Do you eat your comfrey?

[chris]

I didn't even realise it was a vegetable? (is it?) This site seems to inform that it is, and that it's edible?

Perennial Vegetables -

[SarzWix]

No, I don't eat it! Although I might if I was starving... But, it's all hairy!

I'll stick with using it as feed/compost accelerator for now I think...

[Nicos]

Personally I wouldn't- there's a big question mark over it being carcinogenic

Metabolism, genotoxicity, and carcinogenicity of c... [J Toxicol Environ Health B Crit Rev. 2010] - PubMed result

[chris]

Can't say it looks appetising. Thanks for the link Nicos - wasn't going to try it, just wondered!

[SarzWix]

I've read elsewhere that it isn't carcinogenic of itself, but it does cause cells to replicate (which is why it used to be used for healing) and of course it can't differentiate between which cells it triggers into replication. So if you already have cancerous or pre-cancerous cells then they will replicate at a faster rate if you've ingested comfrey. Also, it seems to be the roots that have the highest concentration of those chemicals.

I'd still only eat it if I was starving though...

[solway cropper]

Why would anyone want to eat comfrey??

Surely food is a better option and more readily available.

[binley100]

leave the comfrey for the toms to eat.....

[Snadger]

Bees like it, chooks don't. Once put it in my shoe as an insole when my feet were sore.............can't say it did any good though!

[Florence Fennel]

Supposed to be good as a poultice for bruises, so can't see it tasting very good!

[timethatthetaleweretold]

Horses like it.

But that article posted by Nicos would probably put them off it.


PS.
To answer the question - yes i've tasted my comfrey recently, just to see.
It's not very nice.
Though I do munch a refreshing Green Alkinet leaf from time to time.

[Comfreyfan]

Did try some very young leaves just because I use so much of it and thought I ought to know what it tasted like, then I read that the roots were suspected of being carcinogenic so I decided to stick with all it's other usefulness and there are plenty of tastier things to eat in the garden!!