![]() Comfrey acts as an emollient and is very soothing, inhibiting further damage to tissues, stimulating the production of cartilage, tendons and muscles. Adding comfrey to the bath water is said to promote a youthful skin. So renown is it for healing, that her grandchildren call it Grandma’s magic cream. ![]() A local grandmother told me she makes comfrey ointment. Leaves or roots applied as a wash, poultice or ointment are used for bruising, sciatica, boils, rheumatism, neuralgia, varicose veins, bed sores, wounds, ulcers, insect bites, tumours, muscular pain, pulled tendons, gangrene, shingles and dermatological conditions. The genus name symphytum means to heal together, and for this use, it is renown: that it can assist the body to heal any part that is torn or broken, which also explains the reason for another common name, knitbone. The name comfrey is believed to come from Latin ‘confera’, meaning knitting together. Many writers since have honoured the herb. Dioscorides, author of one of the oldest herbal texts, ‘Materia Medica’ of 50 AD, prescribed the plant to heal wounds and broken bones. Recorded history tells of comfrey’s use, since ancient times, for healing. Vulnerary, astringent, expectorant, emollient, demulcent, antiseptic, pectoral, nutritive, tonic, alterative, styptic, homeostatic, antioxidant … … omitted text, please see How can I use HERBS in my daily life? for full text.Īllantoin, pyrrolizidine and symphtocynoglossine alkaloids, mucilage, choline, tannins, saponins, asparagine, inulin, resins, phenolic acids include rosmarinic and caffeic, proteinĪ (28,000 IU per 100g), B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, C, EĬalcium, phosphorus, potassium, chromium, cobalt, copper, magnesium, iron, manganese, sodium, boron, lead, sulphur, molybdenum, zinc Plants will produce copiously with a plentiful supply of water, but dislike being waterlogged. It is only when comfrey roots get down to the subsoil, that the plant is able to draw up minerals from deep down the plant then reaches its maximum in food value, in vigour of growth and palatability for stock feed. It likes a slightly alkaline soil at pH 7.2 but will also grow well in acid soil. ![]() On the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, we have leaves to pick all through winter.Ĭomfrey prefers humus-enriched soil (abounding in aerobic bacteria, fungi and micro-elements) to artificial fertilisers. In temperate climates, comfrey goes deciduous in winter. Do not plant too closely to small herbs, as the large leaves of comfrey may shade them out completely. Plants clump thickly and expand but roots do not run, like mint. Regular cutting will stop the plant from flowering so it can put this energy into leaf production. The more the leaves are picked by cutting or pulling at the base, the more the leaves will keep coming. Enrich the soil with compost or a nitrogen rich dressing regularly, and water during dry periods. Choose a sun or partial shade site, and loosen heavy, compacted soil. Andrew Hughes, who researched comfrey over many years, said: “Your comfrey will outlive you and still be growing, if you treat it properly”. ![]() ![]() Plant in a permanent position, as comfrey can have a very long life. ComfreyĪs comfrey rarely sets seed, it is generally propagated by division of roots in fact, each piece of broken root has potential to shoot. Flowers form as coiling, terminal racemes in colours of mauve, blue or pink. The whole plant is covered with short hairs that give a rough feel when touched. Oblonglanceolate, dark green leaves, 50-120cm long, with long, round-grooved, petiole stems. Plant origin, Asia and Europe a perennial growing from a thick, fleshy, brown-skinned root system, that can delve deeply into the sub-soil in search of moisture and minerals. ![]()
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