At the beginning you should know that rheumatoid arthrits is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in your joints. It occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks your own body’s tissues.
This disease can affect adults at any age, but most commonly starts between the ages of 40 and 50.
The hands, feet and wrists are commonly affected, but it also can damage many other parts of your body such as the skin, eyes, lungs, heart and blood vessels.
Comfrey – New Hope for Arthritis Sufferers
Comfrey is widely known as “one of nature’s greatest medicinal herbs”. Dioscorides, author of one of the oldest herbal texts, ‘Materia Medica’ of 50 AD, prescribed the plant to heal wounds and broken bones.
Leaves or roots applied as a wash, poultice or ointment are used for many conditions such as: bruising, sciatica, boils, rheumatism, neuralgia, varicose veins, bed sores, wounds, ulcers, insect bites, tumors, muscular pain, pulled tendons, gangrene, shingles and dermatological conditions.
The medical journal Phytotherapy Research, found that topical applications of comfrey oil or ointment can successfully alleviate back pain or joint pain.
The research showed that this plant relieves both pain and inflammation, which could explain its long and successful track record.
Allantoin is one of the elements that makes comfrey unique. Allantoin is a leucocytosis promoter (increases white blood cells) that helps to establish immunity from many infectious conditions.
Unfortunately, comfrey root also contains large amounts of pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which are very toxic and can cause liver damage if taken internally. This is the reason why the root extract isn’t recommended for internal remedies.
Important note: Comfrey is not recommended internally, and it is also not recommended for use in pregnant women, even externally. Also, you should always consult your doctor or qualified herbalist before using this herb!
source:http://www.lifehealthandfood.com/