Friday, June 13, 2008

Unconfusing the Comfreys

Thanks to Susun Weed for elaborating on this troublesome mix up in this issue of the
Wise Woman's Ezine.


2 comments:

Oakmoss Changeling said...

As much as I love Comfrey, and Susun Weed, there's some serious lack of critical thought in this article.

This from Henriette: "(And I don't really believe Symphytum x uplandicum to be PA free -- it's a hybrid of garden comfrey (Symphytum officinale) and prickly comfrey (Symphytum asperum), both of which contain livertoxic PAs.
Neither does Professor Roeder, who tested the plant: "4.1.12. Symphytum x uplandicum ... A total alkaloid content of ca. 0.2% was found in the dried aerial parts [90, 91, 139, 140]. Russian comfrey should no longer be used for medicinal purposes.")

Unfortunately, PAs are deadly in tiny amounts and show no symptoms of toxicity until you need a new liver.

I still use Comfrey internally at times, but not with children or nursing mothers, who are likely the most vulnerable in this case.

Love the plant and love its medicine but I don't quite buy the lack of logic in Susun's defense of it.

Yarrow said...

Thanks for Susun's website. I had it once and lost it. I tend to agree with her on comfrey, though I don't use it internally much, I would have no problem doing so if it was needed.