, Is comic book one word or two?
Can you 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. Check the answer of Is Comic Sans a professional font?
Is Comfrey an antifungal?
Clinical Overview A limited number of clinical trials show short-term efficacy of topically applied, alkaloid-free comfrey preparations in skin abrasions and inflammatory conditions. Although not examined in clinical trials, comfrey may possess antifungal and anticancer activity.
Is Comfrey poisonous to dogs?
Comfrey is considered safe in moderation, but people or animals with liver ailments may do best by using it only topically. This plant contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, mainly found in its roots, which can be toxic to the liver tissues. Read: Is commander in chief a military position?
Can Comfrey heal broken bones?
Comfrey was once commonly called Knitbone because of its amazing ability to heal broken bones and “knit” them back together again. The plant is also excellent to use topically on sprains, pulled muscles, swellings and fractures.
Is Comfrey good for hair?
Comfrey root is great for hair because it has healing properties and is chock-full with minerals, vitamin A, B-12, and antioxidants. It is superb at preventing dryness because the presence of attantoin not only stimulates skin cell proliferation, but it is also an excellent exfoliant that will soften skin cells.
How does Comfrey heal?
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.
How big does Comfrey grow?
Comfrey plants shoot up quickly, early in the season, and can easily reach heights of around five feet. The lower leaves are equally large, somewhat dwarfing the hanging clusters of flowers at the top of the plant.
What can I do with comfrey leaves?
The most common medicinal use of comfrey are in poultices to help heal swellings, inflammations and sores. To make such a dressing, let the leaves mush up in hot water, squeeze out the excess liquid and wrap several handfuls of the hot, softened foliage in a clean cloth.
Does Comfrey heal ligaments?
Comfrey is considered the remedy par excellence for healing damage to muscles and ligaments. Used for sprains, fractures, torn ligaments, crush injuries (eg. closing a finger in a door), bruises and non-infected wounds, the herb will heal tissues in record time and prevent the formation of scar tissue.
