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Page 39
| might have looked different if it had been put into the context of a toxicity scale. One such scale is the HERP index, which classifies the cancer-causing potentials of various substances. Extrapolating from the HERP index, former U.S. Department of Agriculture botanist James Duke, Ph.D., calculated that less than one-fifth of an ounce of brown mustard is twice as cancer-causing as comfrey tea, which has roughly the same cancer-causing potential as a peanut butter sandwich. Wine is 144 times more cancer-causing than an equal amount of comfrey tea. |
| Canada was quick to ban comfrey sales, and FDA warnings removed comfrey tea from most health food stores in the U.S. Its final fate remains undecided. Comfrey continues to be an ingredient in herbal tea blends and it is sold by most herbal tea companies, though it may carry a warning label, "For external use only." Comfrey is so easy to grow and such a pleasant garden companion, you can insure an uninterrupted supply by planting your own. |
| Appreciating comfrey's long history of use and safety, However, in cases of liver disease, I would suggest alternative therapies, I can find no evidence suggesting that comfrey's risks outweigh its benefits in the treatment of gastritis, diverticulitis, irritable bowel syndrome, spastic colon, peptic or duodenal ulcers, leaky gut syndrome or Crohn's disease. In fact, many have found that its allantoin content, soothing mucilages and abundant nutrients make comfrey a "specific" for these disorders. |
| Though not widely known as a culinary herb, comfrey used to be a common ingredient in soups, stews, and salads. Dried comfrey root or leaves can be powdered and added to any juice or liquid to make a protein drink. Comfrey is said to be the second-highest vegetable source of protein; only the soy bean is a more concentrated source. It is also a source of soluble fiber. |
| Although most roots are decocted (brought to a boil, then simmered over low heat), comfrey is a fragile herb and should not be boiled. Instead, follow any of the following directions. |
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