Comfrey Tea Benefits and Side Effects

Comfrey Tea Benefits and Side Effects

Comfrey Tea Benefits and Side Effects Menu Verywell Fit Nutrition Weight Management Nutrition Facts Nutrition Basics Diets Meal Plans Meal Delivery Services View All News Fitness and Nutrition What to Buy How We Test Products Fitness Gear Nutrition Products Tools Recipe Nutrition Calculator Weight Loss Calorie Goal BMI Calculator Body Fat Percentage Calculator Calories Burned by Activity Daily Calories Burned Pace Calculator About Us Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Search Nutrition Facts Water and Beverages Comfrey Tea Benefits and Side Effects Is Comfrey Root Safe or Healthy? By Malia Frey Malia Frey Malia Frey is a weight loss expert, certified health coach, weight management specialist, personal trainer​, and fitness nutrition specialist. Learn about our editorial process Updated on October 18, 2021 Medically reviewed Verywell Fit articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and nutrition and exercise healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Marisa Moore, RDN, MBA Medically reviewed by Marisa Moore, RDN, MBA Marisa Moore is a registered dietitian nutritionist with a BS in nutrition science and MBA in marketing. She is also the founder of Marisa Moore Nutrition. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print Verywell / Alexandra Shytsman Comfrey tea is an herbal tea with a long history of use. However, comfrey leaf and comfrey root products have raised concerns with health agencies because comfrey contains chemicals called pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) that may be harmful. For this reason, it is smart to be cautious when drinking comfrey tea or using other comfrey products. What Is Comfrey Tea Comfrey tea is made using the leaves of the Symphytum officinale or common comfrey plant. The perennial plant is native to Europe but also grows widely grown in western Asia, North America and Australia. The comfrey plant has a black, turnip-like root and leaves are often described as hairy, prickly, and broad. The plant also bears small purple or cream flowers. Comfrey is also known as ass ear, black root, blackwort, bruisewort, salsify, slippery root, or wallwort. Comfrey tea has a long history of use as a treatment for aches and pains. Traditionally called knitbone or boneset, the tea was reportedly used by ancient Greeks and Romans to heal injuries after a bad fall or accident. However, in recent years, because of safety concerns, most consumers only use comfrey externally. While you can make comfrey tea at home, health experts do not advise that you drink the tea. For that reason, some fans of the herbal treatment make comfrey tea, allow it to cool, and apply it topically to the skin or to areas of the body where aches and pains are present. Comfrey Tea Health Benefits Comfrey root and comfrey leaf benefits are widely promoted because of the herb's long history of use. These rumored benefits include: wound healing relief from excessive menstrual flow scar reduction burn relief treatment of bronchitis treatment for rheumatoid arthritis treatment for rashes or insect bites treatment of broken bones, sprains, strains relief from general aches and pains improved dental health (stronger teeth) better blood circulation smoother skin acne treatment cancer prevention It is not clear whether comfrey can actually provide these benefits. No strong scientific evidence has confirmed these benefits in humans. According to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), comfrey root and comfrey leaves contain powerful substances that can impact your health. These include allantoin, rosmarinic acid, and pyrrolizidine alkaloids according to published studies. The Therapeutic Research Center Natural Medicine Database reports that comfrey applied topically may be effective for treating back pain, osteoarthritis, or sprains. However, MSKCC along with other well-respected health agencies, advise against using comfrey due to serious health concerns. Comfrey Tea Risks and Side Effects The Natural Medicine Database suggests that comfrey is possibly safe for most people when applied to unbroken skin in small amounts for less than 10 days. But they add that comfrey is likely unsafe when taken by mouth or when it is applied to broken skin. They also advise pregnant or breastfeeding women to avoid using it topically or by mouth. In 2001, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advised supplement manufacturers to remove products containing comfrey from the market. In reports filed with the Poisonous Plant Database, the agency stated that "regular use of comfrey as part of the diet or for medicinal purposes may be a potential health risk as a result of the presence of naturally-occurring pyrrolizidine alkaloids." More specifically, comfrey contains compounds that are toxic to the liver and may cause liver damage and/or cancer. A Word From Verywell If you've experienced a fall, a broken bone, or are suffering from muscle aches and pains, you may be tempted to take advantage of comfrey benefits. There is a possibility that using comfrey on your skin may provide some relief, but there is also a possibility that it will provide no relief at all and it may cause harm. For those reasons, it may be smarter to work with your healthcare provider to come up with a safer solution. There are many treatments for back pain and muscle aches that are backed by scientific studies and have fewer side effects. 5 Sources Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. European Medicines Agency. Assessment report on Symphytum officinale L., radix. Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). Oberlies NH, Kim NC, Brine DR, et al. Analysis of herbal teas made from the leaves of comfrey (Symphytum officinale): reduction of N-oxides results in order of magnitude increases in the measurable concentration of pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Public Health Nutr. 2004;7(7):919-24. Comfrey. Drugs and Lactation Database LactMed. National Library of Medicine (US) May 17, 2021 Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Comfrey. Therapeutic Research Center. Natural Medicines Database. Comfrey. Additional Reading Comfrey. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Integrative Medicine. About Herbs & Other Products. https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/comfrey Comfrey. Michigan Medicine. University of Michigan https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/d04502a1 Comfrey. Penn State Hershey. Milton Hershey Medical Center. http://pennstatehershey.adam.com/content.aspx?productId=107&pid=33&gid=000234 Comfrey. Therapeutic Research Center. Natural Medicines Database. https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com/databases/food,-herbs-supplements/professional.aspx?productid=295 Staiger, Christiane. Comfrey: A Clinical Overview. Phytoptherapy Research. February 2012. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.4612 By Malia Frey Malia Frey is a weight loss expert, certified health coach, weight management specialist, personal trainer​, and fitness nutrition specialist. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit Related Articles Burdock Root Tea Benefits and Side Effects Soursop Tea Benefits and Side Effects Ballerina Tea: Benefits, Side Effects, and Preparations Essiac Tea Benefits and Side Effects Hibiscus Tea: Benefits, Side Effects, and Preparations Ginger Tea: Benefits, Side Effects, and Preparations Are There Any Side Effects to Drinking Valerian Tea? The Health Benefits of Liquid Chlorophyll How Lemongrass May Provide Dandruff Relief Sassafras Tea Benefits and Side Effects Eucalyptus Tea Benefits and Side Effects The Health Benefits of Mustard Mint Tea Benefits and Side Effects Parsley Tea Benefits and Side Effects Health Benefits of Drinking Tea What Do Tongkat Ali Supplements Do? When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Cookies Settings Reject All Accept All
Share:
0 comments

Comments (0)

Leave a Comment

Minimum 10 characters required

* All fields are required. Comments are moderated before appearing.

No comments yet. Be the first to comment!