Re: Comfrey. Your thoughts MH?

For starters, I do not want to argue your facts. They may be fine facts for all I know. It would be helpful to know how or where you came by them. Just from some of the terms used, especially the complex syllables, my hunch (IE> the reek) is, these scientific medical terms originated somewhere between the AMA & FDA. But that is just my educated opinion. If you can, please provide a reference to your information.

During the past two years I have learned of a similar situation with Sassafras. I discovered early on in this period (2 years ago) that people in the herb business, as well as casual herb enthusiasts, can be very quick to repel upon the mere asking about Sassafras; because it has been deemed "illegal". I then became curious as to where the notion came from that it is "against the law" for people to sell pure, natural, unadulterated Sassafras. I searched quite a while. Along the way, I've visited a various herb shops and chatted with the ownders. In my naivete, I would eventually ask "do you have pure, natural, unadulterated Sassafras for sale?". Pictures being worth a thousand words, I wish I could adequately describe to you the kinds of reactions this question can provoke. On at least 2 occasions, I got the distinct impression that the person looking back at me (the one I asked) was thinking/wondering/worrying to themselves quietly "hmmm, is this fellow with the government, or FDA, or AMA or DEA or one of those government health agencies that often ends in A?"> On a few occasions, I got a quick look followed by a friendly explanation of why people believe Sassafras to be illegal. So, I kept on in my research. Now that I've found and read different articles and reports from a wide, far-flung list of sources, I feel I've got a pretty good handle on the "why?" of the situation. Here is just one of these references. It is from a rather folksy herb guy, but try not to let that put you off. The "kill shot" so to speak (the relevant reference) is near the bottom of this document.


http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/Plants.Folder/Sassafras.html


Here is my impression on what happened to Sassafras. The legal aspects of this story date as far back as the 1950s. People who were once skilled in using Sassafras found it to have various benefits to one's health; especially as a blood cleanser. Work with me on this a little bit. Try to imagine, for sake of argument, what the toll would be on the health industry IF people could easily and readily find themselves a natural ingredient, use it/take it, and have blood that is generally cleaner as a result? Now, try to imagine what the typical AMA/FDA attitude towards this situation might be. Even the most skeptical herb person has to admit that there is a clear and present tight connection between things that the AMA does and what the established, orthodox world of medicine does, including corproate Pharmacology. Also try to be aware of some of the known methods orthodox relies on when it comes to developing/patenting "medicine"; if you go back in history, you will find that the average commercial drug got it's origins from the natural/herbal equivalent. Then orthodoxy sends their scientists into the lab to analyze the natural herb, so that they can discover what all the usefull compounds are, isolate them, then figure out a way to invent a chemcial drug that includes either the isolated ingredient OR a synthesized version.

In the case of Sassafras, the scientists isolated a compound they called Safrole. I can imagine many a poor white mice were treated with unGodly amounts of Safrole in the efforts of Science trying to get to the bottom of - " gee, just how much of this stuff does it take to kill a rat?". Then once the rat can be reliably harmed or killed with X amount of Safrole, the next phase is - have the AMA alert the media "Sassafras is DANGEROUS! A HEALTH HAZARD!! Our studies prove that it KILLS MICE!!!". Then a final phase is to have the more formalized departments of government - Congress, create new laws to make the sale of pure, natural, unadulterated Sassafras a crime.

This is pretty much the truth to the Sassafras story, at least, it is as far as I have come to learn it. Do not be surprised to find a similar story is behind your Comfrey facts. Also keep in mind, this past week there was a news story posted about the woman who died from water intoxication. Everything must be taken in proper moderation, because everything, whether it's administered by the AMA or by an Herbalists or by a public water fountain, has the potential to harm you.... possibly even kill you if you get too much of the right stuff at the wrong time.