FDA, FTC Crack Down on Comfrey
July 18, 2001
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) are taking steps to curb the sale and marketing of the medicinal herb comfrey. The agencies are concerned by internet advertising claims that the herb can cure conditions such as asthma, indigestion, cancer and multiple sclerosis. They are also concerned that the herb contains chemicals that are toxic to the liver.
Mainstream herbal companies agree with the agencies' decision to force a rogue Utah company to cease its marketing of comfrey as a cure for such serious illnesses as cancer and multiple sclerosis. However, they disagree with the FDA's demands that all companies stop selling comfrey products and notify consumers to stop using them.
Comfrey was used for centuries to help heal wounds and soothe irritated membranes. In the 1980s, scientists discovered that comfrey contained pyrrolizidine alkaloids, chemicals that can cause serious liver damage. In the mid-1990s, the herbal industry began to recommend comfrey for external use only. The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) included the guideline in its code of ethics.
-- Article Courtesy of InjuryBoard.com
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