Condition
Treatment Support
promotes cell growth
Application
compress externally
Comfrey
(Symphytum officinale)
Also know as Russian comfrey
Botanical Information
A vigorous perennial garden plant with a profusion of large acutely-pointed leaves and spreading roots. The purple-white flowers are in small elongated sprays shaped like a scorpion’s tail.
Working with Comfrey
Part(s) Used
Root, Herb
Herb Forms
Teabag, tincture, homeopathic tablet, capsule, tablet, salve, cream, bulk herb, powder
Christopher Hobbs
“Comfrey root has long been recommended as an external preparation for helping heal all manners of trauma to the skin and bones. It is used both internally and externally for bites, burns, bruises, stings, and wounds as well as sprains and broken bones. It contains allantoin, which increases the growth of cells and is an excellent demulcent due to its high mucilage content. Comfrey root is also taken internally for lung, bowel, and urinary tract conditions.
Comfrey has a taste of BITTER, SWEET and a temperature of COOL.”
Historical Uses
Comfrey, a perennial herb native to Europe, has been used for centuries for wound healing, bone fractures, bruises, and joint inflammation. Known as “knitbone” historically, it was often applied as a poultice or used in teas and salves. Ancient Greeks and Romans documented its medicinal applications, and it remained popular in folk medicine for its purported ability to promote tissue repair.
Modern Clinical Uses by Herbalists and Naturopaths
Today, herbalists and naturopaths use comfrey primarily in topical applications for sprains, bruises, joint pain, and wound healing. Comfrey’s roots and leaves contain compounds believed to reduce inflammation, support tissue regeneration, and relieve pain. It is seldom recommended for internal use due to toxicity concerns, although some practitioners use it cautiously for digestive ulcers and respiratory issues.
Chemistry and Pharmacology
Comfrey contains bioactive compounds, including allantoin, rosmarinic acid, and tannins. Allantoin is thought to stimulate cell growth and healing, while rosmarinic acid has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. However, comfrey also contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), which are toxic to the liver and can cause serious health issues if ingested or used improperly. Due to these PAs, the internal use of comfrey is largely discouraged in modern herbalism.
Dosages
In topical applications, comfrey ointments or creams usually contain 5-20% comfrey root extract. Applied up to 3-4 times daily, they are often limited to a period of 2-4 weeks to minimize PA exposure. Internal use of comfrey, even at low doses, is considered unsafe due to potential toxicity.
Clinical Trials and Research
Clinical studies on comfrey’s efficacy have primarily focused on topical applications for musculoskeletal pain and wound healing. Research indicates that comfrey cream can effectively reduce pain and inflammation in conditions like osteoarthritis and back pain, often with a comparable effect to conventional anti-inflammatory medications. However, the internal use of comfrey has not been tested in human trials due to its toxicity risks, and no safe oral dosage has been established.
Summary
Comfrey has a long history of use in wound healing and pain relief but is restricted to external applications in modern herbalism due to the risks of liver toxicity from pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Although studies support its topical use for pain and inflammation, careful usage and medical guidance are recommended, as even external use should be limited to short durations.
Generated by ChatGPT; edited by Christopher Hobbs.
Cautions
Today comfrey is most often recommended for external use because it contains toxic alkaloids that have been linked to liver inflammation and toxicity in connection with its internal use. These pyrrolizidine alkaloids, or PAs, are only mildly toxic, but other species are known to have various levels of PAs of high toxicity (the young leaves and roots of S. officinalis contain the highest levels). One reason why commercial products containing comfrey have been discontinued by most manufacturers is the difficulty in determining the species identity when the herb has been powdered or extracted and added to capsules or tablets.
Avoid comfrey if you are pregnant or nursing. Don’t use leaf preparations internally for longer than 1 week, twice a year, and always do so under the care of a qualified herbalist. We do not advise using it internally or on broken skin.
Allantoin, however, is a safe and effective cell proliferator. Don’t apply it unless a broken bone has been set properly, and do not use it on a deep, open wound that may not have been cleaned, since it could close at the top before the underlying tissue has fully healed.
Conditions treated with Comfrey
Condition
Treatment Support
Application
Condition
Treatment Support
demulcent anti-inflammatory
Application
poultice, externally
Condition
Treatment Support
skin cell proliferant
Application
fresh or dried root externally
The information given here is designed to help you make informed choices about your health. The information is drawn from numerous sources—both traditional medicine practice, from the clinical experience of many herbalists currently practicing, and supported by decades of scientific research from the author. The research most consulted includes human clinical trials that help to determine the most effective and safe herbs for various needs, the best doses, and types of preparations.
The information offered in this database is not intended as a substitute for any that may have been prescribed by your health practitioner or physician.
