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HERB ALLEY
Comfrey
(Symphytum Officinale)
COMMON NAMES: Blackwort,
bruisewort, gum plant, healing herb, knitback, salsify, slippery root,
wallwort.
MEDICINAL PART: Root,
and leaves.
DESCRIPTION: Comfrey
is a perennial plant common in moist meadows and other moist places in
the U.S. and Europe. The rootstalk is black outside, fleshy and whitish
inside, and contains a glutinous juice. The angular, hairy stem bears
bristly, oblong lanceolate leaves, some petioled, some sessile. There
are also tongue-shaped basal leaves that generally lie on the ground. The
whitish or pale purple flowers have tubular corolla resembling the finger
of a glove and grow in forked scorpioid racemes from May to August.
PROPERTIES AND USES:
Anodyne, astringent, demulcent, emollient. expectorant, hemostatic, refrigerant,
vulinary. A decoction of the rootstalk makes a good gargle and mouthwash
for throat inflammations, hoarseness, and bleeding gums. Drink
it to take care of most digestive and stomach problems, for intestinal
difficulties, for excessive menstrual flow, and to stop spitting blood.
Powdered rootstalk can also be taken internally for bloody urine,
leucorrhea, diarrhea, gastro-intestinal ulcers, dysentery, and persistent
coughs. Externally, use the powder and a hemostatic agent, and make
a poultice for wounds, bruises, sores, and insect bites. The hot
pulp of the rootstalk makes a good external application for bronchitis,
pleurisy, and for the pain and inflammation of pulled tendons. Add
the rootstalk to your bath water regularly for a more youthful skin.
Comfrey has a healing
and soothing effect upon every organ it contacts. Its demulcent properties
make it especially valuable to the lungs and mucous membrane linings of
the respiratory system. Useful whenever there is dryness, irritation
and/or inflammation.
Powerful remedy in coughs,
catarrh, ulcerated or inflammation of the lungs, consumption, hemorrhage,
excessive expectoration in asthma, and tuberculosis. Very valuable
in ulceration of the kidneys, stomach or bowels, or when sore. The
best remedy for bloody urine.
PREPERATION AND DOSAGE:
Decoction: Boil 2 tsp
rootstalk in 1 cup water or wine. Take a wineglassful or a teacup
full two to three times a day.
Infusion: Use 2 tsp rootstock
per 1/2 cup water. Take 1 to 2 cups a day, warm, a mouthful at a
time.
Tincture: Take 1/2 to
1 tsp at a time.
Cold Extract Tea: Use
3 heaping tsp fresh or dried rootstock with 1 cup water; let stand for
10 hours and strain. Bring the soaked rootstock to a boil in 1/2
cup water, then strain. Mix this with the cold extract and drink
a mouthful at a time over the course of the day.
Pulp: Stir fresh, chopped
rootstock into a little hot water to form a thick mash. Spread on
a linen cloth and apply. Renew every 2 to 4 hours.
Poultice: Of fresh leaves
is excellent for ruptures, sore breasts, fresh wounds, ulcers, white swellings,
burns, bruises, and sores.
The Herb Book by
John Lust
The Science and Art of Herbology
by Rosemary Gladstar.
Back to Eden by
Jethro Kloss.
