Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) is a perennial flower that grows in clumps naturally along riverbanks and in grasslands. It also can be a nice addition to a wildflower garden and container plantings.

Is comfrey illegal to grow in the US?

It is legal to grow comfrey commercially also. It is not legal to sell prepared comfrey products such as creams, ointments, pills and teas. x uplandicum; while the common comfrey, Symphytum officinale, and other species are not banned.

Are comfrey plants illegal?

a cancer-causing agent. 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.

Will deer eat comfrey?

Comfrey is a great plant to have outside of your orchard (or garden)fencing. Deer enjoy this plant almost as much as hosta, but they don’t eat it to the ground, more as a browse.

Are borage and comfrey the same thing?

Borage flowers are always blue while comfrey flowers bloom in white, pink and purple. The flowers have different shapes, as well, with comfrey flowers shaped like bells and borage flowers like stars. These two plants come from the same family, however, and look quite similar to each other when they aren’t blooming.

Is it safe to drink comfrey tea?

When taken by mouth: Comfrey is LIKELY UNSAFE for anyone when taken by mouth. It contains chemicals (pyrrolizidine alkaloids, PAs) that can cause liver damage, lung damage, and cancer. The FDA has recommended that all oral comfrey products be removed from the market.

Can you drink comfrey tea?

You can also drink dried comfrey root and leaves as tea. Today, eating or taking any form of comfrey by mouth isn’t recommended. It’s considered unsafe, due to the pyrrolizidine alkaloids that comfrey contains.

Can cattle eat comfrey?

You wouldn’t think animals would not like to eat comfrey because of the tiny hairs on comfrey leaves, but sheep, pigs and chickens don’t mind. Even rabbits and cattle will eat comfrey when it’s wilted or dried as hay, according to the University of Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station.

Is comfrey good for cattle?

Great for Dairy Animals Comfrey is especially good for animals you are milking. It gives does, cows and ewes a nutritional boost. You can even dry it and then feed it to your animals in the winter. Some people say it improves milk production and increases the amount of cream in the milk (from the protein probably).