Recently, someone shared with me their discovery of comfrey's benefits, but I was already convinced of its virtues as it's one of my preferred herbs.
I make it a point to keep comfrey ointment and tincture in our non-drug medicine chest. The ointment, which you can purchase or prepare yourself, has been invaluable in countless first aid situations. Comfrey root ointment is remarkably healing for nearly any type of sore, bruise, or abrasion and is reputed by many ancient herbalists to be effective for bones that are grinding and fractured.
Ancient herbal texts cite comfrey as an unfailing remedy for bruises, wounds, ruptures, hemorrhoids, and even stomach ulcers.
Herbalist Nicholas Culpeper wrote about applying bruised comfrey roots externally to fresh wounds and cuts. He noted its particular efficacy for ruptures and broken bones, so potent in its ability to fuse and knit together that if boiled with severed pieces of flesh, it would join them again.
Indeed, this root produces a substantial amount of a gummy substance known as mucilage, and both the root and leaf are rich in allantoin, a compound that aids in cell proliferation. Mrs. Grieve, in 'A Modern Herbal,' has suggested that the plant's healing properties may be attributed to allantoin, which could explain why comfrey is effective at reducing swelling around fractures, thus facilitating quicker union of the broken bones.
Herbalist John Gerard also acknowledges the healing properties of comfrey, noting from his experience that a salve made from the fresh herb can significantly aid in the healing of bruises and fractures.
Poultice: Comfrey root is used with various oils or lanolin to create an effective healing ointment.
The green leaves are slightly hairy and possess a mildly sticky surface, which may cause irritation on sensitive skin. However, comfrey poultices have been successfully used to treat insect bites and burns.
Comfrey has been valued for its healing properties and has traditionally been used for its soothing, internal healing qualities. It contains a significant amount of vitamin B12, a nutrient that is rare in other plants, making it a historical source of this vitamin.
Comfrey has also been used to heal the digestive tract and is often combined with pepsin or fenugreek in tablet or powder form for internal use.
Recent laboratory research, however, suggests that the internal use of comfrey may not be safe. New findings on the internal use of young comfrey leaves indicate that, like other plants in the same family, comfrey contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Although there is evidence of human poisoning from these other plants after long-term consumption, comfrey has not been specifically studied for this type of poisoning. There may be evidence of hidden factors in comfrey that protect against these alkaloids, but more research is necessary for a definitive conclusion.
Nonetheless, ointments and poultices used externally are not believed to contain enough of the alkaloid to cause concern.
Growing comfrey begins most effectively by ordering root cuttings through the mail or obtaining a root cutting from a friend, which is the cheapest and best method. Plant the cuttings approximately 2 1/2 feet apart and three to six inches deep. Few growers succeed in raising comfrey from seed. Once established, comfrey thrives in almost any soil or situation, though it benefits from added limestone or powdered dolomite. The plant is a hardy perennial, with roots that can withstand temperatures as low as 40 degrees below zero. While keeping comfrey alive poses no challenge, eradicating it does; even the smallest piece of a severed root left in the soil can give rise to a new plant.
In your garden, comfrey will be a fast grower, standing erect and tall with a rough and hairy texture all over. Some varieties may tower to five feet or more, but typically, you can expect plants to reach two to three feet in height. Their roots are white and juicy, extending deep into the soil where minerals are concentrated.
Remember that allantoin is concentrated in the part of the plant that is growing most rapidly. In winter and early spring, it's stored in the rhizome. As the plant grows, it moves up into the leaves and eventually into the buds and young shoots. Therefore, harvest some roots from your comfrey bed before the spring growth. The leaves likely contain the most allantoin while they are still growing.
The tender first leaves can be used as salad greens. They are slightly fuzzy, so you'll want to chop them into tiny pieces if you are adding them to a salad.
Larger, older leaves are coarse and unpleasant for eating, which should remind you that by this stage in the plant's growth, the allantoin is mainly in the buds. You don't have to worry about stunting the plant when you cut the younger leaves; if you leave a two-inch stub, you'll be amazed at how quickly the plant regrows.
To harvest the roots, clean them carefully and let them dry slowly in the sun, turning often. Once they're dried, they can be stored in an airtight container. When you're ready to use them, powder or grind the roots and dissolve in hot, but not boiling, water to form a mucilage that can be applied directly to the skin or taken internally as a tea.
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