- Comfrey Extract
A promising study of comfrey root cream has shown that it can do wonders for people with back pain. In the study, 95% of participants who received the comfrey cream as opposed to a placebo reported a significant reduction in their pain. Other studies have found similar results in the treatment of arthritis and ankle sprains.
Researchers think comfrey works because the roots and leaves contain allantoin and rosmarinic acid. It’s the rosmarinic acid that reduces inflammation and relieves pain, but allantoin is credited with accelerating the growth of new skin cells. However, comfrey should only be used externally as there is some concern that it may be carcinogenic when consumed.
