Symphytum officinale
Monograph
- Plant Family:
- Boraginaceae (Borage family) [1]
- The genus name Symphytum, derives from the Greek symphytis, “grow together,” and phyton “plant.” [2]
- Habitat & Cultivation:
- Comfrey grows in damp grassland, wasteland, and near riverbanks and marshes. It is often used for land improvement on permaculture farms because it can tolerate growth in soils that nothing else will grow in, and over a few seasons will greatly improve the quality of the soil. [1]
- Parts Used:
- Root, leaves [1]
- Herbal Actions:
- Vulnerary
- Demulcent
- Anti-inflammatory
- Astringent
- Expectorant [1]
- Indications:
- Bruising
- Pulled muscles and ligaments
- Sprains
- Minor cuts
- Use caution for deep wounds in the initial healing phase. It may close off the surface tissue leaving an abscess deeper down. It’s ideal for the secondary healing phase of deep wounds, once the tissue has knit together deeply then comfrey can be applied topically to help with the surface healing and to prevent scarring (like with Cesarean incision healing). [1]
- Plant Constituents:
- Leaf: Rosmarinic acid, allantoin (a cell-proliferator)
- Root: Allantoin, muco-polysaccharides, pyrrolizidine alkaloids [1]
- System Affinities:
- Musculoskeletal system
- Integumentary system [1]
- Energetics:
- Moistening
- Cooling
- Heavy
- Dull
- Smooth
- Stable
- Soft [1]
- Safety:
- Contraindicated for those with liver disease due to pyrrolizidine alkaloids (associated with liver toxicity)
- Apply to intact skin only
- Commission E recommends that “the daily applied dosage not exceed 100 mcg of pyrrolizidine alkaloids with 1,2-unsaturated necine structure, including their N-oxides”; duration of administration is < 4-6 wks/yr [1]
- Interactions:
- None known [1]
Personal
Experience
- Organoleptics:
- The dried leaves are light green-brown in color. They smell sweet and earthy, and the taste is slightly bitter.
- Preparation Method:
- Infused Oil: Fresh comfrey leaves and olive oil. Either let sit for 2-4 weeks, and strain, or let sit in crockpot of water on low for 2-3 days, and strain.
- Usage Notes:
- Since I was short on time, I used the crockpot method to make this infused oil. The result is a lovely rich green-colored, cloudy oil. It smells like olive oil but maybe a bit more sweet. I used this oil on my cuticles, since I have a bad habit of picking at them until they bleed. I noticed within 15 minutes the redness had gone down, and the pain was greatly reduced. I will definitely keep using this for my hands in the future.
Sources:
- Zollinger, R. & Riccio, L. (2018). Week 3 Study Questions. Bastyr University: WI-18_MW5122-A Botanicals 2: Postpartum.
- Burns, S. (n.d.). Tangled Roots Herbal: Comfrey. Accessed online at http://tangledrootsherbal.com/comfrey-leaf/
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