Comfrey (Symphytum officinale)

Common Name: Knitbone.

Parts Used: Leaf, rhizomes and root. Harvest leaves when the flowers bud, and roots in the autumn after the first frost. The roots should be unearthed in the spring or autumn when the allantoin levels are the highest. Split the roots down the middle and dry in moderate temperatures of about 40-60 degrees C.

Description: Sweet, bitter Perennial; Cool energy. It grows to 3 feet high. Comfrey has large hairy green leaves, which cause the hands to itch if they touch any tender part. The stalk grows two or three feet (60 to 90 cm) high and is hollow and hairy. The flowers stand in order one above another. They are long and hollow like the finger of a glove and are of pale purplish colour though some bear pale whitish flowers. Flowers early to midsummer. The seeds ripen in late summer.

Habitat: Grows by ditches and watersides and in moist fields. It grows from Canada to Georgia amd as far west as Missouri, in the wild. 

Cultivation: Comfrey prefers well-drained soils and partial shade. I have mine contained in a specific area, as it has a tendency to spread throughout the garden!

Propagation and Reproduction: It can be started from seed, but you will be more successful with cuttings or transplanting small plants. Once established, it will spread vigorously.

Constituents: Allantoin, Pyrrolizidine alkaloids, including echimidine, symphytine, lycopsamine, symlandine. The alkaloids are found in the fresh young leaves and in the root, but in two separate investigations were found to be absent in the dried herb. Phenolic acids; rosmarinic, chlorogenic, caffeic and lithospermic acids. Mucilage, about 29%, composed of a polysaccharide containing glucose & fructose. Choline, asparagine, volatile oil, tannins, steroidalsaponins, triterpenes

Uses: Vulnerary, demulcent, anti-inflammatory, astringent, expectorant. Comfrey not only promotes the healing of tissues and bone, but at the same time reduces swelling, effectively speeding up the healing process. The famous herbalist, Culpeper, prescribed Comfrey for internal as well as external use. Comfrey’s remarkable healing powers have been attributed to its high content of allantoin, a substance that promotes the growth of tissue, bone and cartilage, both internal and external. Comfrey root and leaves are rich in mucilage, a gelatinous substance that binds and holds fractures, as well as soothing inflamed and painful tissues and varicose veins. It also stops bleeding, is soothing and is a popular herbal salve for wounds, inflammation, rashes, varicose veins, hemorrhoids and many other skin problems. Comfrey repairs the digestive tract lining, and is a powerful healing agent in gastric and duodenal ulcers, hiatus hernia and ulcerative colitis. Its astringency will help hemorrhages whenever they occur. It has been used with benefit in cases of bronchitis and irritable cough, where it will soothe and reduce irritation while helping expectoration. It is a specific where there is coughing of blood involved. Comfrey may be used externally to speed wound-healing and guard against tissue developing incorrectly. The root and leaves are used as an application for wounds, fractures and leg ulcers in the form of a poultice or ointment. Comfrey contains allantoin which is used to encourage wound healing and is an ingredient in skin preparations to treat psoriasis. The ointment can be made by infusing the root and/or leaves in hot oil, straining, adding beeswas and allowing to cool. For gastric ulcers or inflammations, it combines well with Marshmallow and Meadowsweet. For chest and bronchial troubles, use it with Coltsfoot or Elecampane. Externally, it combines well with Golden Seal or Calendula.