Who hears the name comfrey, in his consciousness probably immediately presents the buzzword ‘medicinal plant’. But is this really the case: Can comfrey be consumed carefree or does it have a toxic effect?
Contained alkaloids damage the liver
Comfrey contains so-called pyrrolizidine alkaloids in addition to beneficial active ingredients such as allantoin and mucilage. In high quantities and consumed over a long period of time, these alkaloids damage the liver. For this reason, you should only use comfrey externally and not eat it. But do not panic: A leaf or a few blossoms as a decoration for your salad won’t hurt.
When used in excessive amounts – both in fresh and dried form – comfrey can cause the following symptoms due to its toxic alkaloids:
- Shortness of breath
- drop in blood pressure
- skin rash
- Nausea
- Disorientation
