Welcome to Herb Notes, I’m Tara Ruth.
Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) has a mixed reputation as a healing herb and potentially risky herbal ally.
Let's dive into the key benefits and contraindications of comfrey…
1. Comfrey for Broken Bones
Topical applications of comfrey — like a poultice or salve — on a properly set broken bone can help heal the bones. Comfrey is a cell proliferant that increases cell growth and can support bone repair.
2. Comfrey for Sprains and Strains
Comfrey can also support tissue repair for ligaments and muscles. A topical application of comfrey can help reduce swelling and pain and promote healing.
3. Comfrey for Your Garden
Comfrey can help your other plants grow too! Make a strong, fermented comfrey leaf tea and spray it on your plants to promote their growth.
And some key notes of caution when working with comfrey:
When working with comfrey topically, avoid applying it to dirty, infected, or puncture wounds. Also, avoid applying comfrey to a broken bone that hasn’t been properly set.
And finally, comfrey contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids which can potentially cause serious damage to the liver when taken internally. So, it's especially important to avoid internal usage of comfrey for small children, pregnant folks, and people who are lactating. Many herbalists recommend limiting or avoiding internal usage of comfrey entirely. You can check out the comfrey monograph on the LearningHerbs blog to learn more.
Want to learn more about the benefits of other common herbs?
Visit HerbNotes.cards to grab a deck of our top 12 Herb Notes. You’ll learn about herbs like elderberry, chamomile, and more.
This has been Herb Notes with me, Tara Ruth. Catch ya next time!
