Comfrey

Generic name: Comfrey
Drug class: Herbal products

Usage of Comfrey

Comfrey is a plant also known as Ass Ear, Black Root, Blackwort, Bruisewort, Consolidae Radix, Consound, Consoude, Consuelda, Gum Plant, Healing Herb, Herbe aux Charpentiers, Herbe à la Coupure, Knitback, Knitbone, Langue-de-Vache, Oreille d'Âne, Salsify, Slippery Root, Symphytum officinale, or Wallwort.

Comfrey has been used in alternative medicine as a possibly effective aid in treating back pain, osteoarthritis, or tenderness and swelling caused by a sprain injury.

Other uses not proven with research have included skin wounds, skin ulcers, cough, sore throat, gum disease, joint pain, diarrhea, and other conditions.

Comfrey may have been applied to the skin in a specific preparation to treat some of these conditions.

It is not certain whether comfrey is effective in treating any medical condition. Medicinal use of this product has not been approved by the FDA. Comfrey should not be used in place of medication prescribed for you by your doctor.

Comfrey is often sold as an herbal supplement. There are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for many herbal compounds and some marketed supplements have been found to be contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.

Comfrey may also be used for purposes not listed in this product guide.

Comfrey side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Although not all side effects are known, comfrey is thought to be possibly safe when applied to unbroken skin for less than 10 days.

Stop using comfrey and call your healthcare provider at once if you have:

liver problems--nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, tired feeling, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Comfrey

Ask a doctor, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider if it is safe for you to use this product if you have:

liver disease.

Comfrey is considered likely unsafe to use during pregnancy. The chemicals contained in comfrey may cause birth defects. Do not use this product without medical advice if you are pregnant.

Comfrey is considered likely unsafe to use if you are nursing a baby. Do not use this product without medical advice if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Do not give any herbal/health supplement to a child without medical advice.

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Warnings

Follow all directions on the product label and package. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you use.

What other drugs will affect Comfrey

Do not take comfrey without medical advice if you are using any of the following medications:

carbamazepine;

phenobarbital;

phenytoin; or

rifabutin, rifampin.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with comfrey, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this product guide.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

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