Wild Herbs 101: Comfrey (Facts, History & Usage)

Welcome back! This post will explore the fascinating history, ingredients, and uses of the North American herb...

Comfrey - Symphytum officinale

Latin: Symphytum comes from the Greek word symphyton, which means "grown together".
Description: Comfrey is a tall perennial herbaceous (non-woody) plant with large, downy leaves and small purple flowers. It grows best in rich, moist soil with full sun and is easily propagated by dividing the plants.
Other Names: knitbone, boneset, blackwort, trauma plant
Folklore: Early European settlers introduced this useful herb to North America. Comfrey was believed to have miraculous abilities to restore bones and bind them back together. Folks would put it in soups believing it could turn cheap meat into steak! (Of course, it can't.) Science has shown that it does have anti-inflammatory properties and can speed up recovery of skin and muscle, but it can't actually "knit bones" unfortunately!

Biological Properties: Rosmarinic acid (anti-inflammatory/antioxidant), allantoin (cell regeneration), tannins (astrigent/antioxidant), and choline (cell regeneration). Read more about the active properties of comfrey here. Research has confirmed that Comfrey has promise as a super-star in the herb world for reducing inflammation, speeding up cell regeneration, and reducing pain. 

Parts Used: older leaves, roots, sometimes flowers

Usage: As a wash, salve, poultice, or cream. Comfrey is useful in resolving skin care issues or improving bruises and scars. An infusion or  tea of the leaves or the root can be used as a wash for acne or irritated skin. A poultice of crushed fresh comfrey can be applied for inflammation (acne, bug bites, or bruises).  Moderation and allergy testing it on your skin first is always best. Only use comfrey for a short period of time, for the issue you need it for. If you need more information on how to make your own comfrey skincare products, check out this helpful posts:

• Making: Ointments, Salves & Balms by Handmade Apothecary
• Basic Herbal Preparations: How to Make Infusions, Decoctions, and Tinctures
• Comfrey Uses & Remedies from The Herbal Academy

Warnings: The fuzzy leaves can be irritating when applied directly to the skin. Therefore when making a infusion it is important that it be strained properly. Use a cotton cloth or gauze next to the skin when applying a comfrey poultice. (1) Comfrey taken internally is NOT recommended. (2) Only use Comfrey externally, on unbroken skin, in diluted amounts as needed. Be sure when you are buying comfrey products or plants, that it does not include pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which are toxic.

Where to Find It: I personally use this organic German-made comfrey cream (link above) in small amounts on my old acne scars and bruises and I'm seeing improvements! If you don't have access to backyard comfrey plants, you can buy seeds, buy the plants at your local plant nursery, purchase safe products made with Comfrey, or buy it in bulk online.

As with any herb, moderation and smart usage is key. It's never recommended - no matter how safe the herb - to start using pounds of a new plant per week! However, try buying a comfrey plant and making a salve to soothe your skin and improve scars and see what you think.  Comfrey flowers will also attract many pollinators (butterflies & bees!) to your garden as well. The leaves can also be used as a potent green compost for your garden. Enjoy the skin health benefits of this fascinating powerhouse herb.
Herbal Blessings,

References

(1) The Complete Book of Herbs & Spices, by Sarah Garland

(2) Efficacy and Safety of Comfrey
(3) Comfrey: A Clinical Overview
(4) Phytomedicine: Efficacy and tolerance of Comfrey root extract