Parts of the plant used: Leaves and root
Antipyretic, Antitrussive, Astringent, Bitter, Cell Proliferant, Demulcent, Expectorant, Mucilant, Nutritive, Styptic, Tonic, Vulnerary
Comfrey is an amazing herb. Often known as the "bone knitting herb", it has an incredible ability to regrow cells and aid in quicker healing, close wounds, stunt bleeding and can soothe "breasts, burns, wounds, swelling and bites."
The following is taken from Rachel Weaver MH, in her book "Be Your Own Doctor".
"The FDA considers comfrey a dangerous herb to ingest, but I feel that this is misinformation based on a study that they did with rats. This study (The Carcinogenic Activity of Symphytum Officinale by Hirono, Mori, and Hago - Japan, in 1978, which sparked the U.S. legislation regarding the use of comfrey.) focused on injecting newborn rats with PA's (pyrrolizidine alkaloids) which is unrealistic. We never inject that compound into our bodies. They also fed the rats extremely large amounts of comfrey daily. I propose that this is a biased study. If you were to feed anyone Tylenol or Pepto Bismol in such large quantities, or inject it into their bodies, these medicines would quickly cause liver cancer and be pulled off the market. Furthermore, they used only isolated PA's and not the whole plant for that experiment. None of us take comfrey that way. When the whole plant is taken, you cannot ingest enough PA's to damage you."
I am not telling you that you should use comfrey, I am simply presenting information so that you can educate yourself and make your own responsible decisions. I personally find these facts quite fascinating:
"Scientists that did the original experiments, did tell the news media later that when the product (Comfrey) was given to the rats in its whole and natural state, that this did not happen, though. Should we worry about those alkaloids in Comfrey? If you do, then you better worry about those alkaloids in tomatoes, potatoes, or vegetables in the same family, as they have the same alkaloids, Comfrey has earned its title honestly, as being the knitter, healer plant. Comfrey is one of the greatest herbs God has ever given to man. The FDA wants to remove Comfrey from the marketplace". -Jack Ritchason The Little Herb Encyclopedia
That's interesting. If the studies done never proved comfrey taken as a whole plant to be harmful, why is everyone so worried about it? I believe that when there is something good that God made, there seems to be a good amount of opposition to that good something.
Random Facts About Comfrey
- About Comfrey Dr. Shook (a contemporary of Dr. Christopher) has said: “This is one of Nature’s great masterpieces, one of the most important therapeutic agents ever discovered by man.” Also, “It will cure all curable cases, and in the incurable ones it will soothe, comfort, support the heart, check hemorrhage, ease cough, help breathing, and check diarrhea—in cases of internal injury, broken bones, torn ligaments, and lacerated tissue, it is the quickest, safest and most certain healer.” And, “It does not seem to matter much which part of the body is broken or torn, either internally or externally, Comfrey will heal it quickly. It is a great cell proliferant or new cell grower, it grows new flesh and bone alike, stops hemorrhage, and is wonderful for coughs, soothing and healing the inflamed tissues in a most remarkable manner.”
- Comfrey helps duplicate and regrow new cells at a faster rate. This is called a cell proliferator.
- Knits bones back together more quickly. Dr. Christopher said it would "cause broken bones to knit in half the usual time.”
- Comfrey is able to stop hemorrhaging of lots of different sorts
- It strengthen the pituitary gland which then helps to put in balance the phosphorus and calcium in the body. This keeps the bones more flexible and less likely to break, such as in children and helps create healthy skin.
- Helps stimulate the secretion of pepsin, a digestive enzyme to help digestion
- Comfrey is great for respiratory problems in the lungs. Especially if there is any bleeding. Comfrey would be the herb of choice!
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