Current Promoted Uses

Comfrey is currently promoted for prevention of kidney stones, for treatment of rheumatic and
pulmonary disorders, and for treatment of injuries such as burns and bruises. Combination
products containing comfrey for internal use are promoted for nourishing and repairing bone
and muscle. Several cosmetic products contain comfrey and claim to remove excess oil from
the skin, as well as to moisturize and exfoliate dry skin.
Products Available
Many different commercial forms of comfrey are marketed including oral and external
products. Comfrey can be bought in bulk as dried leaf or whole root to be used in preparing
teas or poultices (Awang, 1987). Powdered comfrey root is packaged in gelatin capsules, in
tablets, or in tablets that may also contain acacia gum, silica, and calcium stearate.
Combination products containing pepsin in tablets or capsules are promoted to aid digestion,
and can contain as much as 2.9 mg/g of toxic alkaloids (Bach, 1989). In Europe, a company
called Kytta makes preparations of comfrey including poultice paste (Kytta-Plasma ) and
ointment (Kytta-Salbe ) (Bisset, 1994). In Great Britain, Potter's Comfrey ointment contains
comfrey root extract.
Bone is a capsule that contains a 310 mg net wt combination of oatstraw, horsetail, comfrey,
and pan pien lien. It is recommended that two capsules of Bone be taken with a large glass of
water three times a day. BM&C is a capsule that contains a 380 mg net wt combination of
white oak bark, marshmallow root, mullein herb, wormwood herb, lobelia herb, scullcap herb,
comfrey root, black walnut bark, and gravel root. The recommended daily use of BM&C is
two capsules with a large glass of water three times daily. Simply Clean Combination/Oily
Skin is a cosmetic cream that contains five hydroxy acids, chamomile, comfrey, and aloe.
Delicate Cleanser Dry Skin is a cosmetic cream that contains five hydroxy acids, chamomile,
comfrey, yarrow, aloe, and ginseng.