by Jami Wright

Created on: April 22, 2009

There are many uses for comfrey in herbal remedies; this article will name a few. As with most medication there are great healing properties to this herb, but some possible side effects as well.

Comfrey is an herb that grows free in Europe, it grows on river banks and ditches throughout England and also in temperate Asia. Comfrey can grow most places but it prefers moist and shaded areas. You can grow comfrey in the US but be aware that if you plant the herb it will most likely stay and you will have a hard time getting rid of it. It was at one time foraged for food but the nutritional values were so low that you would have had to eat to much to get the nutrients you were looking for. That means this is truly a healing plant over food.

It has been used to treat a variety of ailments to include bronchial problems, broken bones, arthritis, burns, acne, and ulcers but modern science has really credited it with healing properties for bone ailments. This herb is also used to relieve external pain and swelling.

Allotanoin one of the active ingredients of this herb has been accredited with strengthening of epithelial tissue. This type of tissue lines both the external body and the internal organs. This makes its healing properties valuable in treating skin aliments and internal ulcers.

The parts of the plant that is used for herbal remedies are the roots and the leaves. The plant is recognizable by the bell shaped flowers that droop to one side of the stem, they are a light yellow creme or purple color in general. The whole plant is also very hairy which makes you itch when you touch it.

In 2001, the US Food and Drug Administration warned against the use of this herb internally due to the fact that excessive use of this herb can be toxic to the liver. If you choose to use this product you may want to ask that question. As mentioned above allotanoin seems to be an amazing healing aid. This warning, however, has not stopped the use of the herb internally. So I label the warning as the cigarettes are labeled and report to you my research findings.

This product has been showing to help with lung problems, ulcers, and female pain internally, to broken bones, burns, swelling and acne externally. If you have not mixed home/herbal remedies before it would be good to get some help the first few times. Or purchase this product through a company that specializes in making these products. As always let your health professional know what herbal remedies you are taking as they do have powerful effects and can sometimes interact with other drugs.

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comfrey

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