Comfrey (Symphytum officinale)
From Ji
DE = Beinwell, Wallwurz
FR = consoude officinale, grande consoude
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General
Comfrey belongs to the Boraginaceae family and is thus a relative of Borage (Borago officinalis). Its stem and large leaves are covered with tiny hairs and it bears small purple bell-shaped flowers at mid-spring.
Taking a few leaves away from a stem does not affect much the plant that will produce new stems right after a harvest.
Benefits
Benefits for your Health
- Comfrey is used for healing burns, wounds, contusions, abscesses, skin inflammations, chilblain, sprains, gout, and arthritis.
- Apply a comfrey leave on a wound or contusion if you got injured during a walk in nature.
- Comfrey unguent is available from the chemist's shop to heal wounds, scars, stretch marks, athlete's foot, knee joint ailment, vein inflammations, gout, and arthritis.
- For ingestion, root powder and tincture are also used to enhance the healing of bone fractures, wounds and ulcers after a large operation like an amputation.
- Comfrey also heals gastro-intestinal diseases, like gastro-intestinal ulcers, gastritis, enteritis, heartburn, and gastric acidity.
- Use the powder or tea moderately against gastro-intestinal diseases, since large doses might cause liver damages.
Benefits for your Garden and Other Environmental Benefits
- Comfrey manure is a potash-rich fertilizer and increases therefore the plants' defences against pests.
- Comfrey leaves suit very well as fertilizing mulch.
- Spraying your compost with comfrey manure accelerates the decomposition process.
Cooking
- Comfrey leaves can be cooked as spinach.
