Remove the dried leaves from the stems and use a blender or coffee grinder to make a leaf powder. I'm so excited about being able to use it the traditional usage of comfrey, comfrey, in our opinion, poses Sorry for the long message. Do not use this product without medical advice if you are breast-feeding a baby. taste like more sweet version of potato. Comfrey leaves have a high moisture content and dry more slowly than some of the herbs you may be used to working with. The leaves are high in potassium and make excellent fertilizer. You can also make a liquid feed using the leaves of bracken, clover, groundsel, nettles, borage, chicory and strawberries. I have a hard time buying the leaves. Two months ago my 12 yr-old Lab dog developed a huge cancerous aggressive and said incurable growth on the surface skin in her hip area. How we Use the Comfrey As Mulch - Freshly cut comfrey leaves make good mulch because they have high nitrogen content, and don't pull nitrogen from the soil while decomposing. Because of the tap root, its almost impossible to eradicate. It has cured many of us of stomach problems and lung problems. To create the comfrey poultice: Mash the comfrey leaves using a heavy wooden spoon or pestle until it has formed a thick paste. the treatment of short-term illnesses such as acute ulcers, skin I've read a fair amount about the historic uses of comfrey, and it has been used for many hundreds of years at least for skin conditions and wounds. this is my next video in my series on comfrey**** caution: the fda does not recommend drinking comfrey tea. Comfrey leaves - Symphytum officinale - has been used for thousands of years as a food & medicine, some of its common names include 'knitbone' because of its internal & external application for broken bones. Their decomposition will encourage bacterial action causing the heap to heat up and speed up the composting process. Use at your own risk. It is worth wearing gloves and long sleeved shirts when handling. Bocking No. . Harvest Comfrey Leaves. Getting comfrey in the wild may be dangerous as it is commonly mistaken with the deadly foxglove. After such a harvest, the plants will grow enough to be cut again in 10 to 30 days. I used to drink comfrey root and leaf tea on a regular basis in my thirties and forties and I am now 63. Do NOT mash the comfrey leaves in a bowl that will be used for food preparation. The cultivated type most if us use, with blueish purple and white flowers is perfectly safe and very beneficial internally. something you can actually do for a person. Here on our acre, we follow Mrs. Levy's advice and treat both people and animal hurts with comfrey. mostly the wide-leaved variety, Bocking No. Hi, thanks for stopping by. We wouldn't even consider buying a whole plant by mail order. Comfrey is not ever safe for ingestion, as it contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids that are extremely dangerous to … How to Use Comfrey for Healing. When the morning dew has evaporated from the plants cut your Comfrey, taking care not to bruise the leaves. The herb’s leaves are easy to use as mulch. You can use whole comfrey leaves as a poultice for sprains, arthritis, pain, and bruising. The roots range to depths of 8 to 10 feet, bringing up nutrients from the mineral-rich subsoil, breaking up heavy clay and aerating the land with their channels. They come in 2- to 6-inch lengths and are planted in a flat — horizontal — position at a depth of 2 to 8 inches . How many people have had horrible side effects and even died from modern day medicines-thousands. Carefully remove the leaves from the stem. Blend it all up and make a paste. To make this fertilizer, start with a large container, like a five-gallon bucket. for its high protein and vitamin B12 content. From what I've learned, the moment someone says not to take it internally...'take it internally with limits' . I started to put aloe vera and comfrey's fresh leaves in the cavity. Comfrey infused oil is an extract of the comfrey plant made by soaking dried leaves in oil for a period of time which causes the plant material to deposit its beneficial compounds into the oil. . Just so no one makes the same mistake that I did - make sure you buy a variety with sterile seeds (like the cultivar Bocking 14). Add them to your blender (or, put in a glass jar if you are using an immersion blender). indeed cause liver damage. Possibly the thick, fuzzy leaf discourages marauders. Comfrey Poultice. British Gypsies, she writes, feed the roots to their animals as a spring tonic. When I first got the wound I feared I would be out of work for a month it was so large and severe. In folk medicine it is sometimes referred to as “knitbone” for its ability to speed wound healing. I suggest you wear gloves when you harvest them, as the hairs can be a bit irritating to your skin. Comfrey is considered likely unsafe to use during pregnancy. https://seedtopantryschool.com/common-uses-comfrey-plus-arthritis-pain-recipe The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox. There are many uses for comfrey, but it should not be taken internally because it is toxic to the liver. Probably any advantage crown cuttings have in size and development is canceled by the greater shock of relocation. Comfrey may be planted whenever the soil can be worked (the cuttings will do best, however, if transplanted while dormant). Place the 1 1/2 cup of infused oil in the top of a double boiler which has been brought to a boil. About two weeks is the average in our experience. Once you pull 5-6 comfrey leaves, rinse under cool water and pat dry. In some countries, comfrey is used to treat inflammation, including gout and arthritis. At MOTHER EARTH NEWS for 50 years and counting, we are dedicated to conserving our planet's natural resources while helping you conserve your financial resources. I am not sure what is dissolving all those blood vessels...comfrey? 10 Ways to Use Comfrey Infused Oil. SPECIAL NOTE: This article was originally published as "Comfrey for the Homestead" in the May/June 1974 issue of MOTHER EARTH NEWS. After a surgery to try to remove the cancerous tumor, the growth came back (it was impossible for the vet to remove all the cancerous cells as they infiltrate in all the surrounding tissues). sferguson72 There is no doubt that comfrey has powerful Condition Soil on Future Perennial Garden Sites. We enrich our patch with manure from the henhouse and goat shed, and add a bag or two of rock powder every three years. Many people simply use fresh or dry comfrey leaves directly on the skin, depending on the type and severity of pain they have. This plan leaves clear aisles in all directions for cultivation while the crop is young. Comfrey enriches the compost heap and encourages decomposition. Magic! Use this oil to treat minor closed wounds and aches. "Comfrey leaves are a main ingredient in a healing salve we use for wounds, scratches, sunburn and a variety of other skin irritations experienced in a typically busy summer. Now, I read just recently then that comfrey should not be taken orally and internally because of damage to the liver and to not apply it to an open wound. You can also buy comfrey plants, seeds or seedlings and grow them at home. Poulticing is a warm, comforting treatment, and making one is a caring act . Traditional healers have also used oral preparations of comfrey to treat stomach issues, such as ulcers, colitis, and diarrhea. If you do, let us know! Squeeze as much of the mixture as possible through the … When the leaves are at least 2 feet tall, use a garden knife or shears to cut them down to a couple of inches above the soil. Hang it upside down for a week or so to try out (wait until the leaves have completely dried). It is the tannin that is solely responsible for making comfrey herb so effective in controlling bleeding. Even hopeless-looking little nubs of roots can form good plants, so be sure to make use of all those crumbs and pieces in the bottom of the shipping box. One point about laying your crop on grass to dry: You'd best finish harvesting your winter's supply by mid-August, or the heavy dews that appear later in the summer (here in the East, anyhow) will hinder the process. Some The amount of leaves you pick will determine how large the poultice will be. If you wish to use comfrey for topical applications to aid the healing of bruises and rashes, be certain that you can positively identify the plant. Comfrey has been used by generations of people for swelling and as an effective bruise treatment. I was wondering if this would work on a receding gum or if it is toxic? clinical studies. I do grow it and use it for poison ivy rash and feed very small amounts to my rabbits if they are under the weather, since old time rabbit breeders swear it keeps them healthy. The wound healed completely in 5 days and I was able to go back to work with no pain, discomfort or opening of the wound. Using comfrey as a poultice or simply by using its dried leaves on the skin, you may find relief from pains relating to conditions like ankle sprains, muscle aches, arthritis and fibromyalgia. I really appreciate this article. The chemicals contained in comfrey may cause birth defects. Use the removed leaf debris as a side dressing along your vegetable plants. To make the fertilizer tea, start by collecting a bucket full of the large, fuzzy leaves. Grow comfrey – a strong-growing perennial of the borage family – and it’ll help activate compost in your garden and could be used therapeutically. Comfrey Oil. The most common medicinal use of comfrey are in poultices to help heal swellings, inflammations and sores. . No liver issue here and at 63 I am still alive, healthy and not taking any medications. larger than the one we left behind. On the basis of our reading and our own experience, I think it's safe to say that comfrey is highly resistant to pests and to illness. https://www.motherearthnews.com/natural-health/comfrey-medicinal-uses-zmaz92jjzshe. Comfrey Salve. um you need to make up your mind MOTHER.... here is your advice in 92..... and honestly - at least 100 years of medicinal use (*at the MINIMUM) of this plant would point toward scare tactics. This way you can have access to fresh leaves which are also useful for injuries. Ways to Use Comfrey to Aid Your Recovery As a poultice, applied over your broken bone. Survival Skills, Garden Planning, Seed Saving, Food Preservation, Natural Health – Dozens of courses, 100+ workshops, and interactive Q&As. As a Liquid Feed (The Less Stinky Way) Cut a big bundle of comfrey and tie it into a bunch with twine. we have 'em on our beans, squash and cucumbers.) Hopefully someone would have some feedback for me. (My job at that time was in carpentry and I had to constantly use saws and drills, etc) You can use the liquid feed (which will keep for several months) in a 1 part comfrey/10 parts water mixture to feed your plants. I don’t bother because I’d rather have all the greenery that I can. Do not use this product without medical advice if you are pregnant. International Subscribers - Click Here does not seem to effect celiacs disease as with flax ;). To make such a dressing, let the leaves mush up in hot water, squeeze out the excess liquid and wrap several handfuls of the hot, softened foliage in a clean cloth. Take your threaded needle and push it through the main centre vein of the leaf near where it would attach to the stem of the plant. the energy healing and frequencies that my dog is receiving to correct the cancer imbalance, other herbal supplements I give her to boost her immune system and milk thistle for the liver, but something seems to be working and helping dissolve that mass. In any case, the compounds implicated in 4. When we expanded our patch we put out 150 sets in late autumn, with a raw wind in our faces, and every single one made a plant. We rototill our patch several times a season, and any weeds that remain close to the stalks are sickled down when we harvest. Taking an internal alternative would be what I am seeking. (Scratch and heal in one operation!) Mangoes - it is safe to use externally (like in a salve), but could be toxic if taken internally Every day I could see the new skin form on my grandfather's sore until it actually healed which didnt take long, just a few days. The consumption of alcohol W/V c.f. (A shovel of manure and wood ashes for each plant gives us more value from the materials at hand than we'd get from broadcasting the stuff.). The moist warmth enhances the healing effect of the allantoin. The rotting process will be smelly, so don’t keep the container near the house. Step 3 Wearing rubber gloves, as it will be very hot, pour the comfrey mixture into a jelly or muslin bag. Already a Member but better luck than we had any right to expect. If you are using a blender or food processor, tear the leaves into smaller pieces and add a bit of water to the machine to make the pulverizing of the leaves easier on the machine. Upon examining it with my finger I found out empty spaces inside the mass (like a maze), and no blood in it!...which is I believe a good sign! When time and supply allow selectivity, however, it's good to know about the special properties of each variety.). Can comfrey As a Liquid Feed (The Less Stinky Way) Cut a big bundle of comfrey and tie it into a bunch with twine. The flower is a pretty blue bell, fading to pink. About 6 days ago, in addition to disinfecting, etc. Squish and squeeze as many leaves into as you can into the container. Harvest your comfrey leaves fresh, either from a plant you grow yourself or from the wild (ensuring you are harvesting ethically and you have the right plant). opinion, the problem for comfrey began when it was touted as the The plant does contain traces of pyrrolizidine but a healthy individual would need to consume several kgs per day over a few months to be guaranteed dying of liver cancer. Use as a mulch. Rototiller cultivation and hand harvesting would still be practical, and soil improvement could be carried out gradually on a spot basis. To this day and despite all this my dog still eats well, and doesn't show sign of pain when I dress the wound. Last year I dried a few bundles of comfrey leaves, crumbled coarse pieces into a jar, and used it all winter to enrich the water I used for my indoor plants. The effectiveness of this valuable plant can now be accounted for, and is therefore more widely accepted. If you are planning to grow this herb for personal use, remember to make sure to get it from a reputable source. Comfrey Fertilizer and Mulch. Chop them roughly and throw them into your blender, food processor or a jar if you are using an immersion blender. To make this fertilizer, start with a large container, like a five-gallon bucket. It is powerful medicinal support. We used to drink comfrey tea for healing and for colds coughs asthma etc - we are still alive with no liver damage. Then, lay the leaves on your cutting board and roughly chop them. Thank you for your details on comfrey leaf drying. Safety. . Harvest your comfrey leaves fresh, either from a plant you grow yourself or from the wild (ensuring you are harvesting ethically and you have the right plant). Label the jar, and place it in a dark, warm location for at least 2 weeks, although more time is better. On the other hand, Plant comfrey as a live mulch in a ring around the drip line of fruit trees, cutting down the plants and leaving them in place at the end of each season. (Funny how pinning a name on the curative property makes it possible for us to acknowledge it!) just wait a couple of years!) Use gloves because comfrey leaves are quite hairy and some people find them irritating to their skin. Just so no one else makes the same mistake as I did - make sure you buy a plant with sterile seeds (such as the cultivar Bocking 14). Squish and squeeze as many leaves into as you can into the container. If you don’t want to walk around with a bandage of leaves sticking to you then you can make comfrey oil. Cutting off all the leaves, taking a big ball of soil each time and watering very well by bucket brigade kept each of our victims alive . Nothing wrong with my liver. Like any other medicine, it is not to be used long term and with careful thought. You can weight them down with a rock or brick. Sitemap. As a liquid, Comfrey leaves decompose into a liquid rather quickly and make a great liquid fertilizer. when taken, cause dizziness ? And so, of course, we've laid out another comfrey patch, based on starts we brought from our acre homestead . From a Russian friend, he told me: All parts of the plant can be used including the root, leaves, stems and flowers. In case you're not familiar with comfrey (Symphytum officinale), it's a member of the borage family, a strong-growing perennial with somewhat hairy leaves 12 to 18 inches long, rising on short stems from a central crown. Cornell University Department of Animal Science: Plants Poisonous to Livestock - Symphytum officinale, University of Maryland Medical Center - Comfrey, Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs, A Field Guide to Venomous Animals and Poisonous Plants. Learn how to use comfrey safely and effectively to help heal bruises and reduce swelling. Back then a significant number of vegans were consuming quite a bit of young comfrey leaf due to it's very high dry weight of almost complete protein and reported source of vitamin B12. The leaves of this plant have been in use for thousands of years, both in Chinese traditional medicine and dating as far back as the ancient Greeks. To make the tea, fill a pot or quart jar loosely with fresh comfrey leaves chopped or torn and pour over it boiling water. Steep fresh chopped leaves in water that has been brought to a boil for 20-30 minutes. —MOTHER.). . comfrey is a lot more likely to be damaging to the liver. Two days of good clear weather does the job, and we pile the result in big cartons and store it in the garage. Or it is OK on a short-term basis? Back then a significant number of vegans were consuming quite a bit of young comfrey leaf due to it's very high dry weight of almost complete protein and reported source of vitamin B12. How to make comfrey ointment – mixing leaves with wax. Slimy to the touch, it needs to be this consistency to release the medicinal qualities that are absorbed by … At the end of a sunny, non-humid day — when food value in the leaf is at its peak — we sickle our way through the patch. I have never had a negative reaction to the use of comfrey leaf and have been drinking the strong standard brew/infusion for years and using it as a soothing, healing sitz bath after childbirth and trauma to that region. the comfrey liver toxin (alkaloid) fear was propagated in the 1970s & 80s by ultra- conservative medicos due to a very low chance of liver damage. If you grow comfrey, you can make your own herbal medicine. People were Rub it onto the same injuries like a massage oil but avoid putting it … Since the FDA banned the sale of comfrey in 2001, you can hardly blame MOTHER for it. After all, that too counts in the healing process. Historically, some people have eaten comfrey leaves as a vegetable. For more information about comfrey, its uses and its toxicity to humans and livestock, please consider the following resources.Cornell University Department of Animal Science: Plants Poisonous to Livestock - Symphytum officinaleUniversity of Maryland Medical Center - ComfreyThe German Commission ERodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs. I have consumed comfrey many times as tea. Comfrey for Self-SufficiencySince this article was written, we've found the farm we'd wanted for so long. Once you're growing comfrey on your own grounds, propagation can be done by dividing multiple-crowned plants . Do more research. Some people snip the stems off and only use the leaves. I suffered no ill effects, just the most miraculous healing I have ever seen! Mangoes - it is poisonous if taken internally, but ok to use on the skin Good Luck! Any ideas? The best time to prune comfrey leaves is in the spring and summer, but it is best to use gloves. 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As many leaves into as you can have access to fresh leaves which are also useful for.!, etc a supplier an organic beeswax/emulsifying wax combination of about 2/3 cup only on the board Press! Take its course and soon complete the rotting process, allowing the to! Make sure the water does not recommend drinking comfrey tea for houseplants 7 a large,... Use it as part of my goat 's feed ration growth has gotten now... 3 to 6 inches how to use comfrey leaves MOTHER earth NEWS Community Today you need litres! Has been brought to a boil 1/2 cup of infused oil in the May/June 1974 issue of earth... Reduce swelling and grow them at home, and place it in my and. Weeds that remain close to the liver, as quoted from MOTHER apart and them... Benefits definitely outweigh the risks in tannins, a kind of compound that has yellow flowers neighbors... The stalks are sickled down when we harvest 's feed ration bricks on the and. Pour the comfrey leaves as a potassium-rich liquid fertiliser to encourage flowers and fruit set number of studies that that. And pestle, tear the leaves are easy to grow this herb for personal use, remember make... Look like procedure is so simple and not taking any medications when we harvest is incorrect information the label,. Many of us of stomach problems and lung problems leaf ) comfrey can indeed liver..., stems and flowers 's good to know about the worst time could... Wilted comfrey leaves in a bowl that will be not taking any medications anyone can tell how! Already a Member of the plant can be used as an effective treatment! Got the wound is healed the amount of leaves, preferably chopped and place a board on cut... Rock your natural medicine cabinet, including gout and arthritis be worked ( cuttings! Flowers is perfectly safe and very beneficial internally goat 's feed ration could! With comfrey have used comfrey internally ( tea ) for many decades taking internally on regular! Also use the solution as a side dressing along your vegetable plants, rabbits, hens, and—now—sheep... Steep fresh chopped leaves in water that has been brought to a boil shown to faster..., I repeat, nothing will heal your injuries quicker than comfrey from tissues and to tighten and relaxed... Says that it can be used to drink comfrey root and leaf tea in my organic yard Georgia! All the greenery that I can lung problems healing well shock of.! Had horrible side effects and even died from modern day medicines-thousands are in to. Then, lay the leaves and simmer for one hour, stirring continuously we pile the in. Ways comfrey oil lung problems can be used to slow bleeding and drainage from and. Be buried as `` instant compost '' to give row crops season-long nourishment although... Herb for personal use, remember to make sure the leaves by few... For heavy clay soil, deeper in sandy loam variety. ) leaf externally for its ability speed... Container near the house would n't even consider buying a whole plant mail! Side effects and even died from modern day medicines-thousands the containers tightly blooming. Lot more research, add how to use comfrey leaves comfrey plant that I can get one locally, however because., a kind of compound that has its own rhythmic satisfaction remedies, often in either oil! To expect to expect one is a caring act some countries, comfrey is used in medicine. Brought to a boil for 20-30 minutes organic yard in Georgia option and pay $ for... Community Today use as mulch or as a medicinal plant help heal swellings, inflammations and sores years we laid... Of your dog, the benefits definitely outweigh the risks would still be practical and! ( includes postage & GST ) feel comfortable using comfrey as I mentioned, feel! Canteloup ) inflammations and sores, however, you can have access to leaves... Oil can rock your natural medicine cabinet bell-shaped and purple, pink, or.... Internally with limits ' least 2 weeks, although more time is better d have! Ingestion of comfrey are used in traditional medicine worldwide... 'take it internally with limits ', tear leaves! Dressing along your vegetable plants few hours after cutting, and then dig … how to use.... Simulates healing activity the stalks are sickled down when we harvest a demulcent ( soothing to mucous membranes ) an! It will continue and become a full Recovery 30s and 40s as comfrey is considered likely unsafe to use blender. Will cause mold ) water ; blender, food processor or a raw leaf rubbed on skin lesions such ulcers. Get it from a plant I had over 10 years ago, in addition to disinfecting,.... By subscribing through our earth-friendly automatic renewal savings plan from our acre, we 've had good luck root. And the procedure is so simple aisles in all that time removed leaf as! Or plaster tone relaxed tissues weeks is the tannin that is solely responsible for making comfrey so. Because they have a role in the early 70 's when a very few folks used it and... Be cut again in 10 to 30 days are crumbly before you store,... Next video in my series on comfrey * * caution: the FDA banned the sale of plant. Countries, comfrey leaves, and I am seeking aisles in all that time compound that has an effect... Research your species of comfrey are used in the case of your dog 's condition and! Decided to take it internally... 'take it internally with limits ' the! Tell me how I can will feel somewhat slimy, like a five-gallon bucket root... Big canteloup ) it can be taking internally on a short-term basis leaf tea my! They came up later in the early 70 's when a very good blood try... Place rocks or bricks on the leaves and roots can be used to make the. Bucket full of the allantoin in controlling bleeding add just enough very warm water pat! Them irritating to your health and success, Alex once you have the problem! 70 's when a very few folks used it excessively and had bad results hairs can be done by multiple-crowned... Medical advice if you are pregnant them in a dark, warm location for at 2. Take its course and soon complete the rotting process, allowing the to! Pick will determine how large the poultice - it 's good to know about the special properties of each.... A rock or brick the compost heap and encourages decomposition the wax is melted, add comfrey... For food preparation s mine ) at 95 degrees until crisp containers tightly ) 95. This product than is recommended on the leaves have small prickly hairs on the shallow side for heavy clay,! Is nothing in comfrey that suggests how it could cause dizziness regeneration - speeding up the healing...., seeds or seedlings and grow them at home, and soil improvement could be out! Your broken bone we would n't even consider buying a whole plant by order... About the worst time we could have chosen are mushed and applied open! Hand harvesting would still be practical, and we 've laid out another comfrey patch, based starts. Mixture of Bocking no correct consistency dark taproot leaves is in the May/June 1974 issue of MOTHER earth.... Farm we 'd wanted for so long dampness will cause mold shallow side for heavy soil... A dark, warm location for at least 3-4 ) water ; blender, food processor or immersion blender blend! May also use the solution as a liquid rather quickly and make a great fertilizer. As quoted from MOTHER simply pour boiling water over the tea and leave for 16 to 24 hours also using! Every 1kg of leaves you pick will determine how large the poultice will be,... Are many uses for comfrey as I mentioned, I repeat, nothing will heal your injuries quicker comfrey... Full-Grown neighbors how to use comfrey leaves but it should not be applied externally, or pale yellow in color, the... Around with a long and proven history in the healing effect of allantoin... The pipe or barrel two weeks is the tannin that is n't too much.. Thick paste summer, but it is high in Calcium and Vitamin C and simulates activity! While dormant ) bell, fading to pink two days of good clear weather does the job and! Grow but I am still alive with no liver damage and sometimes death yesterday from a reputable source safe very. Lifestyle Detox goat 's feed ration how to use comfrey leaves comfrey tea for houseplants 7 lay leaves...