HEALING SPRAINS, BACK PAIN, KNEE PAIN, and INJURIES WITH COMFREY

COMFREY (Symphytum officinale)

Comfrey leaves come out in early spring followed by little purple flowers sometime in April or May. This lovely plant is originally native to Europe but is commonly found naturalized throughout parts of North America, as early colonists brought the plant with them when they settled in the new land.  

DESCRIPTION:

Comfrey grows 2 to 5 feet tall, producing clusters of purple, blue, and white flowers.  It is famous for its long, slender leaves and black-skinned roots.  Comfrey has large, rough, hairy, and lance-shaped leaves with whitish, pink, or purple flower spikes which have a slight heliotrope like curl typical of this family.

BOTANY:

A member of the Borage or Boraginaceae family, comfrey's relatives include both borage and heliotrope. The Symphytum genus contains about 35 species, all of which can be used interchangeably.

PROPERTIES AND CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS:

Comfrey is known for being mucilaginous (has a gelatinous consistency), is somewhat astringent and contains allantoin that is a proliferant of healthy cells (not malignant ones). It also contains rosmarinic acid which helps relieve pain and inflammation.  The effect of comfrey in relieving pain and reducing swelling is comparable to the effects of Diclofenac gel.

An oil extract from the roots and leaves can be turned into ointments, creams, or salves. These solutions typically have a comfrey content of 5 to 20 percent.

HARVESTING: 

Comfrey root is best harvested in the early spring or fall when there is a high amount of allantoin in the leaves.  Comfrey is best picked before the flowers have come on and best to pick the small, newer leaves for the highest content of allantoin and rosmarinic acid.

USES AND CAUTIONS:  

Much debate surrounds the safety of consuming comfrey internally, even though for centuries it was used in Greek medicine and by European physicians for respiratory and digestive issues. The controversy is due to toxic chemical constituents, pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA’s) that can be harmful to the liver in high doses. These alkaloids are damaging to people with compromised livers, so it is advised to use comfrey topically and not internally to be on the safe side.

Applied to the skin for bone healing (fractures), ulcers, wounds, muscle soreness, bruises, rheumatoid arthritis, varicose veins and gout.  Comfrey Root combines well with Marshmallow Root, Mullein Leaf, Wormwood, Lobelia for cell rebuilding.

It is such an excellent and speedy wound-healing remedy that it should NEVER be used on deep wounds or lacerations as it could potentially heal the top layer of skin before the bottom layer, resulting in an abscess. Avoid comfrey for major skin wounds, and use it only for bruises, sprains and minor cuts and scratches.  

Bone Healing:  Comfrey was once commonly called Knitbone because of its amazing ability to heal broken bones and “knit” them back together again. The botanical name, Symphytum, means “to unite.”  Due to the allantoin, regeneration of healthy cell growth is sped up.

Back pain. Applying a comfrey extract ointment to the affected area 3 times daily for 5 days decreases lower or upper back pain. Also applying a salve/cream extract to the affected area for 5 days seems to decrease back pain when resting or moving.

Osteoarthritis. Applying a comfrey extract ointment to the affected area 3 times daily for 3 weeks or applying a cream containing comfrey extract, tannic acid, Aloe vera gel, eucalyptus oil, and frankincense oil to the affected are for 6-12 weeks helps decrease pain in people with knee osteoarthritis.

Sprains:  Applying comfrey extract ointment to the affected area for up to 2 weeks improves mobility, decreases pain, and reduces tenderness and swelling.

Bruises: Comfrey is a favorite herb for bruises, often working its magic overnight.

Wound Healing:  Many types of sores and wounds are helped with comfrey:  scrapes, burns, diaper rash, eczema, cold sores, psoriasis, varicose veins, etc.

Lung Congestion:  Use a compress 2 times daily to help clear the lungs.

SALVE:  Using FRESH COMFREY LEAVES - Make an herbal infusion (ointment) from fresh comfrey leaves.  Place the leaves on a baking sheet or screen in a single layer (in a warm area) out of direct sunlight and let them wilt for several hours until they look limp.  Chop the leaves and place them loosely into a wide-mouth quart jar.  Cover the leaves with olive oil then put a lid on the jar.  Turn the oven on the lowest setting and place the jar in the oven for an hour.  Remove from the oven and store in a dark place to steep for 2 weeks.  Strain the oil, using a sanitized cloth and squeeze out the leaves.  This salve recipe uses 2 cups of infused Comfrey leaves:

Combine the following ingredients in a stainless-steel pot on the stovetop:

• ·       2 cups comfrey oil (which you made above)
• ·       ½ cup grated beeswax or beeswax pastilles
• ·       1 tablespoon vitamin E oil (you can open vit E capsules)
• ·       20 drops of lavender essential oil

Once the beeswax has melted, use a spoon that has been in the freezer for about 5 minutes. Dip it quickly into the hot mixture and watch how the consistency turns out.  If it’s thick enough for salve, you can pour the oil mixture into jars. If not, add a bit more beeswax.  Keep testing the salve until you like the consistency.  Pour into clean jars for use as needed.  Label and have prepared for when needed.

WHEN USING DRIED HERBS:  Using a similar process, add PLANTAIN (heals diaper rash) and ROSEMARY (kills pathogens) to the recipe:

In a small crockpot “cook on low” dried herbs for about 3 hours and make the salve that same day, or … cover the herbs with olive oil and let it sit in a covered jar for 2-3 weeks. 

• ·       ½ cup dry comfrey leaves
• ·       ½ cup dry plantain leaves
• ·       ½ cup dry rosemary
• ·       2 cups olive oil
• ·       ½ cup grated beeswax or 5-8 tsp. beeswax pastilles

COMPRESS:  A compress is a cloth soaked in an herbal tea (or sometimes a tincture or oil) and then placed on the body. The skin absorbs the healing properties of the liquid and penetrates to the affected area. Compresses can be applied warm or cold. Warm compresses will be more relaxing, help with muscle tightness and bring more blood to the area. Cold compresses are constricting, slow down circulation and can help reduce bleeding and pain.

HOW TO MAKE A COMPRESS:

·       Make a strong comfrey tea, using 2 Tablespoons of dried herb per cup of hot water. Strain out the herb after 10-15 minutes.

·       Let the tea cool if making a cold compress or use it right away (at a comfortable temperature) for a warm compress. The tea can be heated back up if necessary.

·       Soak a clean piece of fabric or a washcloth in the tea and squeeze out the excess liquid.

·       Place the soaked cloth on the affected area and, if possible, wrap it around the body. Let it sit for at least 10 minutes. Re-soak the cloth as needed.

CONCLUSION from extensive testing – posted by US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health:  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3491633/

“In the 17th century, Nicholas Culpeper (1616–1654) mentioned comfrey in his enlarged version of The English Physitian.  He stated: ‘It is said to be so powerful to consolidate and knit together … and a Syrup made thereof is very effectual for all those … outward Wounds and Sores in the Fleshy or Sinewy part of the Body whatsoever’. He recommended comfrey among many other complaints for ‘Inward Wounds & Bruises, Wounds, Ruptures, broken Bones, Inflamation, Gout, and Pained Joynts.’

Today, this historical statement is widely supported by modern clinical data. Several recent randomized clinical trials substantiate the efficacy of topical comfrey preparations in the treatment of pain, inflammation and swelling of muscles and joints in the case of degenerative arthritis, acute myalgia in the back, sprains, contusions and strains after sports injuries and accidents, also in children aged 3 and over.”