The Many Medicinal Advantages Of Comfrey Leaves
Comfrey leaf has also been called boneset, nipbone, knitbone, and healing herb and for good reason. It has a long history of effectiveness as a healer plant, especially for being able to knit bones.
Comfrey leaves look a lot like Foxglove leaves, but they have smaller veins that don’t extend into the wings of the leaf-stalk. The leafy stem is 2 to 3 feet high and is covered with bristly hairs. The lower leaves are up to 10 inches long and also covered with rough hairs which cause itching when people touch them. The flowers are either purple or creamy yellow and grow on short stalks, appearing in April or early May.
Comfrey is best known as one of the bulk herbs that heals tissue on contact. Until 200 years ago, comfrey was only used externally to heal cuts, burns, skin ulcers, varicose veins, bronchitis, and rheumatism. Then the leaf started to be used as a tea and gargled or used as a mouthwash to relieve throat infections, hoarseness, and bleeding gums. It is rich in calcium and vitamin C and contains carotene (vitamin A), B12, and chlorophyll.
Externally and internally Comfrey is also used in the treatment of varicose veins, colitis, rheumatism, diarrhea, assorted pulmonary complaints (bronchitis, pleurisy, bronchopneumonia), metritis, and periostitis. It is used as a diuretic and laxative and is even used as a sedative.
Comfrey’s effective healing agent is Allantoin. This is able to help accelerate the healing process by growing new flesh and bone cells. It also reduces the inflammation that results from pulled tendons. A tincture may be used to treat acne and athletes foot. Comfrey tea and extract has been used as a douche for yeast infections. Poultices are applied to sore and caked breasts to cause tenderness to subside quickly.
Some eat comfrey leaves and shoots as a vegetable. It is ground up in a blender with other green vegetables or herbs to make a healthy drink. It is increasingly popular with health conscious people.
To make a medicinal tincture, mix 10 drops of the concentrate from the root with a tablespoonful of water several times a day. The leaves can be made into a tea by mixing 1 oz. of the leaves to 1 pint of boiling water.
Though comfrey is a safe herb, a few precautions are in order. If you have a deep wound, use it cautiously. Its rapid healing power can lead to tissue forming over the wound before it is healed deeper. This could lead to abscesses. Of course, you will always want to be sure the wounds are thoroughly cleaned and protected from the possibility of infection.
You would be wise to add Comfrey to your menu. Just make sure to buy herbs in bulk carefully so as to make sure you experience the full benefits.