What Is Comfrey Cream?

Comfrey cream is a natural substance made from Symphytum officinale, an herb in the borage family. Also known as comfrey ointment, salve, or gel, it's said to reduce inflammation (swelling) and alleviate pain when applied to the skin. Proponents claim that comfrey cream can treat a variety of health conditions and injuries.

Comfrey cream contains several substances thought to have health benefits. These include anti-inflammatory compounds and allantoin, which is thought to speed up wound healing by stimulating new cell growth.

This article discusses the uses and benefits of comfrey cream. It also covers the possible side effects and what to look for when buying it.

Uses

Comfrey cream is typically used as a topical herbal remedy for painful muscle and joint conditions. These can include low back pain, osteoarthritis, and sprains. It's also used in alternative medicine for the following problems:

• Bruises
• Fractures
• Gout (a form of arthritis)
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Sprains and strains
• Wounds

Does Comfrey Cream Have Any Benefits?

Researchers have studied the effects of comfrey cream on a number of health conditions. Here's a look at some key research on the potential health benefits of comfrey cream for back pain, osteoarthritis, and ankle sprains.

Back Pain

Comfrey cream could help ease back pain. A 2010 study from the British Journal of Sports Medicine included 120 patients with acute upper or lower back pain. Each of them was treated with comfrey ointment or a placebo (sham treatment) for five days.

Study results revealed that pain intensity decreased an average of 95.2% in the group given comfrey ointment. This was compared to 37.8% in the placebo group.

Osteoarthritis

Comfrey cream may help treat osteoarthritis of the knee, according to a Cochrane review of topical herbal therapies.

This review included one study of 220 people with osteoarthritis of the knee, a degenerative "wear-and-tear" joint condition. The participants were assigned to three weeks of treatment with either comfrey ointment or a placebo.

Those who used the comfrey ointment experienced significantly greater improvement in pain, mobility, and quality of life.

Additionally, a 2011 study found that comfrey ointment was superior to a placebo in relieving pain and stiffness in osteoarthritis. The study involved 43 patients with knee osteoarthritis and a six-week treatment period.

A later study in 2012 found some evidence that topical comfrey cream led to reduced knee pain. However, it had no effect on markers of inflammation or cartilage breakdown over 12 weeks of treatment.

Ankle Sprains

Several studies show that comfrey cream may be helpful in the treatment of ankle sprains.

One study followed 142 patients with ankle sprains. One group used a cream with comfrey root fluid extract on the ankle while the others received a placebo. After eight days, the group that used the cream had significantly less pain than those who had the placebo.

In another study, participants with ankle sprains received either comfrey root extract cream or diclofenac gel, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). The ankle swelling decreased by 79.5% in the comfrey root group and 69.4% in the diclofenac group.

Possible Side Effects

Comfrey contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, substances that can cause liver damage, cancer, and even death. Therefore, it should be never be taken by mouth. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned oral comfrey products.

Since these toxic substances can be absorbed through the skin, there's concern about the safety of comfrey cream applied to the skin. It's typically only used in small amounts for a very short period of time.

Experts suggest not using comfrey cream for longer than 10 days in a row. You should also use it no more than four to six weeks in a year as a general guideline.

If you're considering using the cream, consult your healthcare provider first. You and your healthcare provider should weigh the pros and cons and use only under their supervision.

Never apply comfrey cream to broken skin or open wounds. Don't take it if you have liver disease, cancer, or are taking any medication that affects the liver. Children, elderly people, and pregnant or nursing women shouldn't use comfrey in any form.

Dosage and Preparation 

There is no daily recommended allowance for comfrey, which is sold in creams, ointments, gels, and salves. The following applications have been used in research:

• Back pain: An ointment containing 35% comfrey root extract, with or without 1.2% methyl nicotinate. Applied three times a day for five days.
• Osteoarthritis: A specific ointment containing 35% comfrey root extract, with or without tannic acid, aloe vera gel, eucalyptus oil, and frankincense oil. Applied to the knee three times a day for three to six weeks.
• For sprains: An ointment containing 35% comfrey extract. Applied to ankle sprains four times daily for eight days.

What to Look For 

For topical comfrey cream, look for products labeled as free of pyrrolizidine alkaloids.

When selecting a brand of supplements, look for products that have been certified by Consumer Labs, the U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention, or NSF International.

Summary

Comfrey cream, an herbal remedy, is thought to reduce inflammation and pain when applied to the skin. Researchers have found it does seem to reduce pain in some conditions, including back pain, osteoarthritis, and ankle sprains.

However, comfrey can also contain toxic substances called pyrrolizidine alkaloids that cause liver damage, cancer, and death. You should never ingest comfrey by mouth. Before using comfrey cream, consult your healthcare provider.

A Word From Verywell 

While studies suggest that comfrey cream may offer some pain-relieving benefits, large-scale clinical trials are needed to confirm these effects. Given the safety concerns, it should only be used under the supervision of your healthcare provider.