AKA: Symphytum Officinale

The perennial herb Comfrey belongs to the Boraginaceae (forget me not) family.  It has a black root that is akin to a turnip, large broad leaves that are hairy and blooms small bell shaped flowers that come in the colors: white, cream, purple and pink. It is a stout, angular plant that reaches the height of two to three feet. On top it is broadly winged and covered with bristly hairs. On the bottom, very large ovate leaves which are covered with itchy rough hairs. Comfrey is found mostly in Europe where it grows in damp grassy places and it is especially prolific in the British Isles where it can be found on river banks and ditches.

 Comfrey can be used as both a food and forage crop, but due to the discovery of cancer causing toxins within the roots and leaves, it is now recommended as a topical for inflamed parts of the body.  Pigs, sheep, and poultry will eat the fresh leaves of the comfrey plant and cattle and rabbits will forage on the wilted plant at times. Horses, goats, chinchillas, and caged birds are also fed comfrey.  The plant is also used as an ornamental and the leaves and stems, which quickly turn into a black oozy liquid, is also used as a compost accelerant and can be used to help fertilize potato, sweet pea, or bean crops.

Benefits and Uses

• Inflammation
• Swelling
• Bruises
• Cuts
• Boils
• Abcesses

To ease pain of any tender, inflamed area of the body, the whole plant is beaten to a cataplasm and applied hot as a poultice. It is a very effective remedy for sprains, swells, and bruises. It has even been applied to cuts, boils, abscesses, and ulcers.

The leaves of the plant contain contains such active constituents as mucilage, saponins, tannins, carotene and beta-sitosterol, the main healing factor in comfrey leaves appears to be allantoin, which promotes and encourages the rapid growth of cells. Modern science now confirms that comfrey does indeed speed up the replacement of body cells, which contributes to healing.

An extract can be used for acne and athletes foot. It is also used for certain female problems. Comfrey tea and extract has been used as a douche for yeast infections. Poultices applied to sore and caked breasts, helps the tenderness leave very quickly.

The plant has also seen use as a digestive aid in the form of comfrey-pepsin capsules, but since ingestion of the plant seems to cause liver damage and promote cancer, most herbalists and physicians will not recommend taking comfrey internally for any purpose.

 It has become increasingly harder to find comfrey in any type of preparations, but some tablets and herbal extractions are still available. Dilute teas and decoctions can also be found but long time use is never recommended. Most forms of comfrey can be found in topical products such as lotions, cream, salves and poultices.

Possible Side Effects and Cautions

If you do decide to take the herb internally, please seek immediate help if you experience the following symptoms…

• Excessive fatigue
• Extreme Itchiness
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
• Pain or swelling in the abdomen
• Yellowing of the skin or whites of the  eyes (signs of liver damage)

The plant has been found to contain trace amount of toxic alkaloids which can damage the liver. The largest concentrations of these carcinogens are found in the root and older leaves. The younger leaves contain almost no traces of these alkaloids.

It is wise to avoid the root all together, but preparations of the leaf are considered safe when applied to unbroken skin for a limited period,

This recipe may be used as a face wash for acne, to sooth irritated skin, put on bug bites, cold sores, to ease itching. It is important that you do not put comfrey directly on an open wound, but on the skin surrounding the wound.

1 part comfrey leaves
2 parts boiling water

Pour boiling water over leaves and steep for 20 minutes to make a strong tea. Soak a cloth in the tea and apply to affected area for 10 minutes. Reapply as necessary.

Comfrey Herbal Tea Bath

2 parts chamomile
2 parts comfrey
2 parts green tea
2 parts lavender

Put all ingredients in a muslin bag, tie and place under tap to allow the water to run through the herbs.

A herbal remedy for bone injuries. Many people today still refer to comfrey as “knitbone”, which was what it was called during the Middle Ages when taking baths in comfrey was said to have miraculous healing benefits for people with fractured or broken bones. Back then, people were so convinced of its healing powers, that maidens would take baths in it the night before their wedding hoping to restore their maidenhood. While this herb cannot really repair a broken flap of skin, even the occasional modern research scientist of today might refer to comfrey as knit bone, citing evidence that the active ingredient, allantoin, has been found to promote healthy bone, muscle and cartilage cell growth.

Ask an herbalist about comfrey and they will tell you that comfrey is a cool, moist herb that contains many beneficial vitamins and chemical compounds that can help promote healing. Along with being a rich source of allantoin, Comfrey also contains Vitamin B-12, insulin, tannins, mucilage, and steroidal saponins, all of which help make the plant an effective external remedy for the treatment of not only broken bones, but other physical injuries including fractures and sprains. They will go on to say that ointments and infusions made from the leaves of the herb (which contain the highest concentrations of allantoin) are also beneficial for the treatment of arthritis pain and that the roots may help treat varicose ulcers.

Back before the days of medical research, comfrey was not only a popular external medicine, but also used internally to help promote healthy bones and teeth and to even help with bronchial ailments However, since researchers have found that comfrey contains hepatoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloid, a compound which is toxic to the liver and can leader to liver failure if taken in extremely high doses, all of the comfrey containing products that are sold today (even the ones with this alkaloid removed) are labeled for external use only. While comfrey cannot be recommended for internal treatment, it is still recommended as a topical that can be used in the form of a cream, or infused oil to treat injuries, arthritic pain and even skin conditions.

Comfrey is also a popular garden plant that people can harvest during the early summer (the roots in late fall) and then use in their own external remedies. For example, if you suffer from a broken toe or a hairline fracture, you can crush the herb and apply it as an topical being careful not to put  near broken skin. The allantoin can then be absorbed through the skin and help promote healing.

You can also make a face wash by steeping one part comfrey leaves into two parts boiling water for 20 minutes and then soaking a clean cotton cloth in it. This is a great way to treat acne, irritated skin, bugs bites and cold sores. Just be sure to avoid open skin.

You can also take a comfrey herbal tea bath and help deal with your pain and physical injuries. Put two parts each of chamomile, comfrey, green tea and lavender into muslin bath and place under the tap, allowing the water to run through the herbs.