Anyone who hears the name comfrey will probably immediately think of the buzzword 'medicinal plant'. But is that really the case: Can comfrey be consumed without worrying or is it toxic?
Comfrey should only be used externally
Contained alkaloids damage the liver
In addition to positive active ingredients such as allantoin and mucilage, comfrey contains so-called pyrrolizidine alkaloids. In high amounts and over long periods of time, these alkaloids damage the liver. For this reason, you should only use comfrey externally and not eat it. But don't panic: a leaf or a few flowers to decorate the salad won't hurt.
In excessive amounts - both fresh and dried - comfrey can cause the following symptoms due to its toxic alkaloids:
- shortness of breath
- drop in blood pressure
- skin rash
- nausea
- disorientation
tips
Caution: When planting comfrey, you should remember that it is also poisonous to grazing animals such as horses, cows, sheep and goats and the like.