title: Comfrey: a clinical overview.
abstract: Comfrey has a centuries-old tradition as a medicinal plant. Today, multiple randomized controlled trials have demonstrated the efficacy and safety of comfrey preparations for the topical treatment of pain, inflammation and swelling of muscles and joints in degenerative arthritis, acute myalgia in the back, sprains, contusions and strains after sports injuries and accidents, also in children aged 3 or 4 and over. This paper provides information on clinical trials and non-interventional studies published on comfrey to date and further literature, substantiating the fact that topical comfrey preparations are a valuable therapy option for the treatment of painful muscle and joint complaints.
authors.affiliation: Merck Selbstmedikation GmbH, Darmstadt, Germany. christiane.staiger@merckgroup.com
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Staiger
mesh_terms: D000481:Allantoin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000700:Analgesics / Q000494:pharmacology; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002934:Cinnamates / Q000494:pharmacology; D020844:Comfrey / Q000737:chemistry*; D053630:Depsides / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects; D000097123:Rosmarinic Acid
chemical_list: D000481:Allantoin; D000700:Analgesics; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D002934:Cinnamates; D053630:Depsides; D000097123:Rosmarinic Acid