Is Comfrey the Solution for Healing Sprains and Fractures?
Nick-named “knit-bone,” comfrey’s super-power is to stimulate the body to rapidly heal wounds and mend tissues, bones, and cartilage.
When Molly Maples injured her little toe by jamming it into a door, she discovered that conventional medical advice was limited to icing, elevating, and using pain medication.
Dissatisfied with these options, Ms. Maples sought relief in traditional remedies, applying a poultice of comfrey and plantain weed to her toe nightly. “My toe completely healed in under four weeks,” she reported to The Epoch Times.
In orthopedics, where precise treatments like bone setting and joint replacements are the norm, comfrey emerges as a time-honored alternative. Commonly known as “knit-bone,” this herb has been revered for generations for its ability to mend bones and alleviate joint pain, reminding us that even in modern medicine, nature still has a role to play.
Comfrey: Nature’s Bone Healer
Scientifically termed Symphytum officinale, comfrey boasts a rich history in folk medicine, recognized for its medicinal qualities since the Middle Ages throughout Europe and Asia. Comfrey has been widely used to decrease inflammation and speed up the recovery of bruises, sprains, and fractures.
Amelia South, a trained herbalist and owner of Black Sun Farm, highlighted comfrey’s effectiveness in orthopedic care to The Epoch Times. “Comfrey is absolutely one of my top five herbs that I never want to go without. It has helped me heal a sprained ankle on several occasions, sprained wrists, and numerous bruises,” Ms. South noted, praising its external application for markedly accelerating bone healing.
Nancy Shirley, an author with publications on comfrey, including “Cultivation of Comfrey; Medicinal and Food Uses for People,” extols the herb’s medicinal virtues.
Related Stories
The roots of comfrey are rich in phenolic acids such as rosmarinic, caffeic, and chlorogenic acids. These substances reduce inflammation and possess potent antioxidant properties that protect cellular integrity and promote skin health.
What Does the Research Say?
Research into comfrey’s effectiveness, particularly in treating musculoskeletal conditions, shows promise. Various studies and clinical trials have evaluated its potential to heal sprains, bruises, and fractures.
The results demonstrated a substantial reduction in pain for the comfrey group—about 95 percent—versus 38 percent in the placebo group. The researchers concluded, “Comfrey root extract showed a remarkably potent and clinically relevant effect in reducing acute back pain. For the first time a fast-acting effect of the ointment (1 h) was also witnessed,” underscoring its potential as an effective, quick-relief treatment for back pain.
The findings suggested potential benefits, though the evidence was limited by inconsistent reporting, leading to possible biases. Adverse events were rare and generally minor. The review concluded that while topical comfrey appears safe and promising for certain conditions, more thorough studies are necessary.
The Comfrey Safety Debate
The safety of comfrey, especially concerning its content of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), continues to be a contentious issue within the herbal supplement community. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids, found in over 6,000 plants, act as a defense against insects and plant-feeding animals.
The primary concern is the potential for liver damage resulting from the oral consumption of these alkaloids. Although liver risks are well-documented with various pharmaceuticals and substances such as alcohol, the specific dangers associated with comfrey’s pyrrolizidine alkaloids continue to undergo intense scrutiny.
The FDA noted that no direct cause-and-effect relationship has been confirmed in humans due to the absence of human trials. Nonetheless, the adverse effects observed were consistent with risks known from animal studies, prompting the FDA to request that manufacturers withdraw products containing comfrey from the market. The Federal Trade Commission also acted against companies marketing comfrey products, emphasizing that even topical use requires caution and proper consumer warnings.
Despite these warnings, comfrey has been used internally for millennia in traditional medicinal practices. Brendan Kelly, a Chinese medicine practitioner with nearly three decades of experience in herbalism, highlights the lack of targeted research, stating, “I’m not aware of any studies specifically investigating comfrey’s risks to the human liver.”
Many herbalists assert that comfrey is safe for occasional use and is not hazardous when used in moderation. However, some have ceased using it altogether. Amelia South mentions that occasional consumption as a tea, particularly using the whole herb, may be beneficial due to its synergistic medicinal components. Nonetheless, she recommends against its use for those with existing liver conditions.
Practical Guidelines for Safe Use
Comfrey is best known for its external use, typically as a poultice, salve, or oil. To create a comfrey poultice, blend fresh leaves or roots into a paste, place it on a clean cloth, and apply it to the affected area. Alternatively, high-quality comfrey salves are available for purchase at reputable health stores.
If using comfrey to aid in healing a fracture, the bone must be properly set first. Comfrey promotes rapid healing, and if applied to a misaligned bone, it could result in the bone healing incorrectly. Therefore, comfrey should only be used after a professional correctly aligns the bone.
Although comfrey has significant healing properties, it should not be applied to large, open wounds. Avoiding such application prevents rapid skin closure that could encase bacteria or debris within the wound.
When using comfrey, it’s crucial to adhere to treatment duration guidelines. Topical applications should not exceed six weeks, and internal applications, such as teas or supplements, should be limited to two weeks post-injury. Ms. South advises, “For helping to heal a broken bone, drinking comfrey tea for two weeks post-injury can be beneficial, followed by external applications like salves or oils.”
Ms. Shirley recommends seeking personalized guidance from a health care professional, recognizing that not all herbs are appropriate for every individual. It is essential to consult with health care experts before adding comfrey to any treatment regimen, particularly for internal use. Adhering to these guidelines ensures that users can safely and effectively benefit from comfrey’s therapeutic properties.
