By: Vivek J
May 5 2023
There is no evidence that the herb comfrey stimulates tissue regeneration in teeth and gums
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Fact-Check
The Verdict False
Oral use of comfrey, or product made using comfrey, is not recommended as it is associated with several risks including liver damage.
Claim ID 14792395
Context
A video on Facebook claimed that comfrey, a flowering plant, helps treat teeth and gum problems. The person in the video claims that the herb can stimulate tissue and bone regeneration, adding that enamel and teeth can be regenerated. The user who shared the video has also provided a link to purchase a “gum and tooth powder.” The same video was also found on multiple YouTube channels. However, no clinical evidence shows that comfrey can treat teeth and gum issues.
In Fact
Comfrey has been used in several herbal treatments for joint pains and external injuries. However, its oral consumption is not recommended as it may result in several other medical conditions, including liver and lung damage.
We reached out to the British Dental Association and they responded by saying that they do not recommend comfrey for dental treatment. We will update this check once we receive a detailed response from them.
According to U.K.’s Food Standard Agency (FSA), “Some herbal infusions such as those made from comfrey roots and leaves are known to contain very high levels of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs).” The Committee of Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and Environment (COT) refers to PAs as “a large group of natural toxins predominantly found in plants, several of which are known to be highly hepatotoxic and have been shown to be carcinogenic in rats.” The FSA does not recommend the consumption of such herbal infusions containing high levels of PAs.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) “Bad bug book - Handbook of Foodborne Pathogenic Microorganisms and Natural Toxins” noted that most of the known cases of plant toxin poisoning were from dietary supplements such as herbal remedies or teas made from plants like comfrey. It also noted that it was a potential cause of cancer. In 2001, the FDA advised dietary supplement manufacturers to remove products containing comfrey from the markets due to the high levels of PAs found in them.
Furthermore, there is no proven clinical evidence that comfrey can be used for treating teeth or gum issues in any form. While there are several websites promoting products containing comfrey, it is not advised to use such products due to the PAs present in them.
The Verdict
There are no clinically proven research or studies that approve using comfrey to treat oral health issues related to teeth and gums. Oral consumption of comfrey is ill-advised as it contains toxins such as pyrrolizidine alkaloids that could lead to severe lung and liver damage. Therefore, we have marked this claim as false.