RCT on Comfrey Root Extract Ointment ...What the heck is it?
Reference:Giannetti BM, et al.Efficacy and safety of comfrey root extract ointment in the treatment of acute upper or lower back pain: results of a double-blind, randomised, placebo controlled, multicentre trial. Br J Sports Med. 2010 Jul;44(9):637-41. Epub 2009 May 21.
I had personally never heard of Comfrey root extract ointment until I bumped into this paper published in the British Journal of Sports Med. The objective was to show the superiority of comfrey root extract ointment to placebo ointment.
This double-blind, multicentre, RCT involved 120 patients with acute upper or lower back pain. The patients were treated with Comfrey root extract or placebo ointment 3x / day, 4 g ointment per application. The trial included only four visits over a 5-day period.
Personal Comment:When I read this paper, I immediately went out to my local pharmacy to buy it, but to my surprise the pharmacist had no idea what I was talking about. So I drove to the health food store, and there it was on the shelf, a small 35g tube for $15.
I honestly have not had a chance to use it on a real patient yet, so I have no anecdotal evidence to tell you about!
Posted on: December 27, 2010
Categories: Modalities / Meds / Supplements
