Positive Health Online

Abstract

KOLL and colleagues, Merck Selbstmedikation GmbH, Roesslerstr. 96, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany, report on a trial of a comfrey root extract in the treatment of ankle distorsions.

Background

Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) is a medicinal plant with anti-inflammatory, analgesic and tissue regenerating properties. The aim of this double-blinded, multicentre, randomized, placebo-controlled, group comparison study was to test its efficacy and safety on patients with sprained ankles.

Methodology

142 patients suffering from unilateral acute ankle sprains were treated percutaneously with an ointment of comfrey extract (Kytta-Salbe f) in four treatments per day for 8 days.

Results

The active treatment was clearly superior to a placebo ointment in pain reduction (tonometric measurement, p<0.0001) and ankle oedema (figure-of-eight method, p = 0.0001). Statistically significant differences between active treatment and placebo could also be shown for ankle mobility (neutral zero method) and global efficacy. No adverse drug reactions were reported.

Conclusion

Comfrey ointment is a safe and efficient treatment for sprained joints.

References

Koll R, Buhr M, Dieter R, Pabst H, Predel HG, Petrowicz O, Giannetti B, Klingenburg S, Staiger C. Efficacy and tolerance of a comfrey root extract (Extr. Rad. Symphyti) in the treatment of ankle distorsions: results of a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. Phytomedicine 11 (6): 470-477, Sep 2004.