Comfrey
Symphytum officinale
Other Names:
Knitbone
Range:
Family:
Boraginaceae - Forget-Me-Not Family
Growth Type:
Herbaceous Perennial
Height:
1' - 3' tall
Leaves:
Large, rough-hairy, broadly oval to lance shaped leaves
Stem/Trunk:
Herbaceous branched stem
Root:
Black turnip-like roots
Flower Season:
May - September
Flower Appearance:
Bell-like flowers in furled clusters ranging in color from white or cream colored to pink or light purple.
Seed/Fruit:
N/A
Miscellaneous characteristics:
This is a non-native plant which has enjoyed localized native status in various places throughout the United States. Typically this herb is purchased from a health food purveyor.
Habitat:
Native to Europe, this alien has escaped cultivation, and can be found in and around old homesteads. While it has escaped cultivation, I have yet to ever find it growing wild. Most often cultivated, or found in health food stores. I grow my own in an herb garden, so it is readily available.
Parts Used:
Leaves, Root
Uses:
Culinary Uses:
None Known
The following text is meant for informational purposes only. It is not meant to diagnose or treat any illness or injury. Always consult with a physician or other qualified medical care provider concerning the diagnosis and treatment of any illness or injury.
Energetics
Taste: Salty/Sweet
Thermal: Cooling
Humidity: Moistening
Medicinal Uses:
Like Plantain, Comfrey contains Allantoin, a natural cell proliferant, which has been shown to speed up the natural replacement of cells. Historically a poultice of leaves and root has been used to knit bones. This has led to one of it's common names, "knitbone". I have used an ointment made from leaves and root to repair a torn tendon 4 times sooner than the doctor said I would heal. I have also used the ointment to heal cuts and skin abrasions.
I made an ointment using comfrey, plantain, and chickweed. I compared this head to head with a commercially available name brand antibiotic ointment. The comfrey ointment healed the area in 2 days, where the area treated with the antibiotic ointment was still not healed in 5 days. There is also some evidence that comfrey applied externally has eased back pain, but I cannot attest to this, and I have not tried it.
It should be noted that Comfrey contains hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA's). These have been shown to increase the incidents of liver failure. Rats given injections of pure PA's developed cancer. It is therefore not recommended that you take comfrey internally. There are even those who advocate banning it's use altogether because they say the PA's can be absorbed through the skin. While I suppose this is possible, the amount you would have to submerge yourself in would be ridiculous. I use comfrey ointment all the time, and I have suffered no adverse effects.
Here are pictures of how well this stuff works.
Cautions According To WebMD
Possible Side Effects:
The PA's contained in S. officinale have been shown to possibly cause liver damage, lung damage, and cancer. The FDA has recommended that all oral comfrey products be removed from the market. Always discuss beginning an herbal regimen with your physician.
Possible Interactions:
Taking comfrey along with Hepatotoxic drugs, medication that might also harm the liver, can increase the risk of liver damage. Do not take comfrey if you are taking a medication that can harm the liver. Some medications that can harm the liver include acetaminophen (Tylenol and others), amiodarone (Cordarone), carbamazepine (Tegretol), isoniazid (INH), methotrexate (Rheumatrex), methyldopa (Aldomet), fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole (Sporanox), erythromycin (Erythrocin, Ilosone, others), phenytoin (Dilantin), lovastatin (Mevacor), pravastatin (Pravachol), simvastatin (Zocor), and many others.
Comfrey is broken down by the liver. Some chemicals that form when the liver breaks down comfrey can be harmful. Medications that cause the liver to break down comfrey might increase the toxic effects of chemicals contained in comfrey. Some of these medicines include carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenobarbital, phenytoin (Dilantin), rifampin, rifabutin (Mycobutin), and others.
Medicinal Actions:
Anticatarrhal,
Antidiarrheal,
Antimitotic,
Antitussive,
Astringent,
Demulcent,
Expectorant,
Tonic: Lung,
Vulnerary
Herbal Preparations For Symphytum officinale
Infused Oil
Part Used: Leaves
Plant State: Fresh
Stove-top Double Boiler Method:
Fill a large pot halfway full of hot water. Place the pot on the stove and bring to a boil and then reduce to low to simmer. Place a large glass or stainless steel bowl over the pot opening. Add 2 ounces of fresh chopped leaves or 1 ounce of dried leaves and 6 ounces by weight of the oil of your choice to the bowl over the pot of water. Mix thoroughly and allow to heat uncovered for 12 hours. Make sure to periodically check the water level and add more as needed. After this time has elapsed, place the pan cover or large plate over the bowl of oil amd plant material. Allow the pot and bowl to sit covered until the following morning. The next morning remove the bowl from the pot and once again fill the pot half full with water, bring to a boil, and then reduce heat to low and replace the bowl back on the pot, and allow to heat uncovered for an additional 12 hours. Once this time has elapsed, allow the oil to cool enough that you can touch it without burning yourself, and then strain the plant material out. Now place the strained infused oil into a pint-sized mason jar and store it in the refrigerator until needed.
Crock Pot Method: (My favorite)
Place 2 ounces of freshchopped leaves and 6 ounces by weight of grape seed oil into a crock pot. Mix thoroughly, set the dial to its lowest setting, and allow to heat uncovered for 12 hours. After this time has elapsed, place the cover on the crock pot and turn the switch to off. Allow the pot to sit covered until the following morning. Then turn the crock pot once again to its lowest setting, remove the cover, and allow to heat uncovered for an additional 12 hours. Once this time has elapsed, allow the oil to cool enough that you can touch it without burning yourself, and then strain the plant material out. Now place the strained infused oil into a pint-sized mason jar and store it in the refrigerator until needed. (When straining my infused oils, I place a coffee filter into a fine metal sieve, and set the sieve over a glass bowl. I then pour the mixture into the strainer, and let it sit until all the oil has drained. Once it appears that it has completely drained, you will notice that there is much less than the 6 ounces of oil you started with. I usually take a large wooded spoon, or something else heavy, and pack the mixture into the strainer. I am always surprised how much oil is still released from the plant material. You can expect to yield just over 5 ounces by weight of your infused oil)
Dosage: You can apply infused oil topically as needed. You can also follow the directions below to turn your infused oil into an ointment or salve.
Ointment or Salve
Infused oils are turned into ointments and salves. I have found a 5:1 ration by weight of infused oil to bees wax yields the best consistency of ointment. In a medium saucepan, heat 5 ounces, by weight, of your previously prepared infused oil over low heat. When the oil is hot enough, stir in 1 ounce of grated bees wax. When the wax is completely dissolved, dip the back of a clean cold spoon into the mixture. Allow it to cool and solidify. If you find the ointment is too hard, add a little more oil, if you find it is too soft, add a little more bees wax, until you reach your desired consistency. To make an even more luxurious feeling ointment, before it cools, try adding 1 tablespoon of lanolin to your ointments. If you are anything like me, you will love the luxurious texture, and soothing effect it has on your skin.
Dosage: Apply topically as needed
