Comfrey Leaf 

Also Known As -Symphytum officinale, Bruisewort, Knitback, Knitbone, Boneset, Slippery Root, Bruisewort, Ass Ear, and Blackwort.

Origin - Organically Grown, USA

Overview - Comfrey is widely known as “one of nature’s greatest medicinal herbs”, and has appeared in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia, as well as in herbals and compendiums around the world. 

• Comfrey has a very high level of allantoin, the cell proliferant and skin strengthener and is a proven, beneficial ingredient for treating skin and hair conditions. Allantoin is a hormone-like substance found in the roots, stems, and leaves of Comfrey and is a major ingredient in better skin and hair care products — available without prescription.
• For a thousand years or more, Comfrey has been known as “knit bone” because of its reputed success in healing broken bones. It was listed in the earliest herbals and pharmacopoeias as a remedy for healing wounds.
• The experiences of millions of people using Comfrey for healing purposes can be distilled into the thousands of recorded testimonies of accelerated healing of wounds, broken bones, burns, bruises, ulcerations, and much more.
• Comfrey as Feed and Food for your live stock - Comfrey is a high-yield, high protein perennial that is superior compost, fodder, food and remedy. It can be dried for hay or crumbles, pelletized, and also used for silage. Versatile fresh leaves are your main crop.
• With increasing animal feed costs and protein prices jumping ever higher, you’ll benefit from having the PERENNIAL SECURITY of Comfrey’s extraordinarily high-yield to use for economical animal food.

Medicinal Uses - Acts as a blood cleanser. Beneficial for asthma, coughs, catarrh, flu, ulcers, swelling, varicose veins, perineal tears, diaper rash, cradle cap, cramps, tuberculosis, pain, and burns. Also good for the stomach, kidneys, bowels, and lungs.

A decoction of the rootstock makes a good gargle and mouthwash for throat inflammation, hoarseness, and bleeding gums. Drink it to take care of most digestive and stomach problems, for intestinal difficulties, anemia, scrofula, pimples, for excessive menstrual flow, heal broken bones, and to stop spitting blood. Powdered rootstock can also be taken internally for bloody urine (hematuria), leukorrhea, diarrhea, gastro-intestinal ulcers, gout, dysentery and persistent coughs. Externally, use the powder as a hemostatic agent, and make a poultice for wounds, boils, abscesses, wounds that refuse to heal, leg ulcers, bruises, sores, broken bones, sprains, and insect bites. The hot pulp of the rootstock makes a good external application for bronchitis, pneumonia, coughs, pleurisy, and for the pain, and inflammation of pulled tendons. Add the rootstock to the bath water regularly for a more youthful skin.

Other Uses - Makes an excellent liquid fertilizer for garden and houseplants (allow leaves to decompose in a container of water). Add to the compost pile; use only wilted leaves, however, so they do not take root in the compost pile. 

Parts Used - Leaf and roots

Preparations -  Paste, ointment, tincture, decoction, poultice and in cosmetics. 

• Decoction: boil 2 tsp. rootstock in 1 cup water or wine. Take a wineglassful or a teacupful 2-3 times a day.
• Infusion: use 2 tsp. rootstock per 1/2 cup water. Take 1-2 cups per day, warm, a mouthful at a time. Internal application of tea is not advisable.
• 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. ix 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 2-4 hours. 

Precautions -  Not to be used while pregnant or nursing. Not to be applied to broken or abraided skin. 

• Avoid use on dirty wounds, because rapid healing can trap dirt or pus.
• Some comfrey salves on the market specifically recommend use by nursing mothers with chafed nipples. Since comfrey should not be ingested by infants, consult the doctor before use of these products.
• Root use discouraged due to high levels of liver-toxic (or cancer-causing) pyrroliziidine alkaloids. Leaf tea (at least some types), although less carcinogenic than beer, has been banned in Canada. There is also a danger that the leaves of Comfrey may be confused with the first-year rosettes of Foxglove (Digitalis), with fatal results. Consult an expert on identification first. Use is restricted in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Germany.
• Avoid use of comfrey with edema, obesity, or malabsorption.
• Use only under careful medical supervision. Do not use for longer than 3 months at a time. May cause liver damage.
• Comfrey should not be given to small children, infants, or pregnant women. 

Disclaimer -  These products are not intended to diagnose, treat cure or prevent any disease. Reviews are not intended as a substitute for appropriate medical care or the advice of a physician or another medical professional. Actual results may vary among users. Mountain Maus Remedies LLC makes no warranty or representation, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy or validity of the information contributed by outside product review submissions, and assumes no responsibility or liability regarding the use of such information. The information and statements regarding the dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. If you have a medical condition or disease, please talk to your health care provider. If you are currently taking a prescription medication, you should work with your health care provider before discontinuing any drug or altering any drug regimen, including augmenting your regimen with any herb or dietary supplements. Do not attempt to self-diagnose any disease or ailment based on the reviews and do not use the information contained herein for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease. Proper medical care is critical to good health. If you have a health concern or suspect you have an undiagnosed sign or symptom, please consult a physician or health care practitioner.