11/7/2023 0 Comments Symphytum x uplandicum bocking 14One of the active compounds in comfrey is allantoin. Horses, cattle, goats, and pigs are susceptible to being poisoned apparently sheep are more resistant to adverse reactions.Īs its many folk names suggest, comfrey is one of the best herbs for healing broken bones, sprains, strains, bruises, and tears. Illinois Wildflowers notes that many bees enjoy the flowers, but mammals, like humans, may have problems ingesting the plant. Many herbalists now recommend alternative herbal medicines for internal use, just to be safe. Mature leaves have a much lower concentration of the toxins than the roots. Russian comfrey has higher pyrrolizidine alkaloid levels than common comfrey. Different species were lumped together, and they don't all have the same amount of the compounds. Some used the isolated compounds instead of the whole herb. The thing is, most of the studies showing adverse effects used extremely large amounts of the herb over long periods of time. They're worried about liver damage and liver disease. Reports in the scientific literature clearly associate oral exposure of comfrey and pyrrolizidine alkaloids with the occurrence of veno-occlusive disease (VOD) in animals. These plants contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids, substances which are firmly established to be hepatotoxins in animals. In 2001, the Food and Drug Administration advised dietary supplement manufacturers to remove comfrey products from the market. If consumed in large amounts, these can be toxic to the liver. Why is Comfrey Illegal in the US?Ĭomfrey contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which are naturally occurring plant toxins. (Don't plant them in a spot unless you're sure you want them there.) The roots are dark brown on the outside and white on the inside and measure less than 1/2 inch in diameter. They are brittle and break easily, and a new plant will regrow from the leftover bits. The roots have a branching habit, forming dense clusters that are difficult to remove. Common comfrey spreads more readily than Russian comfrey, and also self-seeds. Leaf mold can be used as a fertilizer, a side dressing or even a potting soil.Be warned, comfrey may try to take over the garden. However mixed with other types of shredded leaves they will again act as an accelerator and you will have lovely, earthy, nutrient-rich leaf mold in record time.
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