I love herbal remedies for mild ailments that we can take care of at home, and my comfrey leaf salve has been a go-to for years. Comfrey has come under some scrutiny in medical literature, so let me take you through the benefits and risks of this pain-soothing, skin-nourishing herb.
What Is Comfrey Leaf?
Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) is a perennial herb with a black root. It has hairy broad leaves (that grow fast) and bell-shaped flowers that can vary in color.
Comfrey is native to Europe and parts of Asia but is now found in North America too.
For centuries, comfrey has been used for ailments like broken bones and other wound support. They called it “knit-bone” and “bone-set” for these abilities. In fact, comfrey’s Latin name Symphytum comes from the Greek symphis (“growing together”) and phyton (plant).
In keeping with its name, comfrey ointments have been used for centuries in folk medicine for:
- pain
- bone mending
- inflammation
- joint health
- bruising
Comfrey contains many constituents that are thought to help with these uses. Two that are most associated with benefits are allantoin and rosmarinic acid.
Comfrey also contains nutrients such as vitamin C which is known to support collagen production in the skin and overall skin health.
Health Benefits of Comfrey
Here’s why comfrey leaves are a staple in my home, and why it’s been used for thousands of years:
Wound Care
Many cultures historically used comfrey on open wounds. It can be helpful beyond cuts and scrapes even. I’ve used comfrey for bug bites or bee stings, and to soothe a stinging nettle encounter. Science supports some of these uses as well.
A clinical overview published in 2012 shows that science backs traditional uses of comfrey for wound support. According to the overview, research suggests that comfrey can help reduce wound size as well as support collagen formation.
Additionally, “the healing time when using ointment containing comfrey extract was significantly shorter” compared to preparations with no active ingredients.
Helps Muscle and Joint Aches & Pains
As I mentioned, comfrey can help with wound healing in my experience, but its benefits to the body go deeper. Comfrey can help with pain inside of the body — either muscle or joint pain.
The 2012 overview mentioned above also found that comfrey is helpful in supporting healthy muscles and joints. Pain reduction was observed in the group using comfrey topically. In one of the studies, over half of participants suffering from joint pain found complete symptom resolution, while only about 5 percent had no improvement at all.
In another interesting study, researchers discovered that comfrey resolved symptoms more quickly than cryotherapy. Similar outcomes happened in studies focusing on lower back pain and osteoporosis pain. Overall, studies found that comfrey was helpful in supporting the relief of pain.
Supports Blunt Injury Recovery
Comfrey is most famously used as a poultice for broken bones. Allantoin is the constituent thought to be responsible for this benefit. Allantoin can diffuse through the skin and tissues to reach the affected area. Studies also suggest it supports tissue formation.
I once broke my pinky toe (actually, this has happened more than once thanks to late-night stumbling in the hall to get water for kids) and was told that this is not an injury that doctors can really help and that it would have to heal on its own.
I decided to research natural options to help with the pain and stumbled on information about comfrey in the process. After more research, I decided to make a poultice of comfrey leaf and plantain and apply to my broken toe several times a day.
Since I’d had this type of injury before, I knew that it often took several weeks at least to heal and that the pain often lasted this long. With twice-daily comfrey and plantain poultices, I noticed a reduction of pain within a few days and the pain was almost not-noticeable after one week!
By the second week, I was back to wearing whatever shoes I wanted! Now I’m a believer in the benefits of comfrey.
Uses for Comfrey
Comfrey clearly has many benefits and has earned a place in my natural remedy cabinet. Here are some of the best ways to use comfrey:
- As a poultice for bone breaks and ankle sprains, or muscle and joint pain. (A poultice is a paste made from herbs (and sometimes clays or other ingredients) that is put directly on the skin and covered with cloth.) This is the safest way to use herbs on the skin and is what I used on my broken toe.
- Ointment or healing salve for topical wound dressing – I use healing salves or liniments for wounds to keep them clean and help them close faster.
- Lip salve – I add herbs to lip balms and salves for the health benefits. In this case, adding comfrey can help support healthy lips and avoid chapped and cracked skin.
- Black drawing salve – I learned about this remedy from an Amish farmer who said it worked well from drawing out splinters and even spider venom. It’s a bit complicated to make but is very effective.
- After birth sitz bath – Recovery from childbirth can be difficult (especially if you struggle with a sick baby or postpartum depression). Add this herbal remedy to a bath or Peri Bottle to soothe soreness.
Some herbalists who still recommend internal use of comfrey (under specific guidelines) will use comfrey tea for digestive issues, respiratory issues, and urinary issues. I would not personally use it internally and recommend further research and checking with your doctor before you do.
Why? Read on…
Is Comfrey Safe?
Used externally, comfrey is generally considered safe for children three or four years old and older as well as most adults.
As I mentioned earlier, comfrey has come under some scrutiny. The reason is that studies have pointed to comfrey having side effects when taken internally. This is based on the fact that comfrey contains a number of pyrrolizidine alkaloids that can cause liver damage and liver disease.
Some herbalists argue that many studies that came to this conclusion isolated the pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA) and injected or fed them to animals at higher levels than herbalists would recommend. In the cases where people had negative health effects from ingesting comfrey, the intake of comfrey was also well above the recommended dosages.
Since the jury is out, to be on the safe side:
- Do not use comfrey on any type of broken or irritated skin.
- Do not use if pregnant, even for external use.
- Avoid it if you have liver problems or cancer.
- Do not use comfrey in combinations with anything else that affects the liver, such as pain relievers, alcohol, and prescription medications
- Do not use in combination with herbs such as kava, skullcap, valerian, or CBD oil.
That being said, I like to err on the side of caution and avoid internal use of comfrey if possible. One reason is that there is likely another safer herb I can use in place of comfrey in ingestible preparations.
As always, consult a doctor and/or qualified herbalist before using this or any herb!
This article was medically reviewed by Dr. Jennifer Walker, an internal medicine physician. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor or work with a doctor at SteadyMD.
Ever used comfrey to help a broken bone or other use? Share below!
Sources:
- Pullar JM, Carr AC, Vissers MCM. The Roles of Vitamin C in Skin Health. Nutrients. 2017;9(8):866. Published 2017 Aug 12. doi:10.3390/nu9080866
- Staiger C. Comfrey: a clinical overview. Phytother Res. 2012;26(10):1441-1448. doi:10.1002/ptr.4612
- Mei N, Guo L, Fu PP, Fuscoe JC, Luan Y, Chen T. Metabolism, genotoxicity, and carcinogenicity of comfrey. J Toxicol Environ Health B Crit Rev. 2010;13(7-8):509-526. doi:10.1080/10937404.2010.509013
Perfect Cranberry Orange Muffins
A neighbor broke his foot in March. As he agreed to try comfrey ointment, I went to the pharmacy and bought a jar. Three times a day he applied it and in a week, this 67-year-old went back to the hospital for his appointment and the doctor couldn’t find any sign of a break.
Another friend, in his mid-twenties, broke his collar bone in six places after an off-road motor bike fall. Two days later he was applying comfrey cream after I told him how good it was for broken bones. One week later he had good movement with the arm and was sleeping well. It is now two weeks later, and he has full movement of his arm without pain and the feeling has come back in his hand. He and his family are absolutely delighted, as they were fully expecting a 6-8 week healing time, if everything went to plan.
I strained my arm and shoulder last week. After several days of applying various remedies which normally work, and didn’t fully this time, I decided to turn to comfrey. It was effecting my sleep and I couldn’t straighten my arm without considerable discomfort. I applied the ointment around the shoulder and down the arm one morning. All day I had relief and I could straighten the arm and there was no muscle pain in anywhere. That night I did it again, just for good measure. The pain has not returned.
I would advise against using the raw leaf on the skin. In my case, years ago I did and had considerable damage done to the skin by the leaf hairs. If you want to use it, make a tea and while nice and warm, saturate some cloth, squeeze out the excess liquied and sit it (the cloth) on the location and cover with plastic and then apply a stretch bandage, to hold it in place.
I honestly didn’t know if the ointment would work with broken bones, but the above testimonials answered my question. I recommend making your own or buying some from the local pharmacy, health food store or online, and have it on hand for emergencies.
I have since read that allantoin in comfrey rapidly stimulates the production of osteoblasts – cells that make bones by producing a collagen matrix that then becomes mineralized. It has been known to help osteoporosis for this reason.
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Comfrey is truly one of God’s gifts.
What was the name of the product you bought. I cant seem to find ayone selling it?
Hi Rich
It was Martin and Pleasance, Herbal Cream Comfrey, in Australia. However if you are in the USA, you can buy online, Dr. Christopher’s brand for one; there are many others available also. Just get one which uses the root. M & P has root tincture added to the base cream. I only mention Dr. Christopher’s brand because I have seen it in my search. I have used other products of his myself and found them to be good.
I hope this helps.
I recently broke my ulna and I didn’t want to have surgery…I found comfrey on line as my bone is not healing fast enough. The tincture is from the root, I am putting five dops in my tea twice a day. Is this too much, not enough?
Jen. I just came across this site as researching the use of Comfrey as a medicine and herbal ally. I was wondering how you made out with the healing of your ulna and the tincture you were taking? I’ve read that for tea it is safer to use the dried leaves and the root tincture you can add to any salve or cream and apply externally. Did you notice any adverse reactions from taking the root tincture??
Good evening, I have piles from one year and also pressure sore,some new small three ,four sores are coming attached to piles .I came to know about comfrey leaves miracle , do you think it will be benificial for me ,if I.will drink its tea and how can I apply to the pressure sore.
Back before they were banned in the UK, I used to use comfrey tablets for a grumbling impacted wisdom tooth when needed: worked every time, just tucked in the mouth by the offending area.
I grow my own Symphytum Uplandica x (hybrid by Henry Doubleday who made it safe) and make our own Comfrey oil with it. I infuse the leaves, stalks and flowers with extra virgin olive oil and use as a topical rub for aches & pains (I have OA and it helps a lot with that) and I put it on bumps, bruises, insect bites & burns. I would happily try it on anything. I was discouraged from drinking it as a tea by all the usual hype but, after reading your posts i am definitely going to make a comfrey leaf tea daily from now on and see how my sore hips respond. Thank you for the encouragement.
After having a home birth I experienced vaginal lesions that were very painful and lasted for weeks after the birth. I finally called my midwife and she suggested bathing the area in comfrey tea. Back then you could still buy comfrey tea in any health food store.The lesions healed up the next day! It was almost miraculous. It’s too bad you can’t find the tea form that easily anymore but I would be willing to try it in any form.
I have had a spiral fracture to my tibia and it is in a metal frame not a plaster cast, it has been like this for 10 months with barely any healing, I have started using comfrey oil on the fracture site as I’m can’t use the leaves due to infections if it gets near the pin sites. Would it be beneficial for me to start drinking comfrey tea too, as the ankle swells quite badly and I have nerve damage in the foot.
I Love Comfrey. I grow it and make solar oil infusions, salves, and tinctures with it. It has healed many a swollen knee or ankle. It is amazing!!!
hi there…my 10 month old gelding is lame in the right front …cant for sure pin point the injury ..knee or elbow or shoulder … my vet said its a deep bone bruise but I’m guessing hes thinks its the shoulder ..do you have anything I could purchase I could put on him and help him out ??
If it’s a bruise, could you give him homeopathic arnica in an apple? I’ve done that before ?
Can a comfrey salve penetrate down to the bone? Seems the beeswax would form a shield on the skin and prevent absorption. I’ve used comfrey salve for kitchen burns and it is amazing. Stops pain immediately and the next morning there is no evidence of a burn. But I’m confused about using it for broken bones.
I used comfrey 40 years ago for an ulcer and sensitive, easily nauseated stomach. For several years I couldn’t eat raw vegetables on an empty stomach without pain. Two cups of comfrey tea for a couple of months, one cup morning and night, completely cured my ulcer and stomach issues. Since then was scared away by the claims it would cause liver damage. I always wondered if it was just scare tactics by the pharmaceutical companies. I am ready to try it again to see if it will heal leaky gut and food allergies.
The tests done on rats and mice was with ISOLATED Pyrrolizidine alkaloids in higher concentrations than those found in the whole plant. When in balance with the other properties of the leaf, these alkaloids don’t pose a problem.
In my opinion, tests such as these are misleading to the public and are very effective in turning people away from natural remedies which work. Big Pharma wants 100% of the market and is working hard to discredit and destroy their competition. It is simply called G-R-E-E-D!
As mentioned elsewhere on this site, the root has a higher level of these alkaloids and is not recommended for internal use, but the leaf is SAFE if taken moderately. One cup of tea with one teaspoon of dried leaf per day, is not excessive. Dr. James Duke says that one bottle of beer has the same level of dangerous alkaloids as 100 cups of comfrey tea.
American botanist, Dr. James Duke is reported to have said that one bottle of beer has the same level of dangerous alkaloids as 100 cups of comfrey tea.
Studies have shown that alkaloids in comfrey are not readily absorbed through the skin, external application of a crude preparation (cream or ointment of the whole plant) of the root is not harmful and is highly effective in healing broken and fractured bones, inflammation, tendon, muscle and ligament problems, etc.
Foster Savage, an Australian farmer, grew acres of comfrey and fed it to his cows and pigs back in 1954. The cows produced more milk with lovely thick cream and he became famous for his high quality pork. Not only that, the butchers commented that they had NEVER seen such healthy pig LIVERS before. The animals were allowed to eat as much comfrey as they desired.
Reply to Marilyn…..
OMG!! I am with you all the way!! I think I have to close an ear to all the horrible written literature regarding the Comfrey tea taken internally. I will consume the leaves and not the root. I need desperate help with leaky gut and a 2 cm Hiatal Hernia. Where did you order your Comfrey Tea leaves? Have you started back consuming the Comfrey tea?
Kimberly
For anything to do with the intestine, stomach, colon, colitis, leaky gut… all those things, drink at least one glass of celery juice every day on an empty stomach! (organic celery)…. amazing things will happen.. it soothes the lining – a great healer.
Thank you thank you thank you!!! I will try it immediately!!!
Is there anything out there that will completely heal a 2cm Hiatal Hernia?? I’ve been taking collagen and honey. I’ve also been drinking Comfrey tea despite all the bogus warnings against Comfrey tea. It’s amazing!! There just HAS to be a remedy to close the soft tissue of the hernia…. ????
You could try Slippery elm. Its amazing for digestive track.
What if you are sensitive to latex in foods? Celery is on the latex list. Is comfrey safe?
Please is the celery leaves also can the same work ?
Good afternoon, I was told that I have fibroid, also heavy menstrual bleeding, do you think it would be good for me to take comfrey?
I don’t have any experience with Comfrey, but I would like to share what has worked for me. I have had fibroids for over 15 years and had many years of heavy bleeding……fibroids are generally caused by excess estrogen and are very common in overweight women because the fat cells make extra estrogen. We also have many other sources of xeno-estrogens (substances that the body treats like estrogen even though they really aren’t) that we are exposed to on a daily basis (plastics are a very common source……plastic water bottles, heating food in plastic, etc. along with many different chemicals we are exposed to). 8 years ago I went to a gynecologist and she did an ultrasound and immediately wanted to do a D&C along with an exploration of my uterus (forgot the name of that!) because my fibroid tumors were very large. If they found anything unusual, they would immediately do a hysterectomy which she thought was very likely. I did not want to have a hysterectomy if at all possible (that is the thing that most doctors will do immediately) so I started to look at alternatives and found a very easy one. I started to do some research and found some very helpful information on earthclinic.com (this website tells real users experiences with different things they have tried). There are 2 things that were mentioned many times and have helped me over the years and I highly recommend to anyone with very heavy menstrual bleeding:UNSULPHURED BLACK STRAP MOLASSES (organic if possible – you don’t need any more chemicals!!) and ORGANIC APPLE CIDER VINEGAR (Braggs is a great brand). Initially, I used them both and made a drink out of it by taking a cup of warm water and adding a couple of teaspoons of BSM and a couple of tsp of ACV ( I sometimes added more if my flow was really heavy). I noticed immediate results (within half an hour!!)…..i went from a menstrual flow that was so heavy that I couldn’t leave the house to a very manageable flow (light to normal, I guess!!!). I used this every month when I start my period and have always had great results……occasionally I still have a couple of episodes of heavier than normal bleeding and I take a little more BSM. In the last few years, I have grown accustomed to the strong taste of BSM and just take it by the spoonful every day when I start my period (with a little water to wash it down afterwards.) I had also shared this with another doctor who had some patients with fibroids/heavy menstrual cyle problems and he has used this for some of his patients also (not the gynecologist who was only interested in removing the organs)!! I am getting close to menopause which I will welcome with a big relief because then I will have less estrogen and all of the fibroids should shrink. I do not have very many issues with heavy bleeding now so I highly recommend this easy method…..it helps tremendously! I do try to eat a healthy diet but sometimes I have more sugar and fats than I should…..and I am still overweight, but a healthy diet definitely helps too! This is all I have done and am very pleased with the results. Hope this will help some other fibroid sufferers!
took one year to heal my plantar F. used wintergreen and clove in olive oil as rub every night for heel AND lower back that strained due to putting most of my weight on the non pantar F side. Now my balance is better and no pain!
….at 64 years old male.
Note: lost 25 pounds during same period. First due to pprofessional colon hydrotherapy and secondly, due to quitting alchohol. Less body pounds=less foot (literally) pounds.
just harvested my comfrey. saved and double filtered the rinse water from pre-cutting comfrey stems and leaves for tincture with vodka and brandy.
Am adding that “rinse” water to my teas and will use some for “beauty bath”.
Vickie, can you tell me more about what your husband does and how I can schedule a consult? Thank you!
wow i cant believe i had an “accidental” cure for my heavy periods because i drink ACV (organic w/ teh “mother”) w/ blackstrap, unsulphured and organic molasses every day! but i originally took it for acne (it really helps me w/ cystic acne), and my cousin takes it for energy….its crazy but i have lots of energy now, and i remember i would wake up so tired everyday, and now i feel great. but recently i have noticed that my period is not heavy like it used to be and i didnt know why….now i know, its the ACV and molasses….ill drink this the rest of my life, its miraculous