Comfrey

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According to the Journal of the Canadian Association of Herbal Practitioners, there have only been four cases in the world literature of comfrey toxicity since 1980. Before that, no human toxicity was ever recorded. The four cases each involved very high consumption levels along with significant other complicating factors, including other illness and other potential sources of toxicity.

Salves or even teas made from comfrey and chaparral may be used externally for dermatitis. Other generally soothing natural skin topicals include aloe vera gel, calendula, castor oil, chickweed, arnica, and almond oil. PREVENTION One more time: Basic good diet and exercise as outlined initially, along with as "low-impact" a life as possible in other ways we've discussed, will help prevent toxic buildup in the first place. Some inflammatory skin diseases are believed to have a psychological or stress-related element, and exploring that angle might be helpful as well.

Herbal Medicine, Healing and Cancer: A Comprehensive Program for Prevention and Treatment Donald R. Yance, j r.,C.N., M.H., A.H.G., with Arlene Valentine See book keywords and concepts

Postradiation Tea Make a mucilaginous tea with slippery elm bark, marshmallow, plantain, mullein, horsetail, and comfrey. Add 2 heaping tablespoons of herbs to 3 pints of cool water. Let sit several hours or overnight. Then gently heat herbs, being careful not to boil. Strain and drink throughout the day. This tea is very soothing and healing to the mucous membranes of all tissues in the body, particularly the linings of the respiratory, urinary, and digestive tracts.

I usually combine geranium with others herbs such as yarrow or red root, and if I feel the mucous membranes need soothing, I add comfrey. Horse Chestnut {Aesculus hippocastanum) Horse chestnut is traditionally used for diseases of the venous system, including varicose veins, thrombophlebitis, bruises, painful leg cramps that occur at night, brain trauma, edema of the ankles, postoperative edema, and the fluid accumulation caused by cancer. It reduces capillary permeability by acting on the connective tissue barrier between blood vessels and tissue.

Herbs Against Cancer: History and Controversy Ralph W. Moss PhD See book keywords and concepts

Thomson also had formulas that included goldenseal and comfrey. Thomson's influence was far-reaching. In the 1930s, Jethro Kloss urged the use of Lobelia in cancer as an herb that "loosens disease and opens the way for its elimination from the body...Its action is quick and more effective than radium, and Lobelia leaves no bad effects, while radium does" (232). Thomson developed a large following for his Botanical rebellion against regular medicine. Among other things, he developed a plaster for external cancers made of red clover blossoms.

Alternative Medicine the Definitive Guide, Second Edition Larry Trivieri, Jr. See book keywords and concepts

John's wort, goldenseal, echinacea, fresh plantain (Plan-tago major), garlic, and calendula along with demulcent herbs like comfrey leaves and self-heal to soothe the membranes. Calendula is both antiseptic and reparative. This douche is alternated with one of acidophilus. A suppository prescribed by Dr. Hudson consists of powdered boric acid mixed with three herbs—berberis, goldenseal, and calendula (all antifungals)—prepared in capsule form. "This works so well," says Dr. Hudson,"that I no longer prescribe douches for this condition.

Miracle Medicine Foods Rex Adams See book keywords and concepts

I strongly urge anyone suffering from hay fever or similar allergies to give comfrey a try. If your experience is close to mine, you are in for a pleasant and lasting surprise." A Folklore Healer For Allergies!

Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals: A Handbook for Practice on a Scientific Basis Josef A. Brinckmann and Michael P. Lindenmaier See book keywords and concepts

N-oxides. The drug also contains about 4—6% tannins, abundant mucilage (fructans), starch, triterpenes (iso-bauerenol) as well as mono- and bisdesmo-sidic triterpene saponins with hederagenin as aglycone [3—8] and a monodesmosidic oleanolic acid glycoside [9]. Sterols and phenolic carboxylic acids (including salicylic acid and caffeic acid) and rosmarinic acid also occur [10] as well an antiphlogistic gly-copeptide (molar mass about 9000 Da), consisting of 16 amino acids with galactose, glucose, fructose and arabinose as sugar components [11].

Miracle Medicine Foods Rex Adams See book keywords and concepts

Then I kept putting a pad with comfrey salve on it for over a week. All of the dead skin from around where the opening was peeled off. It was all smooth." Painful Growths and Spastic Colon Healed! M.V., a dentist, reports that for ten years he underwent X-ray and radium treatments to eradicate ugly skin growths that kept reappearing, even though a doctor said they were nonmalignant. On applying the juice of this amazing plant, garlic—which had relieved his spastic colon—the painful growths on his face completely disappeared! The first time he tried this was for a growth near his eye.

He reasoned it must be the comfrey leaf. Now he eats some every day and has not suffered from asthma since! A Simple Tea Saves Thousands Of Dollars In Medical Bills! Mr. C.Y., a serious asthma sufferer, states: "For years I have been under the care of various doctors for asthma. I have spent thousands of dollars on prescribed medication that at best gave but temporary relief. "Then last summer, a friend of mine suggested that I try 8 ounces of mullein tea daily for my asthma. I did and for a time saw no results. Then slowly, I began to improve. Now I take no medication and feel wonderful.

He told the doctor he had treated it by applying poultices of comfrey and the swelling had gradually disappeared. The doctor stated that he did not believe that such a thing was possible. (As in all cases involving the eye, ear, nose and throat, the reader is cautioned to seek immediate medical care. Self-treatment is not recommended, unless your doctor approves.) Horrible Throat Pain Relieved! One of these miracle medicine foods is so powerful that—while not a cure—it has been used to relieve the horrible pains of throat cancer.

The Woman's Encyclopedia of Natural Healing Dr. Gary Null See book keywords and concepts

A washcloth soaked in ginger or comfrey tea and applied to the area promotes healing of an episiotomy. Rosemary added to bath water relieves tension and back pain. Adding jasmine and clary sage to a bath has an uplifting effect, and prevents postpartum depression. HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES Homeopathic physician Stephanie Odinov Pukit lists a variety of remedies for all stages of pregnancy. She begins with treatments for morning sickness, noting, "Along with the dry biscuit in bed with a hot beverage, homeopathic remedies can be extremely important at this time." Sepia.

The Encyclopedia of Popular Herbs Robert S. McCaleb, Evelyn Leigh, and Krista Morien See book keywords and concepts

The degree of risk is unclear, but we do not recommend using comfrey internally. • Chaparral (Larrea tridentata): Reported by the FDA to have caused liver toxicity. However, a review by doctors funded by the American Herbal Products Association found insufficient evidence that chaparral caused the incidents. • Sassafras (Sassafras albidum): Not allowed in food products in the United States because the major constituent of its volatile oil, safrole, is carcinogenic in animals.

Alternative Medicine the Definitive Guide, Second Edition Larry Trivieri, Jr. See book keywords and concepts

Vulneraries, such as comfrey, chamomile, and goldenseal, speed up local healing. • Carminatives, such as chamomile, peppermint, and valerian, relieve gas in the lower abdomen. • Nervines, such as chamomile, valerian, and hops, ease stress. • Bitters, such as yarrow, wormwood, and gentian, aid in the healing process in the latter stages but are contraindicated in early stages because they stimulate stomach acid and may aggravate the problem. reduce stress, which is a factor in most digestive system diseases. Acupuncture: William M. Cargile, B.S., D.C., F.I.A.C.A.

Staying Healthy with Nutrition: The Complete Guide to Diet and Nutritional Medicine Elson M. Haas, M.D. See book keywords and concepts

It is part of plant fibers (though not of cellulose) and is found in high amounts in the hulls of wheat, oats, and rice, in sugar beet and cane pulp, in alfalfa, and in the herbs horsetail, comfrey, and nettles. Horsetail, Equise-tum arvensa, is a common source used to make supplemental silica. Silicon is also present in lettuce, cucumbers, avocados, strawberries, onions, and dandelions and other dark greens. The pectin in citrus fruits and alginic acid in kelp also contain small amounts of silicon. Hard drinking water may also be a good source. This mineral is lost easily in food processing.

Herbs Against Cancer: History and Controversy Ralph W. Moss PhD See book keywords and concepts

And it was used in English cancer remedies, along with comfrey, goldenseal, and other herbs (343). Greater celandine (so named to distinguish it from an unrelated plant, lesser celandine, which is used to treat hemorrhoids) is an attractive member of the poppy family. In summer, its stem is filled with a bright and acrid orange-colored juice. Pliny tells us that its name is derived from the Greek chelidon, or swallow, because it flowers when the swallows arrive and fades at their departure. Its acrid juice has been used to remove films from the cornea of the eye.

Diet, Nutrition and Cancer Committee on Diet, Nutrition, and Cancer, Assembly of Life Sciences National Research Council See book keywords and concepts

For example, one species of comfrey (Symphytum officinale) is consumed as a green vegetable in Japan (Hirono et al., 1979). The carcinogenic potency of some pyrrolizidine alkaloids and their widespread occurrence have led to the suggestion that these a,6-unsaturated esters may play a role in the induction of hepatic cancer in humans in some parts of the world; however, there are no reliable data to support this hypothesis. Experimental Evidence: Mutagenicity.

Nontoxic, Natural and Earthwise Debra Lynn Dadd See book keywords and concepts

Cloudworks Green Gold Herbal Salve (Cloudworks). With comfrey, calendula, plantain, goldenseal, and vitamin E in a pure olive-oil base. Contains beeswax. (3 InterNatural. Desert Essence Tea-Tree Oil (Desert Essence Cosmetics). Safe, effective germicide, fungicide, and antiseptic. [3 ® Desert Essence Cosmetics, Earth Herbs, Ecco Bella, Mountain Ark Trading Company. Deva Magic Herbal First-Aid Kit (Deva Magic). Contains heal-all salve, swelling salve, bleeding powder (to stop bleeding), antiseptic tincture, tincture for bites and stings, burn gel, bandage strips, gauze pads, and metal tweezers.

The Green Pharmacy: New Discoveries in Herbal Remedies for Common Diseases and Conditions from the World's Foremost Authority on Healing Herbs James A. Duke, Ph.D. See book keywords and concepts

This herb contains allantoin, the same soothing compound found in comfrey. If I were caught in the bush with a hemorrhoid and without my Tucks, I'd create a poultice and apply it to the afflicted area. VV Psyllium (Plantago ovata). In one study, 51 people with hemorrhoids received a psyllium preparation. More than three-quarters (84 percent) reported improvement—less pain, itching, bleeding and discomfort on defecation. Commission E, the German herbal advisory panel, recommends taking anywhere from four to ten teaspoons of psyllium seeds a day for constipation.

Get Healthy Now with Gary Null: A Complete Guide to Prevention, Treatment and Healthy living Gary Null See book keywords and concepts

Start small, with perhaps five herbs—some good ones to try first might be garlic, rosemary, comfrey, echinacea, and thyme. (Some herbs and their benefits, along with recommendations for the forms and quantities that they can be taken in, are listed below.) The best way to begin to use herbs is the simplest; incorporate them into your cooking in progressively increasing amounts, or make a tea of one or more herbs. Cookbooks already often recommend the kinds of herbs that go well with different foods, but make your own experiments.

The Green Pharmacy: New Discoveries in Herbal Remedies for Common Diseases and Conditions from the World's Foremost Authority on Healing Herbs James A. Duke, Ph.D. See book keywords and concepts

I recall one elderly couple out West who mistook foxglove for comfrey. Unfortunately, foxglove is the source of the heart-stimulating drug digitalis, and it had fatal consequences.) I advise anyone who is not really familiar with field botany to steer clear of the potential hazards of harvesting wild plants. But if you know what you're doing, in just about any part of the United States you can harvest a bounty of useful medicinal herbs just by stepping out your front door. If you're not familiar with herbs at first, you can have a good deal of fun finding out more about them.

It's probably a good idea not to ingest comfrey, however. It contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, compounds that are toxic to the liver, and there is some controversy about its safety. V Grape (Vitis vinifera). In recent years, a chemical found in grape seeds and pine bark has become a popular, though expensive, supplement. It is sold under the brand name Pycnogenol. According to some naturopaths, Pycnogenol increases levels of vitamin C in the body's cells and strengthens the capillaries against the kind of traumatic injury that causes bruises.

If not, you can add a couple of drops of comfrey tincture to your favorite herbal shampoo. V Ginger (Zingiber officinale) and sesame (Sesamum indicum). Medical anthropologist John Heinerman, Ph.D., author of Heinermans Encyclopedia of Fruits, Vegetables and Herbs, shares the following Egyptian dandruff/seborrhea treatment: Take one to two tablespoons of ginger juice (squeezed from about two grated roots) and mix it with three tablespoons of sesame oil and a half-teaspoon of lemon juice. Rub the mixture into the scalp three times a week.

The Doctor's Vitamin and Mineral Encyclopedia Sheldon Saul Hendler See book keywords and concepts

Besides, one of the ingredients, comfrey, may be quite toxic. High doses of goldenseal may cause nausea, vomiting, a decrease in the white blood count and feelings of pins and needles in the hands and feet. Goldenseal is interesting and needs more study. Some of goldenseal's derivatives may eventually prove quite useful. Gotu Kola (Energy Tonic) Gotu kola, also known as fo ti tieng (not to be confused with fo-ti), is another popular herb in the United States.

Herbal Defense Robyn Landis See book keywords and concepts

National Institute of Medical Herbalists, writing in The Herbalist in August 1994, points out, "Tea, almonds, apples, pears, mustard, radishes and hops, to list only a few items, all contain substances which, if extracted, can be shown to be poisonous when tested under conditions similar to those used in the comfrey experiments. Must we then ignore our experience of the usefulness and wholesomeness of these foods because controlled trials and scientific evidence have not been published to establish their safety?

Diet, Nutrition and Cancer Committee on Diet, Nutrition, and Cancer, Assembly of Life Sciences National Research Council See book keywords and concepts

Tumors have also been induced in rats after the administration of plants, such as coltsfoot (Tussilago far-fara) or comfrey (Symphytum sp.), which contain high levels of pyrrol-izidine alkaloids. The tumors occur most frequently in the liver, but some have developed in other tissues, including the skin and lungs. Plants containing the pyrrolizidine alkaloids may contaminate forages and food grains. Such contamination has resulted in acute and chronic poisoning of livestock in some parts of the world (Schoental, 1976).

Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals: A Handbook for Practice on a Scientific Basis Josef A. Brinckmann and Michael P. Lindenmaier See book keywords and concepts

Boraginaceae. Synonyms: Symphytum root, Healing-herb, Knitbone (Engl.), Racine de (grand) con-soude (Fr.), Beinwellwurzel, Wallwurz, Waldwurz, Schwarzwurz (not to be confused with Schwarzwurzel, which is Scor^o-nera hispanica L, Asteraceae) (Ger.), Radix Consolidae (Lat.), Raiz de consuelda, Raiz de consuelda mayor (Span.). Origin: Native throughout almost all of Europe and to the east reaching as far as Siberia; naturalized in North America as an escape from cultivation. The drug originates from cultivation.

Earl Mindell's Secret Remedies Earl Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D. See book keywords and concepts

There is some controversy surrounding comfrey because researchers discovered it contains carcinogenic and liver-damaging chemicals, and while it may be advisable to not take this herb internally until further research is available, it is safe and useful when used externally on wounds. Bromelain—Bromelain is a protein-digesting enzyme group found in pineapple that is also a proven anti-inflammatory that can help to speed up the healing process.

Earl's Rx If you have a cut or burn, apply aloe, calendula, or comfrey cream as needed. (You can use them together; in fact, there are some special creams that combine all three.) In addition, I recommend taking the following supplements to help Mother Nature do her job. Bromelain: One 500 mg. tablet three times daily. Vitamin E: Take 400-800 IU capsule of dry form daily. Vitamin C: Take 1000-2000 mg. of calcium ascorbate up to three times daily with food. Zinc: One 15 to 50 mg. tablet daily. Wrinkles Wrinkles are the most common sign of aging. Good skin care begins from the inside out.

Heinerman's Encyclopedia of Fruits, Vegetables and Herbs John Heinerman See book keywords and concepts

Heals Bumps and Bruises A contributor to Rodale's Natural Home Remedies book related how her young son, who fell from a grocery cart and sustained severe bruises to his face, was cured the next morning by her application of ice packs first, followed by a cloth soaked in comfrey root tea. This also works well for getting rid of black-and-blue marks and taking some of the dark blue or purple out of varicose veins, including reducing their size substantially if applied frequently enough. To make a tea for this and all of the other preceding uses, just bring 1 quart of water to a boil.

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