DARMSTADT, Germany--Comfrey extract has topical analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties comparable to the drug Diclofenac, according to a clinical trial published in Phytomedicine (12, 10:707-14, 2005).
In a single blind, controlled, randomized, parallel-group, multi-center, confirmatory clinical trial, 164 male and female outpatients with acute unilateral ankle sprains and a mean age of 29 years were treated with either a 6 cm-long ointment layer of topical comfrey extract gel (as Kytta-Salbe®, from Merck) or Diclofenac gel (containing 1.16 g of diclofenac diethylamine salt) four times daily for seven plus or minus one days. The comfrey extract gel relieved pain and inflammation from ankle sprain as effectively as Diclofenac gel, according to pain reaction from pressure on the injured area measured by a calibrated caliper (tonometer), swelling as measured by joint circumference, individual spontaneous pain sensation at rest and at movement according to a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), judgment of impaired movements of the injured joint by the method of “neutral-zero”, use of rescue medication (paracetamol), the global efficacy evaluation and the global assessment of tolerability.
The researchers concluded topical comfrey extract is non-inferior or even superior to Diclofenac in the treatment of pain and inflammation from ankle distortion. Due to possible hepatotoxicity, comfrey is generally suggested to only be used externally.
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