Comfort from Comfrey and how to Knit your Bones

Symphytum officiale. Family: Boragincease

Thank you to alma mater Wild Rose College for sharing this poster and information regarding Comfrey.

Comfrey is one of my favourite plant allies. I remember reading references to it in historical fiction as Knit Bone - sounds so fascinating doesn't it? In fact, Comfrey does have amazing powers to help bone and muscle heal from injury. Startingly it works so quickly that care must be taken not to apply it to open wounds because it can seal in infection before a scab has formed. However, as a salve on closed wounds, breaks, muscle pulls etc., it will help speed along your body's healing.

In the past, Comfrey has been used internally as well but this has fallen out of favour because of the possibility of liver damage.

Here, again with thanks to Wild Rose College, is the info on this amazing plant:

"Comfrey (Symphytum officinale), is a powerful medicinal herb that has been used for centuries to heal damaged tissues and broken bones. But why exactly is it called knit bone?

Well, the answer lies in the chemical constituents of comfrey. All plants contain chemicals that interact with our bodies. Comfrey contains a chemical called allantoin, which has the ability to increase cell proliferation. In other words, allantoin speeds up the healing process of damaged tissues and bones, literally knitting them back together.

This amazing property makes comfrey an excellent addition to any herbal first-aid kit. You can use it as a poultice or infuse it in oils and creams to apply on closed wounds, breaks, sprains, and strains. Its potent healing properties can help to reduce inflammation, ease pain, and speed up the healing process.
However, it is important to note that comfrey should not be applied topically on open, infected or dirty wounds because it may close the skin before the infection is eliminated.

*This post is focused on the topical benefits of Comfrey. Though it's important that we note that all species of comfrey contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids which can potentially damage the liver when taken internally. Neither comfrey root nor leaf should be consumed during pregnancy, breastfeeding, by small children with developing livers or those with liver conditions."