Symphytum officinale
(Comfrey)

Therapeutic Actions:

• Anti-inflammatory
• Antimutagenic activity, increases survival times of mice bearing spontaneous tumors and decreased tumor growth
• Antipsoriatic
• Aqueous extract stimulates the release of a prostaglandin-like material from gastric mucosa
• Breaks down red blood cells, therefore used for bruises
• Demulcent mucilage makes a powerful healing agent in mucosal ulcers
• Stimulates IL-1 and INF production in vitro
• Stimulates T and B cell activity
• Soothing and wound healing due to allantoin
• Stimulates cell proliferation that promotes the growth of bone, cartilage and connective tissue

Clinical Indications:

• Aphthous stomatitis
• Bronchitis
• Constipation
• Eczema
• Peptic ulcer disease
• Psoriasis
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Ulcerative colitis
• Chronic varicose ulcers
• External ulcers, use as a compress or poultice
• Fractures, use as a compress or poultice

Contraindications:

• Extended use longer than 4 weeks
• Liver disease due to alkaloid hepatotoxicity
• Nursing mothers due to pyrrolizidine alkaloids
• Pregnancy due to pyrrolizidine alkaloid

Drug/Nutrient Interaction:

• Limited data

Chemical Constituents:

• Allantoin
  
• Asparagine
• Carotene
• Choline
• Muscilage, composed of a polysaccharide containing glucose and fructose
• Phenolic acids:
  
  Caffeic acid
  Chlorogenic acid
  Lithospermic acid
  Rosmarinic acid
• Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (hepatotoxic in aminals but these alkaloids are usually not found in commercial samples):
  
  Echimidine
  Lycopsamine
  Symlandine
  Symphytine
• Protein
• Steroidal saponins
• Tannins
• Triterpenes
• Vitamin B12
• Zinc

Toxicity:

• Do not use excessively

Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).