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Agrimony Glossary |
Comfrey |
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Symphytum officinale The leaf and root of comfrey have been employed medicinally for centuries and it is generally considered the orthopaedic specific of herbal medicine. Originally from Europe and western Asia, it is now also grown in North America.
Comfrey has a long, consistent history of use as a topical agent for improving wound healing, skin ulcers, and strains & sprains. Comfrey has a reputation as an anti-inflammatory for a variety of rashes. It was also used for persons with gastrointestinal problems, such as stomach ulcers and inflammatory bowel disease, pulmonary affections, coughs, and colds in lungs and throat. It relieves inflamed conditions of the air passages and loosens & removes phlegm. Also of note is the use of comfrey to promote more rapid repair of broken bones (a bone-setter who practised fifty years ago, rendered himself famous for setting compound fractures with this root, and he never removed the bandage after the first dressing until the limb was well). Rich in vitamin C, leaves are used in soups and green salads. Care: Comfrey root (which is much more toxic than the leaf) should never be taken internally. Comfrey contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which have been linked to liver and lung cancers among other disorders. It could also be dangerous to take antibiotics, prescription medicines and a wide variety of other medications while taking Comfrey internally. First year growth of Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) has been mistaken for Comfrey with fatal results. Ingestion of this plant can be fatal at all times.
DISCLAIMER: This page is intended for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for accurate diagnosis and treatment by a qualified health care professional. The author is neither a chemist nor an herbalist and has had no medical training whatsoever. The content herein is the product of research, not practical experience. |
