Comfrey flowers
Comfrey, where are you in the winter months of the year when the light recedes and the darkness grows? Looking on the surface of this land I see very little evidence of you but I know the medicine you hold is very strong in your thick, dark roots that travel deep into the rich earth. I will see you in the spring when your young, green leaves unfold and you reveal yourself again.
The word Comfrey means, “grow together” and its botanical name Symphytum means, “to heal”. One of the most powerfully, widely used plants that have come to us through the ages from about 400B.C. Today there is a lot of controversy about using this plant internally. It is banned in Canada and still “undecided” in the U.S.A. I would just like to honor this incredible herb by sharing some of its amazing uses and remind you that this plant has been used throughout the ages, originating in Europe and Asia and traveling to us by way of the English Immigrants.
It is a plant that enjoys rich, moist soils and sun. It is a hardy perennial and can tolerate some shade. Due to its intensive root system it is best planted in areas where it can travel a bit, preferably at the back of an herb garden. I tried to remove it from an area of my garden, digging up the roots and using them in a salve. I must have left a little piece of root behind because .. It came back. The leaves are long; lance shaped and very hairy and the little purple, cream-colored flowers hang in small, sweet, clusters.
I think Comfrey’s main reputation lies in the remarkable way it heals bones. Another name for it is knitbone. It is rich in allantoin, a cell proliferant that stimulates the growth of connective tissue and cartilage. It is also great for torn cartilage, swellings and bruises. The roots are very mucilaginous which enables this herb to have a soothing effect on stomach ulcers. It coats the stomach wall neutralizing the stomach acids and repairs the wall with its cell – regenerating properties. The root is used to make a strong decoction to treat cases of internal hemorrhage whether from bleeding stomachs, lungs, bowels or piles. Comfrey’s leaves and roots contain potassium, calcium, phosphorus, iron, magnesium and cobalt. It is high in thiamin, riboflavin and contains vitamin C & E. It also has proteins and has been used as fodder for dairy and beef cattle throughout the Pacific Northwest with no ill effect. The leaves make a nourishing and delicious food. Externally one can use the leaves and roots as a poultice for unbroken skin wounds and swellings. It can also help with tendonitis and sprained ankles. Used with Yarrow it works well as a poultice for hemorrhoids and tightens varicosities. Comfrey oil or salve can soften boils, acne and scars.
Due to the controversy surrounding this herb many herbalists have taken the stance that it is fine to use externally and to use limited amounts internally for short periods of time. Personally I harvest this wonderful herb to use in my salves and I don’t think comfrey is in any way “upset” by its current unstable reputation. It has been around for so long and used by so many people through the centuries that it will continue to put down roots wherever it goes.
