Comfrey is not recommended for internal use because of the liver damage caused by its pyrrolizidine alkaloids. harvesting and preparation. Different strains of comfrey have different medicinal potencies. Make sure you water the base of the plant when using this method. Topically, comfrey root and leaf extracts have been traditionally used for bruises, sore muscles and joints, sprains, mild wounds, and gout (Natural Medicines, 2020). It is rich in protein, antioxidants and vitamin B12. Comfrey Leaf safe to eat? Comfrey also contains rosmarinic acid and tannins that help skin grow. Herbalist Lesley Bremness suggests soaking comfrey leaves in water to use as compost “tea,” which adds needed potassium to mineral-poor soil, as well as potato and tomato plants. The leaves of this plant have been in use for thousands of years, both in Chinese traditional medicine and dating as far back as the ancient Greeks. Completely safe for topical use. Three things have convinced me. It should be avoided during pregnancy, lactation, when cancer or tumors are present, or when there is a history of liver problems. The dominant culture hs moved to embrace herbal ism, and it is no longer seen as fringe. The root (whether dried or fresh) is not normally taken internally - see 'dosage and cautions' page for more info. Feed the Plants. I would like to briefly summarize the debate about comfrey amongst herbalists. All cases involve comfrey; in at least three, there are suggestions of overdose or abuse of the plant. Many people have used comfrey internally with no reported ill effects, and it is probably safe to use internally for short periods. Comfrey is listed in the schedule under its botanical name Symphytum. Quantity is the key, a little every now and again is not likely to cause any harm. This herb has been utilized in folk medicine throughout Europe and North America and has been widely cultivated. The second way is to spread the leaves as a mulch beneath, say, your tomatoes. On one side, we see herbalists claiming there is potential for harm when taking comfrey internally, and therefore it must be avoided. WHICH plant, I don't know. Comfrey leaf skin preparations have not been shown to damage the liver. Crush or powder the plant material and mix with water to form a paste. Safety. The hybridized comfrey that is big, tall and has blue or purple flowers was cultivated specifically to be eaten as a green at the dinner table by the entire family with the alkaloids being bred out of the leaf almost, if not entirely. Absorption of these chemicals increases if the skin is broken or if large amounts are applied. Comfrey is POSSIBLY SAFE for most people when applied to unbroken skin in small amounts for less than 10 days. Although some herbalists continue the tradition of using comfrey internally, mainly through teas and infusions, my use of comfrey is strictly for external applications. Not for Internal Use. To be on the safe side, go for a higher dilution of 1 part tea to 15 parts water. • One: An herbal group that I belong to sent three samples of comfrey leaf (one from the west coast, one from the east coast, and one from the Rocky Mountains) to a lab to be tested for the problematic alkaloids; they found none. Because comfrey plants grow so rapidly, feel free to harvest the leaves several times a season. Senna leaf is known to irritate the lining of the bowels, which has a laxative effect. There are also disagreements about the efficacy & safety of leaves vs. root. Using comfrey orally and on open wounds are strictly restricted by the FDA. Does not is comfrey leaf safe the mother, it will not be fine, there are also disagreements about the efficacy safety. 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