Latin Name
Symphytum officinale
General Description
Praised for centuries by herbalists throughout the world, who still use it to treat
disorders ranging from cuts to cancer, comfrey nevertheless is rejected by many practitioners
in the United States as too dangerous for any type of internal use. Comfrey contains
pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which can cause liver damage when consumed in large amounts. The
active agent in comfrey is allantoin, which fosters the growth of new cells. Although the
dried roots and leaves are used for medicinal purposes, the comfrey root contains up to
twice as much allantoin as the other parts. While its internal use remains questionable,
comfrey can be used safely on external injuries such as cuts and other wounds.
Target Ailments
Preparations
Over the counter:
Available in tincture, capsules and in bulk.
At home:
Tea: 1 cup boiling water poured onto 1 to 3 tsp. dried flowers or leaves and steeped
for 10 minutes. Consumed as hot as possible.
Compress: A pad soaked in a coltsfoot infusion for several minutes, wrung out, and then
applied to the affected area.
Combinations: For coughs, coltsfoot is often combined with white horehound and
mullein; for bronchitis, coltsfoot is
mixed with garlic or echinacea.
Special Information
