Comfrey leaves should be harvested right before the flower blooms and be used dried or fresh. Use as a mulch. Still alive and well with no liver problems. Its other use, of course, is as a plant food. 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. This perennial can grow up to 4-feet tall. I was wondering if this would work on a receding gum or if it is toxic? But some says that it can be taking internally on a short-term basis. The growth has gotten bigger now (size of a big canteloup). Now you have the poultice - it will feel somewhat slimy, like mucilage. Safety Answered by: Conrad Richter Question from: Tony Staiano account? 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. In that cavity there was a hole. The consumption of alcohol W/V c.f. that comfrey can cause liver damage and tumours. 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. On the other hand, Rub it onto the same injuries like a massage oil but avoid putting it … Comfrey Diseases and Problems. 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. If you grow comfrey, you can make your own herbal medicine. It is often used to slow bleeding and drainage from tissues and to tighten and tone relaxed tissues. Comfrey leaf is also high in tannins, giving it astringent and anti-inflammatory properties. The root and the leaves are used, the root being more active, and they can be taken internally or used externally as a poultice. The leaves and roots of comfrey are used in traditional medicine worldwide. I live in Perth, Western Australia, and through spring and summer I use a cowboy method to dry my leaves, which can grow to an enormous length. After 2 weeks (or longer), strain out the herbs and rebottle your new tincture. better luck than we had any right to expect. Shake the jar up once a day for the first week or so. How to Use Comfrey as Fertilizer . They grew like mad. Crushed foliage can be applied externally, or a raw leaf rubbed on skin lesions such as rashes and poison ivy blisters. COMFREY Syphytum Officinale for FIBROMYALGIA When I first got the wound I feared I would be out of work for a month it was so large and severe. we have 'em on our beans, squash and cucumbers.) SPECIAL NOTE: This article was originally published as "Comfrey for the Homestead" in the May/June 1974 issue of MOTHER EARTH NEWS. Safety. . Any ideas? The flower is a pretty blue bell, fading to pink. . Slimy to the touch, it needs to be this consistency to release the medicinal qualities that are absorbed by … I have consumed comfrey many times as tea. The best time to prune comfrey leaves is in the spring and summer, but it is best to use gloves. I think that in the case of your dog, the benefits definitely outweigh the risks. Simply pour boiling water over the tea and leave for 16 to 24 hours. Plants like Comfrey, which have high carbohydrate content, are considered to rejuvenate the skin and to have healing, soothing and moisture retaining properties. There is no doubt that comfrey has powerful You can use whole comfrey leaves as a poultice for sprains, arthritis, pain, and bruising. Probably any advantage crown cuttings have in size and development is canceled by the greater shock of relocation. So I am not giving up on her. (No, that isn't too much space . The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox. (Scratch and heal in one operation!) Comfrey may be planted whenever the soil can be worked (the cuttings will do best, however, if transplanted while dormant). Comfrey Poultice. indeed cause liver damage. Turn down heat to a low simmer. As a Liquid Feed (The Less Stinky Way) Cut a big bundle of comfrey and tie it into a bunch with twine. Once you pull 5-6 comfrey leaves, rinse under cool water and pat dry. I will continue to use it, with wisdom, internally. Mother Earth News Complete Set Of Digital E-Books, Pre-Fabricated, Gambrel Roof A-Frame Plan, Natural Cold Storage: Fresh Food in Winter, Keeping Crops Cool During Hot Weather: 13 Ways to Beat the Heat, Subscribe Today - Pay Now & Save 64% Off the Cover Price. We were shocked to learn just how many ways comfrey oil can rock your natural medicine cabinet! there are many herbalists who believe that comfrey was the victim 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. In our And so, of course, we've laid out another comfrey patch, based on starts we brought from our acre homestead . Since comfrey leaves are so high in moisture and protein, we spread them out well to avoid the heating and spoilage that would take place if the foliage were heaped up. At that time, comfrey had not yet been declared potentially poisonous to humans and animals and this article contained information about using comfrey as a vegetable, in tea and as livestock fodder; none of these applications are advisable, according to FDA and FTC recommendations. As a Liquid Feed (The Less Stinky Way) Cut a big bundle of comfrey and tie it into a bunch with twine. . or simply by digging up a piece of root and setting it in the earth as I've described. I'm confused. Maca Root Benefits for Hormones, Fertility & More. 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. 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. Apply the pad to the affected part—comfortably hot, but not scalding—and cover the area with a thick folded towel to keep the heat in. We've had good luck with root cuttings started both spring and fall. Whatever the scale of your comfrey operation — whether you set out a whole field's worth with a tobacco planter or plant a row beside a city garage — you'll find the plant pays for its keep. The most common medicinal use of comfrey are in poultices to help heal swellings, inflammations and sores. Would applying comfrey inside my dog's open wound be considered as taking it internally and dangerous for the liver or else of my dog? We used to drink comfrey tea for healing and for colds coughs asthma etc - we are still alive with no liver damage. When the foliage is 12 to 18 inches tall, we cut the leaves with a sickle by gathering a bunch together and shearing them off two inches above ground. . Remove the dried leaves from the stems and use a blender or coffee grinder to make a leaf powder. Would like to start growing Comfrey for my animals. aloe vera? sferguson72 . The only kind of comfrey you cannot use internally is the wild kind that has yellow flowers. To just soak your leg, just choose an appropriately sized container, fill it with warm water and add the comfrey tea. The effectiveness of this valuable plant can now be accounted for, and is therefore more widely accepted. Or, you can create your own oil (also known as comfrey balm)by simmering olive oil (or another carrier oil) and comfrey roots and leaves. I have a question about comfrey. This is a matter 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. You can also try using comfrey as mulch or as a compost enhancer. In any case, the compounds implicated in Nature will take its course and soon complete the rotting process, allowing the nutrients to seep into the ground. BTW - Just for your information, I changed the compress morning and evening at which time I soaked my hand for 5 minutes in a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water. don't have an online International Subscribers - Click Here Benefits of Comfrey. Only the leaf is used. You can plant it once and have this very valuable plant forever. I prefer to use a French Press for my herbal teas or tisanes. Slowly add beeswax pastilles and emulsifying wax. Comfrey leaves and roots are rich in tannins, a kind of compound that has an astringent effect on blood vessels. If you choose to use comfrey, use it as directed on the package or as directed by your doctor, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider. To make a comfrey bath, simply make a large pot of comfrey tea (not for internal use) and pour it into your bath. I suggest you wear gloves when you harvest them, as the hairs can be a bit irritating to your skin. 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. Nothing wrong with my liver. taste like more sweet version of potato. The leaves or roots are mushed and applied to bruises, burns, swelling, and sprains. Comfrey has long been used as a cure by Gypsies and peasant peoples, and has an ancient reputation as a mender of broken bones. problems, etc. here is a bit I just discovered about comfrey: Subject: Comfrey PRODUCT DESCRIPTION. The consumption of alcohol W/V c.f. Hi there, Once you have the comfrey leaves, rinse them off under cool water. HarvestingBringing in the sheaves of comfrey is a natural hand task that has its own rhythmic satisfaction. —MOTHER.). After such a harvest, the plants will grow enough to be cut again in 10 to 30 days. They come in 2- to 6-inch lengths and are planted in a flat — horizontal — position at a depth of 2 to 8 inches . Carefully remove the leaves from the stem. You can also buy comfrey plants, seeds or seedlings and grow them at home. 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). on the shallow side for heavy clay soil, deeper in sandy loam. . 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. Uses for Comfrey As I mentioned, I feel comfortable using Comfrey Leaf externally for its uses as in healing wounds and broken bones. Chop them roughly and throw them into your blender, food processor or a jar if you are using an immersion blender. I really appreciate this article. The leaves themselves may be buried as "instant compost" to give row crops season-long nourishment. The amount of leaves you pick will determine how large the poultice will be. . Comfrey is often confused with deadly foxglove and can lead to accidental and fatal poisonings, according to A Field Guide to Venomous Animals and Poisonous Plants by Steven Foster and Roger Caras. Comfrey should not be taken over a long term. Once you're growing comfrey on your own grounds, propagation can be done by dividing multiple-crowned plants . Comfrey tea is prepared by steeping the dried leaves of the comfrey plant, which bears the scientific name Symphytum officinale. Juiced for a drink. 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). It is worth wearing gloves and long sleeved shirts when handling. when taken, cause dizziness ? 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. 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