Since Greek and Roman antiquity the versatile comfrey has been used in a great variety of ways - as an external application for wounds and fractures, and as a remedy for numerous internal problems, including bleeding. In... *
Comfrey Leaf Capsules "This is a high quality product. This is an effective herbal product not available from commercial sources in the US." -- Blake
* Please Note: This information is based partly on Traditional Medicine which uses natural materials to support health. This information has not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These products are intended to support general well being and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure any condition or disease. If conditions persist, please seek advice from your medical doctor.
Description
Medicinal Usage
Since Greek and Roman antiquity the versatile comfrey has been used in a great variety of ways - as an external application for wounds and fractures, and as a remedy for numerous internal problems, including bleeding. Introduced into North America by early settlers, the plant now grows wild in the eastern part of the continent and is also cultivated.
The name comfrey probably comes from the Latin conferva, "knitting together", from the plant's reputed power to make broken bones heal more quickly. Its botanical name, Symphytum, means "grown together", and several of the plant's local names in English likewise refer to its mending properties.
Some question exists as to the wisdom of using comfrey internally. First, when it is not in bloom it can be confused with foxglove, a deadly poisonous plant. Second, it may be carcinogenic if taken internally over an extended period. However, a preparation of the roots or leaves shredded and pounded into a gluey mass is safe when applied to external injuries. The healing process is accelerated, stubborn sores disappear, and broken bones - held in place by the preparation when it dries - heal much more quickly. Comfrey leaves have at times been used as fodder for livestock. Containing almost 35 percent protein, they are highly nutritious.
There is evidence that comfrey may cause cancer if taken internally over a long period of time.
General Herb Information
Habitat: Wet places.
Range: Newfoundland south to Georgia, west to Ontario and Louisiana.
Identification: A large, conspicuous perennial growing to 3 feet high. Narrowly oval, alternate dark green leaves grow on an erect stem that branches at the top. The lower leaves may be 10 inches long, the upper ones smaller. Both stem and leaves are hairy and rough. Downy, pale yellow to purplish bell-shaped flowers (May-September) bloom continuously in drooping clusters.
How to Use the Herb
Commission E recommends comfrey leaf and herb for external use only. For the leaf - "Ointments and other preparations with 5-20 percent dried drug or equivalent preparations. The daily applied dose should not exceed 100 micrograms of pyrolizidine alkaloids." The same amounts obtain for comfrey root. The commission recommends "crushed leaf or root, extracts, and the pressed juice of the fresh plant for semi-solid preparations and poultices for external use."
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Directions
Take 1 capsule, 3 times daily, with meals.
Cautions
Comfrey is controversial. That much we know.
Some health authorities feel that this herb contains potent cancer-causing and liver-damaging agents and strongly recommend that it should not be taken for internal use. Others feel that the warnings are unsubstantiated and nothing more than scare-mongering.
The reason for its bad reputation is based on the assertion that specific pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) within the herb have been shown to be hepatoxic and carcinogenic to rats when fed extremely high doses of the chemical over a period of 480 to 600 days. However, specific quantities and hard scientific data where human consumption is concerned is lacking. The defenders of the herb insist that a ridiculous quantity of comfrey would have to be ingested over an extended period of time to reach the harmful levels of PAs in the body.
For external use, the German Commission E instructs pregnant women to consult a physician before using comfrey. It finds no known side effects or drug interactions. Comfrey use should be no longer than four to six weeks per year. The Commission recommends that only extremely small dosages within preparations (1 microgram/day internally; 100 micrograms/day externally) of comfrey be taken.
It should be noted that, while the debate concerning the safety of comfrey root continues, there have been only 4 toxic reactions in human beings; these individuals took excessively large doses (either juiced or capsule form) of the leaf. It is, however, the roots that have a higher concentration of PAs (about 10 times) as compared to the leaf.
Additional Information
TerraVita is an exclusive line of premium-quality, natural source products that use only the finest, purest and most potent ingredients found around the world. TerraVita is hallmarked by the highest possible standards of purity, potency, stability and freshness. All of our products are prepared with the highest elements of quality control, from raw materials through the entire manufacturing process, up to and including the moment that the bottles or bags are sealed for freshness and shipped out to you. Our highest possible standards are certified by independent laboratories and backed by our personal guarantee.
TerraVita exists to meet and ensure your family's health and wellness without the harmful effects or chemicals and prescription medications. We strive to make all of our products affordable and reliable and are constantly searching the market to maintain our affordability and to look for new ways to serve you and the ones you love. TerraVita has become a trusted household name for many families and can bring you and yours the very best herbal supplements, blends, teas and spices that are on the market today.
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ZooScape is proud to be the exclusive distributor of TerraVita teas, herbs and supplements in the United States, Canada and around the world. Please direct all wholesale and bulk inquiries to Simona Heather at 905-494-1785.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Products are intended to support general well being and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure any condition or disease. If conditions persist, please seek advice from your medical doctor. The essence of the current American rule on Traditional Uses is, as stated by FTC, "Claims based on historical or traditional use should be substantiated by confirming scientific evidence, or should be presented in such a way that consumers understand that the sole basis for the claim is a history of use of the product for a particular purpose."
