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Comfrey (Symphytum officinale)

Actions: expectorant, demulcent, astringent, emollient, tonic, pectoral

Indications: comfrey is a famous herb with extremely important uses medicinally. A gentle expectorant as well as a soothing herb, it is used successfully in cases of bronchitis and irritable cough. Perhaps its most popular use is as a powerful healing agent in gastric and duodenal ulcers, including hiatus hernia and ulcerative colitus. It helps to stop internal bleeding due to its astringency. It also has a long historical use in the treatment of wounds, and in fact will cause cells to proliferate quickly. In fact, care must be taken in cases of broken skin or deep wounds, that tissue is not formed over infection, which can lead to abscesses.

Preparation and dosage: blend 1 or 2 teaspoonsful of the leaf or root into 1 cup boiling water. Simmer 10 minutes. Drink 1-2 x

daily. Tincture: take 1/2 teaspoon, 2 x daily.

Caution: comfrey, along with coltsfoot, contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, chemicals that can cause liver toxicity if

taken in huge amounts. Some herbalists recommend against using these herbs. Although we disagree, you should

make your own mind up about these controversial herbs. One bit of data that you might be interested in is a study

done by noted biochemist Bruce Ames, PhD of the University of California at Berkeley. His data states that a cup of

comfrey leaf tea is less carcinogenic than an equal amount of beer.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

 Disclaimer: These pages are presented solely as a source of INFORMATION and ENTERTAINMENT and to provide stern warnings against use where appropriate. No claims are made for the efficacy of any herb nor for any historical herbal treatment. In no way can the information provided here take the place of the standard, legal, medical practice of any country. Additionally, some of these plants are extremely toxic and should be used only by licensed professionals who have the means to process them properly into appropriate pharmaceuticals. One final note: many plants were used for a wide range of illnesses in the past, but be aware that many of the historical uses have proven to be ineffective for the problems to which they were applied.