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Prajñā Living Wisdom |
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Herbs > Comfrey (Symphytum Officianale) Also known as blackwort, bruisewort, knitbone, slippery root and consolida. Healing uses: Comfrey’s alternative name of "knitbone" gives some clue as to the major use of the herb. It contains allantoin, which encourages cell division. It also combats bacteria and eases pain. As such, it is used most frequently for the healing of wounds. For cuts and grazes, macerated oil is effective. Macerated Comfrey Oil: In a 1 litre container, place 3 tablespoons of fresh comfrey, 1/2 litre of sweet almond oil and 1 tablespoon of wine vinegar. Close the container and place in a very warm or sunny place for a week, shaking thoroughly each day. After a week, strain the liquid and repeat the process using the oil produced so far in place of the sweet almond oil. Repeat the process at least three times. When complete, strain the oil and store it in a dark glass container and keep it in a cool, dark place. For more serious injuries, such as sprains and burns, a poultice can be used. This can be used on cuts and grazes, too, and is also effective on a broken bone prior to it being set. Comfrey Poultice: Crush 1/2 cup of fresh comfrey and heat it in a bowl over a container of boiling water for 10 minutes. Place the herb between two pieces of gauze and apply directly to the effected area. The comfrey will retain its heat longer if it is mixed with a little bread or bran before heating. To cure corns, place a large comfrey leaf crushed into a ball over the corn and hold it in place with a band-aid, then cover the foot with a sock. Do this just before bed and by the morning the corn should be gone. Cautions: Comfrey has traditionally been used as a tea to ease and heal stomach ulcers and to sooth coughs. However, recent research has shown that it can cause liver damage and that it prevents iron absorption. It is therefore not recommended to take comfrey internally. External application is considered safe, however some people have experiencd a fatal allergic reaction to this herb when eating it. Other uses: An infusion of comfrey and witch hazel can help to smooth wrinkles: Comfrey and Witch Hazel Infusion: Place 2 1/2 tablespoons each of fresh, or 1 teaspoon each of dried comfrey and witch hazel into an earthenware bowl. Pour 1 1/4 cups of water over the herbs and allow to steep for 30 minutes. Strain and bottle the mixture. Store in a refrigerator. A portion of comfrey leaf held in place with a band-aid is also said to cure warts when applied each night for two weeks. Testamonial: I tried comfrey oil on my daughter's 50+ warts and within two weeks over 95% of them are gone. The rest are fading fast. After freezing them (twice), using every known over-the-counter wart medicine and even trying scraping them off -- all with no effect or making them worse, we finally found something that wasn't painful and it actually worked! I wish I could tell every person who has warts about it. Its truely amazing! My daughter actually looks forward to her daily 'foot massages' with the green oil. The other kids are jealous, and I usually have to find a boo boo to rub it on for each of them, too. Amazing! Thanks for the suggestion! |
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