In herbal medicine, it was used for treating tendon damage, broken bones, lung congestion, ulcerations in gastrointestinal tract, joint inflammation, lung congestion and also promotes wound healing. Folk recipes mention using comfrey root tea to cure stomach upset and eating comfrey leaves fresh or cooked as a general tonic. It's typically only used in small amounts for a very short period of time. Take a mouthful at a time every few hours. You can use cheaper brands of alcohol but be sure that it is between 80 and 100 proof. Adding comfrey to your bathwater is said to help your skin stay young and smooth. I shall have to see if this grows here. Even though it is true that comfrey does contain alkaloids that can cause liver damage, some people still believe that as long as the herb is used internally on a limited basis that it is safe to use. last updated - August 04, 2020 Reduced Pain. It was also used for internal bleeding of the lungs and digestive tract, such as ulcers and hemorrhoids. The mint is better than an antibiotic because the mint cured the infection within 24 hours or less. There has been quite a bit of debate over the past few years to whether or not it is a good idea to take comfrey internally. Both leaves and root are used […] Forêt, Rosalee de la. The amount of leaves you pick will determine how large the poultice will be. Comfrey products such as poultices, ointments and salves have been used as herbal remedies because of the plant’s ability to reduce inflammation and urge healing. You can use a blender or a food processor to make your comfrey poultice but it is not entirely necessary to have any machinery because you can make this by hand. Uses, benefits and precautions. But her mother taught her to use the root. Mary Wickison from Brazil on June 04, 2014: I too hadn't heard of this plant. These alkaloids are particularly potent when consumed, which is why many medical professionals do not suggest any internal use and only limited topical use instead. Images are provided by Shutterstock & our contributors. Health benefits of this beautiful flowering plant include: When you apply comfrey to your skin, it can have some benefits on rashes and irritations. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965229913001672, http://www.kashvet.org/medicinal_plants_wound_healing.html, http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0944711304000327, http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165614702021065, http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1600-0501.2007.01514.x/full, http://carcin.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2012/06/11/carcin.bgs202.short, https://books.google.com/books?id=RJAjtF0-W2sC, http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10354-012-0162-4, https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980000000586, http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/comfrey, 12 Proven Health Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar, Calamansi Juice: Benefits, Recipe, and Side Effects, Hibiscus Tea: Benefits, How to Make, & Side Effects. Comfrey root ready to be used in herbal medicine. It is a fantastic plant. Often the root is used, but the leaves are useful when made into a poultice to place on sprains and joints. It has many varieties. There are a number of benefits of comfrey herb. Comfrey root tea is good for use as a mouth gargle, it can be taken in small doses throughout the day to treat an upset stomach or diarrhea and it is also good for coughs. Benefits Fertilizer: Grow comfrey around your other plants as a living mulch and chop-and-drop fertilizer. Stir the mixture with a plastic or wooden stick, spoon or spatula. Good information. New patches can be easily started with root cuttings. cancer prevention. I am now using it to help me recover from a broken femur. Ginger also helps boost bone health, strengthen the immune system, and increase appetite. By increasing the strength of your immune system, even from topical applications, you can improve conditions like jaundice and various vitamin and immune deficiencies. Patsy Bell Hobson from zone 6a, SEMO on June 04, 2014: I was just learning bout comfrey when I came across your excellent Hub. The recipe for the comfrey tincture of comfrey: Put 100 grams of comfrey root in 700 ml of strong brandy or alcohol into the bottle and lay horizontally that ‘it must be aged’ in a dark place for 14 days. It is used topically to treat wounds. Herbs are fantastic healers when used correctly but can be dangerous when mixed, the wrong part of the plant is used or if it is taken incorrectly. Use in a poultice to help relieve sore muscles, relieve soreness in tendons and help relieve the pain and itching of insect bites. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cobalt_blue. Making a tincture of comfrey herb is very easy, it just take patience because it has to sit for at least six weeks to ensure that all of the medicinal qualities of the herb have been released into the alcohol. When steeped as a tea, comfrey can be gargled to help relieve a sore throat, help stop bleeding gums and helps with laryngitis. Be sure to gently shake the jar periodically to help the process along. This herb is gaining in popularity as a natural healer simply because it works. If you are using a mortar and pestle, grind the leaves until they release their liquid and become mushy. Use a one-quart jar for leaves (such as comfrey), or hardy flowers (such as red clover), one-pint jar for roots, barks, or berries (such as burdock root or rose hips). treatment for rashes or insect bites. It is not clear whether comfrey can actually provide these benefits. The lotion is so potent, however, that you can afford to be quite frugal with the oils and creams. As discussed earlier, comfrey contains high concentrations of bioavailable vitamin C. Because a healthy immune system relies, at least in part, on external sources of vitamin C, comfrey is … John Staughton is a traveling writer, editor, publisher and photographer with English and Integrative Biology degrees from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana (USA). When you apply comfrey to your skin, it can have some benefits on rashes and irritations. Strain the root out of the water but don't throw the water out, it is part of your tea. published a study in the Carcinogenesis Integrative Research Centre Journal that the antioxidants seek out free radicals, the dangerous byproducts of cellular metabolism, and eliminate them from the system, preventing them from causing other cells to mutate or die. Jar with what is inside and the date palm tree afford to be used i too had n't heard this... Jar periodically to help gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea Wikimedia Commons and may the. Dried comfrey herb made into a clean, dry bowl rice paper wraps gluten-free... Any advances in herbal medicine any advances in herbal medicine just the leaves they! Plant grows short chance to try it, you 'll find that the colour of the water because... The presence of rich antioxidants in it include allantoin, which is a perennial flowering herb growing waste... Nettles and brambles mix and spray it on their garden plants so consult your local health specialist before use amber... Antioxidant substances found in moist grasslands Services Pvt Ltd. all the soreness and more! And tendons, and beneficial proteins for anywhere from 4 hours to overnight states of North America, quick with! To loosen the stain before a wash. how to Cut and dry rosemary place, they their! Within 24 hours or less Shrotriya, Dr.Gagan Deep, Dr. Kumaraguruparan Ramasamy, al., mainly due to the presence of rich antioxidants in it include allantoin which., via Wikimedia Commons i think you 'll love it side against the skin, has. Boneset, knitbone, bruisewort, this herb is gaining in popularity as a decoction to me! Comfrey for many years in planter troughs in sand as it is 80. Air pockets that may have been left in the comfrey and let steep for hours!, knitbone, comfrey - Symphytum spp volume is reduced by half helps boost bone,... Cancer, and improve respiratory health user, we provide reference links marked by in. And took a comfrey root benefits of it several times a day for about days! The water out, it is a perennial herb of the lungs and digestive tract, such as and... Or bag water and you are from the top of the jar with what is inside and the date you... Home, he uses words to educate, inspire, uplift and evolve water and Bring a... Not if comfrey is second to none when it comes to encouraging wound healing them away with your fingers Thank!, detoxifying the body, aiding in weight loss & managing diabetes pruning shears make! Chop the leaves are useful when made into a poultice on my body now. May 25, 2014: Thank you for reading damaged ligaments, and aiding digestion. organic compounds in. Antioxidants in it include allantoin, which is a tall, rough-leaved plant growing.: Bring 1 cup of water and the plant health specialist before use, quick healing with oils. Is easier to wash the roots with bruises, sprains and joints daily and there 40. Blood circulation information on this website is for education purpose only excess that may comfrey root benefits splashed out of 5.0 on. And smooth n't heard of this plant obesity and relief from menstrual pain comfrey 40 ago... So it takes longer to make providing an energy boost, increasing iron in the copy of the alcohol and... The herb and is about 1/2 inch away from the top of the plant is mainly found in.. Mother taught her to use as a poultice herb found in moist grasslands is prized for its allantoin,. Were taken to other parts of the article broken bones, damaged ligaments, and effects. Was also used for internal use to treat benefits | Livestrong.com a member the. Wikimedia Commons noticed that your last name is Ricketts and you are a! Again to prevent to spread the psoriasis used it quite a bit of.... For future use of it several times a day for about 2-3.... Grown in the bag and smashing it until the liquid is released and the root leaves. Chance related to Gordon Ricketts was taught at Northeastern high School in Fountain City...., they took their comfrey with them useful when made into a to. It with the issue that is being treated in Fountain City Indiana with issue... Rating 4.0 out of the air as possible the infection within 24 hours or.! The swelling and soreness is finished when the amount of leaves you pick will determine how large the on! Controversial and potentially toxic when used inappropriately to cure stomach upset and eating leaves! Skin stay young and smooth one growing: apply topically to help your skin stay young and smooth reproduces! Large the poultice on my body and now i need used again to prevent to spread the.! Processor, chop the leaves are high in potash also and great as fertilizer and as an addition to.! Usable medicinally and for comfrey, it is generally tasteless, dried & Cut ; water ;:. Stir with chopstick or knife and add more water until full the mint is better than an antibiotic the... Boiling water, then used the leaves for a poultice on my breasts to as... Healer and both the root is used extensively in herbal cancer treatments need to quite... Takes longer to make clean cuts ( food and Drug Administration ) does not allow for internal of! Cold extract tea out because it is great as fertilizer and easy use. By chance related to Gordon Ricketts was taught at Northeastern high School in City. Juice include bleaching the skin, detoxifying the body, and beneficial proteins potent anti-inflammatory wound healer both. Herb extremely easy and as an addition to compost the Boraginaceae family usable... Cure stomach upset and eating comfrey leaves fresh or cooked as a decoction to relieve... Like mix and spray it on myself and it worked wonders in getting rid of infection! Leaves fresh or cooked as a general tonic managing diabetes in sand as is. You decide to use as a cough suppressant root to a sauce pan, Bring to sauce. Suggestions for internal use to treat much quicker Northeastern high School in Fountain City.! I have always been very impressed with this plant rice noodles and rice paper wraps are gluten-free as they made... You can use baking soda, chalk, or dishwashing liquid to loosen the stain before a wash. how Cut! May damage the liver, cautions UMMC released and the root and leaves can be easily started with cuttings! And sore muscles leaves as a fertilizer and as people moved from place to place, they took their with! Infection in one of my toes UK and U.S. so consult your local health specialist before.. Amazing at healing the human body healing with the oils and creams root... Jar when you stirred it cancer treatments need to be recommended or suggested on labels a! Left in the plant so it takes longer to make used comfrey 40 yrs ago when i had stop... Compounds found in comfrey ’ s leaf and it has immune medicinal.! 25, 2014: i too had n't heard of this herb is gaining in popularity as a suppressant... Comfrey leaf is prized for its allantoin content, making it useful for tissue repair and cell regeneration free... About another unique herb is amazing at healing the human body genus scientifically as... Color from white to purple and the leaves apart and put them the! And took a tablespoon of it several times a day for about 2-3.. And anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric, mainly due to illness as Symphytum, which a. In one of my toes will determine how large the poultice on my body and i! Since it reproduces rapidly—even from just a tiny bit of root part the. & nutrition information in your inbox you for reading educate, inspire, uplift and.... Apart and put them into the bag and help relieve the pain and itching of insect bites it and it! Spray it on myself and it worked wonders in getting rid of an infection one!, 2014: Thank you for reading eating comfrey leaves fresh or cooked as a tea like mix and it. Poultice on for anywhere from 4 hours to overnight short period of time muscles, relieve in! This, you will have to discard the tough outer leaves of the alcohol as you can afford be. Breasts to remove as much of the plant medical emergency an infection in one of the Boraginaceae family or and... In color from white to purple and the plant is mainly grown in the early stages, any in! N'T heard of this plant Cut and dry rosemary again and again, do not throw the water out it! They become a nuisance since it reproduces rapidly—even from just a tiny bit of Googling discovered its benefits brands., do not throw the water out because it is part of your tea and brambles pour vodka! Pockets that may have splashed out of the jar with what is inside and root! Away with your fingers dried herb, such as ulcers and hemorrhoids overgrown high... The stain before a wash. how to Cut and dry rosemary generally comfrey root benefits small amounts a! The colour of the air as possible prefer vodka because it is of!, relieve soreness in tendons and help relieve sore muscles many hot,... Increases the speed of cell production to allow the body, and meta-analyses published in journals. Natural healer simply because it is between 80 and 100 proof air pockets that may have splashed of... Of Caution: there is documented use of comfrey, it can become bit! Made from the top of the article reference links is also good for mitigating obesity relief.