Comfrey’s Healing History
History
Comfrey has been known for centuries to be an herb that has the ability to heal bones. It has been around since 400BC and was used by the Greeks and Romans. An old folk name for comfrey is knit bone, which is a reminder of how the plant was once thought of as a potent healer that could help heal those with broken bones. There is modern evidence that comfrey indeed has strong healing properties. It was found that comfrey contains allantoin, a chemical that helps encourage the growth of muscle, cartilage, and bone growth. The most common way to get allantoin to the muscle is by crushing the herb into a powder that is then applied topically over an injured limb. It is believed that the allantoin is then absorbed through the skin and encourages the speedy healing of broken bones. Once upon a time, it was not uncommon to hear of comfrey baths that were popular during the Middle Ages. These comfrey baths were especially popular with women who took them before marriage in order to repair the hymen and then restore virginity.
Description
Comfrey itself is slightly sweet, moist, and cool. Its chemical constitution includes inulin, vitamin B 12, proteins, mucilage, tannins, steroidal saponins, allantoin (this is mainly found in the plants flowering tops), tannins, and pyrrolizidine. The aerial parts and the root of the comfrey plant are most commonly used for healing purposes. The aerial plants of the comfrey plant are often used to create herbal remedies. The leaves of the comfrey plant are especially rich in allantoin. The leaves and flowering tops of the plant are mostly used for external purposes. These parts of the comfrey plant are often used to create ointments and infused oils that are used to treat arthritic pain, sprained joints, and other physical injuries. The flowering tops of the comfrey plant should be harvested in the early summer. The root of the comfrey plant is also widely used by herbalists. The root of the plant has many of the same properties as the leaves, but the root tends to be colder and nourishing in its actions. Herbal remedies created from the root of the comfrey plant are often used to treat varicose ulcers. The root should be harvested in the spring or fall because this is when the allantoin levels in the root are at its highest.
Medicinal Uses
There are many common ways to prepare comfrey. The plant can be made into a poultice. Traditional herbalists will puree fresh comfrey leaves and apply the mixture to minor fractures. These are fractures that would not need to be set in plaster. These types of injuries include broken toes, ribs, or a hairline crack. Comfrey is often used in cream form. This makes it easy to spread over pained areas. Comfrey-based creams are often used to treat the symptoms of arthritis and any other form of muscle damage. The aerial parts of the comfrey plant can also be made into an infused oil that is used to treat bruises, arthritic joints and pain, sprains, inflamed bunions and any other sort of traumatic injury.
Other Uses
As an ointment, comfry is an effective treatment for injured bones. It can also be taken internally as a treatment for stomachaches, chest congestion, diarrhea as well as for sore throats and gum diseases.
This plant has a long and well respected history. It not only helps broken bones but has many other medical uses.
Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more informaton on Herbal Remedies.
Tags: comfrey, Herbal Remedies, vitamin b 12
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