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Herbs: Comfrey leaf - cut

Excerpts from The ABC Herbal

One of the best of all tissue healing herbs is Comfrey. We have soaked injured areas in Comfrey tea, taken Comfrey internally and applied it in poultices with excellent results. It helps all kinds of tissues, muscles, bones, skin and membranes to help more rapidly.

Once when I had a sore foot I just made up a big tub of Comfrey tea and soaked my foot in Comfrey tea as hot as I could stand for about 20 minutes. This did the trick, the swelling and pain subsided and did not return. We also make Comfrey salve in our family to aid in healing minor abrasions, diaper rash, chapped lips and so forth.

Excerpts from The How to Herb Book

Comfrey has a strong history of being used as an external application by itself or in poultices for the mending of wounds and broken bones. Comfrey has been called the “bone knitter.”

Another study by Daniel O. Noorlander using Comfrey on streptococcus agalactia and staphylococcal bacteria, showed that when Comfrey extract (tincture) was introduced topically to the bacteria, within 20 to 30 minutes the walls of the bacteria cells weakened and then burst, destroying the bacteria.

• Contact healer (relieves pain and starts healing on contact).
• Cell proliferant (helps grow new flesh and bone.) Accelerates the healing process. The cell proliferant and active ingredient in Comfrey is called Allantoin.
• Helps with pain, repairs and heals, excellent for wounds, burns, cuts and abrasions and broken bones, high in calcium.
• Reduces the inflammation of pulled tendons.
• Extract (tincture) used topically for acne and athletes foot.
• Used for female problems. Comfrey tea and extract has been used as a douche for yeast infections. Poultices applied to sore and caked breasts, helps the tenderness leave very quickly.
• High in calcium and vitamin C. Contains carotene (vitamin A), B12, and chlorophyll.
• When Comfrey extract was applied to mosquito bites, the itching stopped immediately and the swelling went down.

Has been used in the following:

Case History

D. cut himself on the finger with an aluminum can lid. The wound was very deep, almost to the bone. He applied fresh Comfrey poultices to the wound daily. The wound healed completely in 2-3 days.

Excerpts from Nutritional Herbology

Comfrey was strictly used externally until the early 1800’s when Western herbalists began using it internally. In the 1800’s, it was used solely as a poultice for bone knitting, fractures, or as a pomade in the treatment of cuts, burns, skin ulcers, varicose veins, bronchitis, and rheumatism.

It is also reputed to possess the ability to knit bones together as well. This reputation has undoubtedly accounted for many of the common names (boneset, nipbone, knitbone, healing herb) by which this herb is known.

The leaf has been utilized in a decoction, which is gargled or used as a mouthwash to relieve throat infections, hoarseness, and bleeding gums. Externally, Comfrey has been used in poultice form to treat wounds, bruises, sores and insect bites. The mucilage is believed to soften the skin when used in baths.

Comfrey leaves and shoots are also used as a vegetable and are often ground up in a blender or some other type of mechanical device to form the basis of “green drinks” which have become increasingly popular among health conscious individuals.

Comfrey is primarily used by Western herbalists to treat internal (duodenal and gastric) and external ulcers. In addition, it functions as an astringent, demulcent, emollient, hemostat, expectorant and cell proliferant (wound healing).

Comfrey is used in the treatment of colitis, varicose veins, assorted pulmonary complaints (pleurisy, bronchitis, bronchopneumonia), rheumatism, metritis, diarrhea, and periostitis. It is utilized as a diuretic and bulk laxative and is credited with scar healing and sedative properties. A decoction of the rhizome is still used in Europe as a gargle for pharyngitis and tonsillitis.

Contains mucilaginous compounds that decrease the thickness while increasing the production of mucosal fluid. These compounds increase the productions of digestive fluids, decrease bowel transit time and absorb toxins from the bowel. Comfrey also contains astringent compounds that soothe inflamed tissue. It is an excellent source of allantoin, which promotes healing. Comfrey has been used to treat colitis, weak digestion, bronchitis, rheumatism, diarrhea, and inflammatory skin conditions.

Excerpts from Practical Herbalism

Well known in ancient times, Culpeper says of this wonderful healer, “The great Comfrey helps those that spit blood, or make a bloody urine. The root boiled in water or wine, and the decoction drank, helps all inward hurts, bruises, wounds, and ulcers of the lungs, and causes the phlegm that oppresses them to be readily spit forth. It is said to be so powerful to knit together (wounds and broken bones), that if the root be boiled with dissevered pieces of flesh in a pot, it will join them together again.” Priest & Priest tell us that it is a soothing demulcent, gently stimulating to the mucous membranes, allay irritation and encourages cell growth. It increases expectoration and tones the bronchi, especially suitable for conditions involving capillary hemorrhage or excessive mucous. They give the following specific indications: coughs and colds, gastric and duodenal ulcers, gastro-intestinal inflammation, congealed or stagnant blood, pruritus ani, chronic suppurative ulcerations, bruised and damaged joints, damaged muscles or pulled tendons, delayed union of fractures, and traumatic injury to the eye. Ellingwood recommends it from bronchial irritation, pneumonia, inflammation of the stomach, and as being useful in all hurts and bruises both internal and external.

Indicated Usages: Internal

Indicated Usages: External

Special Considerations:

Care should be taken when using Comfrey with very deep wounds as its rapid healing power can lead to tissue forming over the wound before it is healed deeper down, possibly leading to abscesses. Make sure that wounds are thoroughly cleaned and protected from infection.

From Our Reading and/or Experience...

• We use Comfrey often in tea and tincture combinations for a wide variety of internal and external physical needs. Of course, it can be used in many other types of remedies. For instance, it can easily be made into powder, and used in capsules.
• Comfrey is a contact healer. As such, it is essential for emergency situations to stop itching, reduce inflammation, kill infection, mend broken bones, speed the healing of burns and any broken skin, etc. Basically, along with Cayenne, and Plantain, Comfrey is a must in case of physical injuries.
• It can be used to benefit anyone: men, women (including before, during or after pregnancy, and nursing), children and animals.
• It can be used as often as you would like, and in any way you choose.
• As is the case with most herbs, Comfrey should be stored in a dark, dry, and cool place.

From Our Mailbox

Three weeks ago, I fell and broke my left arm in two places. One break is low, near my elbow. The other is high, in the area of my shoulder. A few days after my fall, I was reading NGJ and found the article "When the rubber missed the Road." I began using the Comfrey and aloe on the area. WOW!! The bruising started healing in 24 hours. I couldn't see some bruising on and below my elbow, so it didn't receive the treatment. It is still very purple. Two days ago, I started treating it and I am amazed at the improvement. Besides healing the bruised areas, I have been in little to no pain. The Dr. cannot believe how quickly I am healing. Thank you!!!

~Michelle C.

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