Comfrey: Symphytum officinale

Hedgerow herb: common

Parts used: Root and rhizome, leaf

Gathering: Dig the root in spring or autumn; the leaves can be collected all year round

Actions:

Astringent 

Demulcent

Expectorant 

Vulnerary

Indications: Comfrey is a powerful wound-healing herb effective both internally and externally.

Internally, Comfrey can be used to assist the healing of gastric and duodenal ulcers, hiatus hernia and ulcerative colitis. It is also a gentle and effectual remedy for diarrhoea and dysentery.

Where an irritable cough or bronchitis is present comfrey will be found to relieve the cough whilst helping expectoration.

A strong infusion of comfrey is useful as a mouthwash for bleeding gums or as a gargle for a sore throat.

Externally, comfrey is very effective when applied to bruising, sprains or strains. Superficial cuts and grazes can be treated very effectively with comfrey cream but care should be taken with deeper wounds as comfrey will seal the wound and any undetected deeper infection within the wound itself will fester and cause problems. It may be applied as a compress or poultice for any external ulcer, fracture or wound. It is very effective for the treatment of varicose ulcers.

Preparation and dosage: Infusion: a teaspoon of dried or a tablespoon of fresh herb to a cupful of water. Brew for 10-15 minutes drink a cupful three times a day.

Decoction: put 1-3 teaspoons of the dried root to each cup of water in a saucepan, bring to the boil and let it simmer for 10-15 minutes. This should be drunk three times a day. 

Tincture: take 2-4 ml of the tincture three times a day.

Folklore, History and Kitchen Witch Comfrey is a herb of Saturn largely because both Saturn and comfrey are strongly associated with structure. The generic name symphytum is from the Greek symphyo ‘to unite’ and refers to the herbs long-standing reputation for healing broken bones and repairing internal injuries.

The Greek physician Dioscorides (40-90 AD), a well-known military physician of his day, documented the use of comfrey in his herbal and prescribed it for healing wounds, broken bones, respiratory and gastrointestinal problems. No doubt Dioscorides had plenty of opportunity to make use of comfrey during his career with the Roman army. Pliny the Elder, ever the scientist, reported that boiling Comfrey roots in water produced a sticky paste which glued pieces of meat together.

The 16^th century the herbalist, Gerard, wondered at the virtues of comfrey in his Herbal.

In the 17^th century comfrey’s renowned medicinal qualities even found a place in theatre, Francis Baumont’s comedy The Knight of the Burning Pestle  (1607) mentions comfrey as a cure for broken bones, the script says:  ‘Go, get to your nightcap and the diet to cure your beaten bones, get thee some wholesome broth with sage and comfrey; a little oil of roses and a feather to 'noint thy back withall’.

In 1649 Culpepper reported in his Herbal that: ‘this is a very common but a very neglected plant. It contains very great virtues’. He goes on to give an enormous list of conditions and symptoms that can be treated with comfrey.

Comfrey can also be used as a high nitrogen fertilizer for the garden. To make a simple but rather smelly feed take 2 lbs of comfrey leaves to 2 gallons of water and soak the leaves in the water for 4 to 6 weeks. Use neat or diluted with an equal volume of water.

For a almost smell free feed stack several lbs of comfrey leaves in a drum with a 1-2 inch hole drilled in the bottom, place a container underneath to catch the drips. Wait 10 -14 days a thick dark liquid can then be collected over several weeks. Top up with fresh leaves to continue the supply. Use diluted at about a 1 to 15-part ratio i.e. 1 pint to 2 gallons.