Comfrey – Symphytum officinale
Comfrey – this miracle, skin and bone healing plant is a must have in the garden.
Comfrey leaves and roots are NOT Edible, because they contain small amounts of toxins that should not be consumed. The leaves can be used to make a medicinal tea or gargle.
Its Primary USE is Medicinal – This herb is a valuable remedy that accelerates healing of the skin and wounds. A compress of the roots or leaves can be applied directly to the skin or made into a salve. It inhibits the growth of bacteria, helping to prevent infections and minimizes scaring. It is mucilaginous and contains the compound allantoin, which boosts cell growth and repair.
It is also an excellent anti-inflammatory and relieves pain, inflamation and swelling in joints and muscles. Comfrey tea is best used to alleviate stomach problems, heavy menstrual bleeding, bloody urine, breathing problems, cancer, and chest pain. It can also be gargled to treat gum disease or sore throat.
Here is 4 BIG Reasons why you should include this healing plant into your garden.
Sprains, Bruises and Breaks: Comfrey Salve or compresses are one of the best remedies for sprains, strains, bruised muscles and joints, and fractured bones. The herb speeds up healing while increasing mobility and relieving the painn and swelling. Apply the salve or poultice made from crushed comfrey root up to 4 times a day.
Back Pain: Use Comfrey Root Salve to treat back pain. Apply 3 times a day, it relives bone and joint pains,
Osteoarthritus: Comfrey Salve is beneficial for knee and joint pain due to osteoarthritus..
Minor Skin Injuries, Burns, Rashes, Eczema, Psoriosis and Wounds: One of the best uses for Comfrey is in healing minor injuries to the skin. Apply Comfrey Salve three times a day or use bruised leaves or crushed root to make a poultice for the damages skin. You can also make up a Comfrey tea or decoction as a wash for the area, especially for rashes, acne, eczema and psoriasis. Do not use for deep wounds or puncture wounds as it heals them too quickly blocking in infection.
Harvesting Comfrey:
Collect leaves in Spring or early Summer before the plant blooms. They can be harvested in several cuttings and dried for later use. The roots can be dug up any time as needed. Leave behind part of the roots to encourage continued growth and an additional crop for the next year.
WARNING: Internal Use is NOT RECOMMENDED.
.Much of the wisdom written on this page was discovered through reading a fabulous book called The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies written by Nicole Apelian, Ph.D & Claude Davis.