Comfrey
COMFREY
Symphytum officinale
Common Name
Family
Actions
Analgesic, anti-inflammatory, astringent, demulcent, emollient, expectorant, mucogenic, vulernary
Energetics
Cooling and moistening, with a secondary drying effect
Edible Uses
Comfrey is not considered edible as some studies suggest that the pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) can become hepatotoxic (toxic to the liver) and possibly carcinogenic when ingested. However, some herbalists use comfrey internally on rare occasions, in extremely minute doses, and for short-term purposes only.
Native To
Europe and temperate Asia
Geographic Distribution
Naturalized worldwide
Botanical Description & Identification
Comfrey is a vigorous perennial herb. It has an angular, hairy stem with bristly, oblong-shaped leaves—each 12-18 inches long. Tongue-shaped basal lower leaves grow on comfrey’s long stem. The plant can reach 2-5 feet in height and can spread about 3 feet in diameter. It bears bell-shaped, pale purple flowers with five lobes fading to pink as they age. Its flowers grow in forked, scorpioid (curved like the tail of a scorpion) patterns. The typical flowering period for Comfrey is May through August. The root is fleshy with a white inside and a thin black outer skin.
Key Constituents
Allantoin, rosmarinic acid, mucilage, tannin, steroidal saponins, inulin, pyrrolizidine alkaloids, gum, carotene, glycosides, vitamin B12, protein, and zinc
Sustainability Issues
There are no known sustainability issues for this plant.
Harvesting Guidelines
Harvest comfrey when it reaches 12-18 inches tall, but before it blooms. Shear off the stems 2 inches above the ground so that subsequent harvests can continue throughout the growing season. Comfrey leaves are high in moisture and protein, so they can take longer to dry than some other plants. The root contains the most allantoin in January through March, so it’s best to harvest the root just as the plant wakes in the spring.
Uses
Comfrey is known to:
*Stop bleeding
*Reduce bone, tissue, and nerve pain
*Aid in mending wounds
*Aid in mending broken bones
*Alleviate symptoms of internal injuries
*Ease the pain of hemorrhoids
*Soothe the urinary tract
*Alleviate the symptoms of dry coughs
*Alleviate the symptoms of diarrhea
*Aid in mending sprains
*Alleviate the symptom of swelling
*Alleviate the symptom of bruising
*Alleviate boils
*Alleviate ulcers
*Relieve skin inflammation
*Repel unwanted microbes
*Soothe osteoarthritic pain
*Stimulate cell repair
*Soothe the respiratory system
Comfrey is useful in the following more common disorders and diseases:
Hemorrhages, stomach ulcers, heavy periods, bloody urine, cancer, pneumonia related chest pain, gingivitis, cystitis, bronchitis, rheumatoid arthritis, varicose veins, gout, bone fractures, general arthritis, hiatus hernia, hemorrhoids, whooping cough, dysentery, sprains, boils, osteoarthritis
Most common uses:
Comfrey is most commonly used to repair body tissue and is especially known for helping to mend the bones, hence the nickname "knitbone".
Fun Facts:
Comfrey is:
* Found in some of the oldest medical notebooks dating all the
way back to Ancient Greece (400 BCE) when they used it to stop bleeding and
help respiratory disorders.
* Known to heal bones and injuries up to 3 days faster than methods used without
comfrey.
* Known to thrive in almost any soil.
References
Apelian, N., & Davis, C. (2019). The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies: The Healing Power of Plant Medicine.
Hoffman, D. (1987). The Herbal Handbook: A User's Guide to Medical Herbalism.
Lahhari, A. (2021). Native American Herbalist's Bible.
Recipes and Monographs Compiled From The Intermediate Herbal Course. Copyright: The Herbal Academy.
McIntyre, A. (2019). The Complete Herbal Tutor: The Definitive Guide to the Principles and Practices of Herbal Medicine.
Wood, M. (2008). The Earthwise Herbal: A Complete Guide to Old World Medicinal Plants
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