Comfrey Root Side Effects

Comfrey (symphytum officinale) is a Eurasian perennial from the borage or Boraginaceae family of plants (which also includes the turnip). It features large, hairy leaves, clusters of bell-shaped flowers and a thick, dark root. Some individuals believe that the comfrey root is a beneficial, medicinal herb, and use it both internally and externally, in either natural or processed forms. However, comfrey can potentially be toxic, and can produce a number of side effects.

Liver Damage

• Comfrey root contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which---according to raysahelian.com---can cause a number of liver problems. These include cirrhosis, which is marked by inflammation, thickening tissue and degeneration of cells, jaundice, characterized by a yellowing of the whites of the eyes and skin, as well as acute liver failure. According to healthline.com, comfrey root can also cause the rare Budd-Chiari syndrome, wherein a blood clot blocks the main hepatic vein that runs out from the liver.

Lung Damage

• In addition to causing liver damage, comfrey root has also been linked to lung damage. According to healthline.com, the main condition associated with the root (when it comes to the lungs) is acute pneumonitis, or the inflammation of the lungs. This condition causes coughing and difficulty breathing, and will typically appear soon after exposure to comfrey root.

Skin Problems

• According to online-health-care.com, using comfrey root in a skin cream or other external form can cause intensive, widespread itchiness, known medically as pruritis. In addition, the root can also cause the skin to turn red. To prevent these problems, you should particularly avoid using the root on broken or otherwise damaged skin.

Carcinogenic Effects

• The pyrrolizidine alkaloids found in comfrey root are also known to produce carcinogenic, or cancerous effects. According to raysahelian.com, in animal tests, the root was found to cause liver cancer, as well as squamous cell carcinomas, which are skin cancers known for their resiliency and ability to regenerate (even after treatment).

Abdominal Problems

• According to online-health-care.com, comfrey root can also cause abdominal pain and swelling, which might also be accompanied by nausea, diarrhea and/or vomiting. In addition, the root is linked to a condition called ascites, wherein bodily fluids build up in the abdominal cavity. This can cause your abdomen to feel heavy, and may make it difficult for you to breathe.

Sinusoidal Problems

• Sinusoids are blood vessels found in the liver and other organs such as those that make up the endocrine system. According to healthline.com, comfrey root can cause invasive cellular debris to penetrate sinusoids, which in turn can result in damage to the cell walls of these blood vessels.