COMFREY

          Comfrey is a cell proliferant…providing speedy healing for wounds.  In fact, you must be careful to clean out the wound well before using comfrey, or you may find it heals over with infection underneath.  The plant is mucilaginous; the roots are very sticky.  This quality makes it soothing to respiratory or digestive systems, where it has traditionally been used with success for emphysema and ulcers.  Comfrey stops bleeding and soothes inflammation.

          Historically, a paste of comfrey and water was used to form a cast to set broken bones.  Hence, its reputation as a “bone knitter”.  Comfrey contains allantoin, a chemical that promotes the growth of new cells.  It is also high in calcium. 

          There have been cautions on internal use for comfrey since the 1990’s.  Rats were tested by giving large doses of pyrrolizidine alkaloids extracted from comfrey and they developed cancer tumors.  However, rats that were given the whole comfrey plant and not just the extracted alkaloids did not develop tumors.  Perhaps the FDA might also want to ban tomatoes and potatoes, as they have the same alkaloids. Bruce Ames, Ph.D., of U.C. Berkeley published data in the journal, Science, that comfrey taken internally is less toxic or carcinogenic than an equivalent amount of beer.

Most herbalists cannot recommend comfrey taken internally because of these cautions.  If you do decide to use comfrey internally, keep these cautions in mind and do not use it for an extended period of time.

In the garden, comfrey grows vigorously to 4 ft.  Be careful where you plant it, as it is difficult to get rid of once established.  It is a hardy perennial with dark green hairy leaves and blue/purple flowers.  It can be kept trimmed to be a hedge.  Both the leaves and roots are used medicinally.

My favorite use of comfrey is in combination with marshmallow as a fomentation, compress, or soak for wounds and inflammations.

To make a fomentation: boil 2 cups of water, pour over 1 tbsp. marshmallow leaf and 1 tbsp. comfrey leaf (dried), steep for 15 minutes, strain out herbs, dip a clean white cloth (no dyes) in liquid and placed on inflamed area.  The liquid may be reheated and used several times; keep in the refrigerator for up to three days.