Comfrey

  • SCIENTIFIC NAMES: Symphytum asperum; Symphytum officinale; Symphytum peregrinum; Symphytum x uplandicum
  • INDICATIONS: Leaf: Gastric and duodenal ulcer, rheumatic pain, gout, arthritis. Topical: poultice for bruises, sprains, athlete's foot, crural ulcers, mastitis, varicose ulcers. Root: Gastric and duodenal ulcers, hematemesis, colitis, diarrhea. Topical: ulcers, wounds, fractures, hernia.
  • SYNONYM: Boraginaceae
  • CLASS: Carminative
  • HALF-LIFE: N/A
CLINICALLY IMPORTANT, POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS INTERACTIONS WITH:

Eucalyptus

PREGNANCY CATEGORY: N/A

NOTE

The FDA warns that comfrey contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids that can cause cirrhosis and liver failure when taken orally in high doses.

Topical application is safer and more effective; allantoin in comfrey stimulates cell proliferation, accelerating wound healing.

Oral products containing comfrey are banned in the USA, UK, Australia, Canada and Germany.

Our database has 9 adverse reactions for this drug across the following areas

Please login to see the rest of this drug profile


Not a subscriber? Click here to subscribe

SKIN.
CARDIOVASCULAR.
GASTROINTESTINAL/HEPATIC.
LOCAL.
OTHER.


Page last updated 07/31/2023

Drug Eruption Mobile Site

Symbol key

Incidence info

  • <1%
  • 1-5%
  • 5-10%
  • 10-15%
  • 15-20%
  • 20-30%
  • >30%

Seriousness info

  • Hospitalization possible
  • Life threatening
  • Fatal

Warnings in other populations info

  • Breast feeding
  • Geriatric
  • Pediatric
^ Back to top