Comfrey Question

[Guest guest]

Hi Ylva

 

Glad to hear that the posted article had good timing for you!

 

Now, onto the question about the 2 comfrey varieties - Symphytum

officinale and Symphytum x.uplandicum ....

 

Symphytum x uplandicum (Russian Comfrey) contains a higher amount of

pyrrolizidine alkaloids than Symphytum officinale (common Comfrey), so

it is considered by some to be more of a risk to use internally due to

potential hepatoxicity. According to every traditional herbalist I know

it is the roots of comfrey that have the highest concentration of toxic

alkaloids, and the immature leaves the next highest. Also, comfrey grown

in places that don't get a real winter (like the Gulf Coast, Southern

California, etc ..) have higher amounts of hepatoxic PA's. Mature leaves

do not contain high concentrations of these alkaloids.

 

Keep in mind that the studies that were done to determine that this is a

scary and detrimental plant were done by injecting unrealistically high

concentrations of isolated alkaloids (from which variety, it wasn't

specified?) into baby rats over such a short time period that it would

have been equivalent to giving a man size rat over 5000 comfrey leaves

over the course of several days! The herbalists I know all seems to

agree that if the proper parts of the plant are used in a proper manner,

and not abused, it can have great benefits without the chances

hepatoxicity occurring - when used PROPERLY is the key here though (as

with most things)! But I digress ....

 

In answering your question - yes, Russian Comfrey (Symphytum x

uplandicum ) can be used to make comfrey salve

 

I truly believe that it is a medicinal plant which needs to be used

wisely and respected, and it has been given a bad rap by some bad

science and a few really lame folks who went overboard using it ;-p (I

can post some more info about the studies and the cases of four stupid

people that I referred to above if anyone is interested).

 

*Smile*

Chris (list mom)

http://www.alittleolfactory.com

 

 

ruby_mama2001 [ruby_mama2001]

 

 

Haha, I never thought of chewing the plantain before, just rubbed

the leafs on my kids. But boy did the chewing make a difference! In

my greed to get some wild raspberries yesterday (while walking

Fiona), I managed to get a thistel sting and luckily I had read this

article in the morning, I quickly found a plantain leaf, chewed it

up real good, rubbed it on - and it worked imidiately!!

 

One thing I find confusing though, is that Susun talkes about

comfrey as Symphytum uplandica x, not Symphytum off. I have always

believed that it's the latter that one uses for healing balms etc,

but if it's really is the former - yeaaaahhhh is all I can say.

Cause then I can go out and pick all that I need and my little heart

desires wildgrowing in my neighbourhood. Anyone (Anya or Chris

maybee??) have any input on this?

 

Fragrant Blessings,

Ylva