Comfrey

Not many herbs work internally as well as externally. Some are not even safe to ingest. Comfrey is a medicinal herb that was once known as “knit-bone”, because it was used strictly in the treatment of broken bones. It is now being used as an additive in other medicines that you may be using now.

What is comfrey? Quite simply, it is traditional herb that has been used since the sixteenth century. Primarily, it was used in the treatment of broken bones to relieve pain, and many believed it had other medicinal benefits. Usually the herb is in the form of a salve or cream and applied to the area that needs treatment. Because it absorbs deep into the skin very quickly, it can be used to relieve pain from muscle injuries, arthritis, and other types of pains within the body. It is also worth noting that it is not only used for medicine, but some farmers use comfrey as a feed for livestock. Many farmers will simply plant comfrey and let their livestock graze on fresh greens, as most of them do not desire the dried herb.

Comfrey salves and lotions come in a wide variety. Most of them are used for minor scrapes and burns, but they can also be used to immediately relieve the pain of chapped lips. Aloe comfrey gel works great on sunburn. For an added cooling effect, place it in the refrigerator for 10 minutes prior to applying to the burn.

Many ointments offering a special mixture of their comfrey cream - recipe, still basically use the same ingredients. If you are growing comfrey and would like to start using it for healing purposes, then you already have what you need to get started. The comfrey leaf can be used to make a poultice to apply onto small cuts or bruises. The comfrey root is where most of the nutrients are kept, and it is the most important part of any remedy involving the comfrey herb. Whether making a tincture or comfrey tea, you will want to use the root because of its potency. Growing comfrey is not difficult and it can be said that comfrey seeds can be used from an existing plant to get started. However, a lot more work is involved, and it is said to be much easier to purchase a root piece. Fresh comfrey root cuttings can be purchased at many botanical stores, or online.

The dangers of comfrey are nothing more than what you would see with many other herbs. As long as it is used in moderation and not daily, there should be no major side effects. Comfrey is definitely a helpful herb to add to your herb garden.