Comfrey, FDA Ban July 9, 2001, Dr. Christopher's Herbal Legacy preliminary injunction barring them from marketing products containing comfrey for internal use.

I am a big lover of comfrey.  I have used it externally AND internally for more than 30 years.  It is in my top 5 favorite herbs.  When I found this information I thought this would be of interest to some here, as there has been some mention of  the FDA's ban of comfrey for internal use and Dr. Christopher's formulas no longer containing comfrey.  I found this news article from July of 2001 and also Dr. Christopher's Herbal Legacy responses to the studies the FDA used to ban comfrey.  From the news article I see that Christopher Enterprises had already agreed to a preliminary injunction from the FTC, barring them from marketing products containing comfrey for internal use or on open wounds, stating that the company "FALSELY" claimed that it was safe to take comfrey orally, as suppositories or to apply to open wounds. 

This is a link to Dr. Christopher's Herbal Legacy site where they list their CONTENTIONS WITH THE COMFREY STUDIES:  http://www.herballegacy.com/Comfrey.html

I knew that the FDA and FTC were creating problems for the marketing of comfrey, but never really looked at what they were 'using'  for studies, etc.  It is disturbing that the FDA  targets a natural plant that grows in my yard and attempts to stop people from obtaining the health benefits this plant offers, yet allows toxic drugs to damage, destroy health and kill thousands +. 

No money to be made from nature's plants!

Here is the news article;

Food Navagator.com article: http://www.foodnavigator.com/Legislation/FDA-bans-sale-of-comfrey-herb

FDA bans sale of comfrey herb

09-Jul-2001

The US Food and Drug Administration on Friday asked makers of dietary supplements containing the herb comfrey to withdraw their products due to the danger of liver damage and its possible role as a cancer-causing agent.

In a letter to industry groups representing herbal product makers, the FDA said it was aware of dietary supplements derived from three types of comfrey that contain toxic alkaloids.

"The agency strongly recommends that firms marketing a product containing comfrey, or another source of pyrrolizidine alkaloids, remove the product from the market and alert its customers to immediately stop using the product,"FDA said.

In addition to being toxic to the liver, 'there is also evidence that implicates these substances as carcinogens," the agency said.

Separately the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced action Friday against an Internet marketer of comfrey remedies.

Utah-based Christopher Enterprises Inc., agreed to a preliminary injunction that bars the company from marketing products containing comfrey "for internal uses or on open wounds," the commission said.

The commission said the company falsely claimed it was safe to take comfrey products orally, as suppositories or to apply them to open wounds.