Comfrey

Latin Name: Symphytum officinale

Common Names: comfrey, knit bone, true comfrey, consound, slippery-root

Family: Boraginaceae

Habitat: Comfrey is a perennial, native to Europe and typically found in damp areas, especially along river banks and ditches. It is now widely planted across temperate regions of the world. It grows best in zones 3-9, and it can be grown in FL under the correct conditions. Comfrey produces a large taproot, that when harvested is externally dark brown and internally white and contains a lot of mucilage. The leaves are long, slightly rough to the touch, and dark green and the plant can grow about 2-3 ft. tall and wide. Leaves, when broken open, exude a slimy mucilage, and have a slight scent of cucumbers. The white to pink/purple bell-shaped flowers are arranged in a tight scorpioid inflorescence and are a favorite of bumble bees. They can be propagated by crown and root cuttings, as well as by seed (the close relative, Russian comfrey does not make viable seeds). Seeds can be sewn in the winter in cold soils, or they can be cold stratified by placing in the refrigerator for 30 days before germinating. In Florida, they shouldn’t be planted in full sun, but in a spot where they get good morning sun, but with afternoon shade. Their deep tap roots can help to break up hard soils and uptake micronutrients from the soil.

Parts Used: roots, leaves

History/Tradition: Used for hundreds of years for its healing properties, one of it’s first mentions was by Pliny the Elder who claimed it was used for the treatment of bruises and sprains and the rapid healing of wounds. During the middle ages, it was used for rheumatism and gout, and Nicholas Culpepper, an English botanist and herbalist, recommended comfrey for “spitting, pissing blood, inward wounds and bruises, phtisick, bloody flux, terms stops, whites, nervs cut, muscles cut, sharp humors, wounds, ruptures, broken bones, knotted breasts, hemorrhoids, inflammation, gout, pained joints and gangreans.”

Energetics: astringent, bitter, cooling, mucilaginous, salty, sweet

Indications: Comfrey is known for its ability to quickly heal cuts, abrasions, broken bones, and other musculoskeletal issues like pulled or strained muscles or ligaments. It is so quick to heal that it should not be used on deep cuts or wounds as it will heal the surface of the wound before the deeper tissue has had time to regenerate. Richo Cech suggests using Epsom salt soaks that contain calendula or chamomile tinctures to help relieve swelling and pain, and when the wound is healing normally, comfrey can be added to help speed the process.

A variety of soothing topical products can be made from both the root and leaves. The roots tend to contain more allantoin and should be harvested in the fall/early winter. Allantoin is more soluble in water than oil and less so in alcohol. The leaves can be harvested at any time before flowering. Roots and leaves should be dried prior to infusing them in oil for making salves, balms, ointments, and lotions. Comfrey can also be used to make compresses and poultices using either fresh or dried leaves.

Systems: musculoskeletal

Actions: anti-inflammatory, emollient, vulnerary, analgesic, antioxidant, antirheumatic, astringent, expectorant

Cautions: Do not take internally during pregnancy, for those with liver disease, or for periods longer than 3 weeks as the pyrrolizidine alkaloids could lead to liver toxicity. Comfrey poultices should also not be used by pregnant persons.

Constituents: allantoin (cell proliferant to human tissue), pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA’s – potentially hepatotoxic if taken internally over long periods of time), rosmarinic acid (antioxidant), polysaccharides (local anti-inflammatory and soothing action), tannins (astringent and help heal surface damage)

Culinary Use: While not recommended today, historically, comfrey was used as a food during the potato famine in Ireland, and was also fed to livestock.

Other Uses: Commonly used to plant in orchards as the allantoin rich roots help stimulate growth in nearby plants. The leaves contain 24% protein and low fiber, so they make good fodder for animals. A fertilizer tea can be made the from the leaves and used to boost plant health around the garden. Comfrey leaves can also be used for mulch and will enrich the soil as they break down.

References:

“Making Plant Medicine” by Richo Cech. 2000. Herbal Reads LLC.

“Growing Plant Medicine: Vol. 1” by Richo Cech. 2009. Herbal Reads LLC.

“Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health” by Rosemary Gladstar. 2001. Storey Publishing.

“The Modern Herbal Dispensatory: A Medicine-making Guide” by Thomas Easley and Steven Horne. 2016. North Atlantic Books.