Comfrey — Health Benefits And Risks
Comfrey is a flowering plant that grows in Europe, Asia, and North America. It produces clusters of purple, blue, and white flowers and it is famous for its medicinal properties. Comfrey is used to treat muscle sprains, bruises, burns, and joint inflammation.
People also use Comfrey to treat inflammatory conditions, such as arthritis and gout. Some healers also use it to cure diarrhea and other stomach ailments.
What Comfrey Is Made Of?
The roots of the Comfrey plant contain chemical substances called allantoin and rosmarinic acid. Allantoin boosts the growth of new skin cells, and rosmarinic acid reduces inflammation and relieves pain.
Common Health Benefits Of Comfrey
Here’re some of the potential health benefits of Comfrey:
1. Broken Bones/Wound Healing
Comfrey ointments are mostly used to treat weak bones and wounds. However, it’s important to make sure that your wounds are completely clean before applying Comfrey. This is because the skin can regrow too fast that it can trap any debris left in the wound.
2. Muscle & Joint Pain
Comfrey is proven to relieve inflammation, pain, and swelling of muscle and joints in case of sprains, strains after injuries or accidents, acute arthritis, and myalgia in the back, in children aged 3 years and older.
Studies show that Comfrey application has improved the healing and pain response of bruises, sprains, painful muscles, and joints, which are particularly related to exercise.
3. Skin Health
Comfrey’s healing properties improve skin health with its wonder ingredient allantoin, which acts as an extremely hydrating, naturally exfoliating, repairing, protecting, and soothing agent on the skin. Comfrey’s highly antioxidant nature also helps to reduce free radical activity on the skin. Allantoin interacts with the skin’s keratin to thin out an abnormal stratum corneum and leaves the skin silky and smooth. Comfrey can also be used to reduce skin irritations such as sunburn, rashes, and stings.
4. Osteoarthritis
Comfrey cream/ointment helps in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee (as per a study published in Phytomedicine in 2007). By the study’s end, those who used Comfrey have experienced a great improvement in their pain, mobility, and significantly greater improvement in their health.
5. Ankle Sprains
Researches show that comfrey cream may be helpful in the treatment of ankle sprains. According to a study published in 2005, researchers found that comfrey ointment may be effective as Diclofenac gel (a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) when it comes to reducing ankle-sprain.
While studies suggest that comfrey offers some pain-relieving benefits, but Comfrey is only safe to apply on your skin or closed wounds for shorter periods of time. Given the safety concerns, it should only be used under the supervision of your physician or healthcare provider.
