Sjoerd
Highly Skillful
Joined: 11 Apr 2006
Location: West - Friesland
Posts: 1703
PlantStew: 40 |
| Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2008 10:29 am Post subject: |
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What about that! A remedy for gout. I wonder if it has colchicine in it, or maybe allopurinol...I am curious as to what exactly the active chemical is. These sorts of things really interest me. Understanding the pharmacology is very interesting. I wonder if she perhaps knows.
This thread is really provoking all sorts of interesting comments and knowledge. I am well chuffed.
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Sjoerd http://www.volkstuindersvereniginghoornenomstreken.nl/Page11.html
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Wrennie
Showing Great Promise
Joined: 21 Nov 2007
Location: Catskill Mountains NY
Posts: 540
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| Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2008 2:06 pm Post subject: |
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I never knew i needed to grow comfrey before.
found this--> | Quote: | | The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing this letter to communicate to you our concern about the marketing of dietary supplements that contain the herbal ingredient comfrey (Symphytum officionale (common comfrey), S. asperum (prickley comfrey), and S. x uplandicum (Russian comfrey). These plants are a source of pyrrolizidine alkaloids that present a serious health hazard to consumers when they are ingested. FDA asks that you share this information with your members. |
Here ---> http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/dspltr06.html
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Sjoerd
Highly Skillful
Joined: 11 Apr 2006
Location: West - Friesland
Posts: 1703
PlantStew: 40 |
| Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 12:07 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for that little bit of info, Wrennie. I was not happy to read that info, in terms of the apparent hepatotoxicity of the pyrrolizidine alkaloids that seem to be contained in the comfry plant. I do not think that eating this plant is at all advisable if the FDA's info can be believed.
Pyrrolizidine alkaloids can cause serious liver disease, their symptoms can sometimes be seen within two weeks and sometimes longer. The pathology that these alcoloids cause to liver and other tissues are not to be taken lightly. Call me a scardy cat, but I would not take any chances with it. Palm Tree... please be careful.
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Sjoerd http://www.volkstuindersvereniginghoornenomstreken.nl/Page11.html
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Palm Tree
Knows Their Stuff
Joined: 17 Sep 2007
Location: Cape Town (Map)
Posts: 823
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| Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2008 6:40 pm Post subject: |
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I was so worried about this information that I just had to speak to our doctor.
I must thank you all for this warning BUT I am also glad to report that I am actually allowed to eat some comfrey (though not a lot - only about four times a year) This is mainly because we have haemophilia in our family and comfrey is a natural haemostatic.
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Candle Making
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cromba
Just Arrived
Joined: 25 Mar 2008
Location: Ozark Mountains
Posts: 19
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| Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 7:44 pm Post subject: Where can one buy comfrey |
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I would like to add some comfrey to my garden. Is there anyplace online that sells them?
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Sjoerd
Highly Skillful
Joined: 11 Apr 2006
Location: West - Friesland
Posts: 1703
PlantStew: 40 |
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cromba
Just Arrived
Joined: 25 Mar 2008
Location: Ozark Mountains
Posts: 19
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| Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 2:56 pm Post subject: comfrey as a skin product |
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Does anyone know of any information, even folklore, about the use of comfrey to heal skin. I have a freind who swears it cured some lesions on her grandmother's legs in tea form, used as a soak. I'd like to try some method on a pervasive subcutaneous (under the skin)cyst I have that doctors have never been able to diagnose, treat or cure. But I wouldn't know where to start....a tea, a poltice, juiced leaves?? Application times? Any thoughts or info appreciated!
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cromba
Just Arrived
Joined: 25 Mar 2008
Location: Ozark Mountains
Posts: 19
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| Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 3:02 pm Post subject: Safety of Comfrey |
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In regards to the older post by Wrennie about the FDA warning on Comfrey....I wouldn't worry much about anything the FDA says. The FDA is not here to protect your health. The FDA is paid off by companies like Monsanto to protect THEIR interests, not yours. Interestingly, after targeting Comfrey, they are now starting to target Stevia....a beautiful natural sweetner. And why? Monsanto wants to protect it's poisonous Asperatame. So they are trying to get Stevia to be labeled dangerous. I have gotten to the point where I don't trust anything the FDA says.
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weeds n seeds
Just Arrived
Joined: 26 Nov 2007
Location: Casper, Wyoming
Posts: 33
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| Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 3:08 pm Post subject: |
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Constituents in comfrey are: Mucilage; allantoin (to 0.8%); tannic acid; resin; traces of alkaloids comprising consoilidine and symphyto-cynoglossine (BOY! If that ain't a tongue-twister!); sugars; essential oil; choline. The cell proliferant action is due to the allantoin content.
Certain strains of the plant contain almost 35% total protein, which is the same percentage as that of soya beans and 10% more than Cheddar Cheese. Attemps, however, to extract the protien in a form suitable for human consumption and to develope the plant as a food source in underdeveloped countries have so far been unsuccessful.
Despite containing harmful-to-humans carcenogens, comfrey is used as an important animal feed in some parts of the world.
I, personally, would NOT recommend anyone taking the herb internally, keep its usage to EXTERNAL ONLY!! Use its leaves in the garden, mulch pile, or in a "tea" for plants; for bug bites; bruising and helping with the healing process of broken bones (hence its nickname "knitbone").
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