Comfrey family. Comfrey: beneficial properties, description, and contraindications. Use in everyday life
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Comfrey root has been used in folk medicine since ancient times. Warriors in Ancient Rome resorted to the help of this plant. It was used for bone healing and wound healing. Medieval monks treated many ailments with dried roots. What kind of plant is this, and what is its healing power?
Description of culture
Comfrey is a perennial herbaceous plant. The culture is popularly nicknamed larkspur. It received this name for its ability to accelerate the healing of damaged bones. But this is not its only positive effect on the body. has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and regenerating properties. In addition, it perfectly improves appetite and improves overall tone.
The plant has an erect, long stem. It sometimes reaches a height of 1.2 m. The entire length of the stem is covered with small, hard hairs. The leaves have a rough surface. They have a characteristic cucumber aroma. The plant has beautiful drooping flowers. They attract the eye with a violet, purple, blue, and sometimes yellow and white palette.
Comfrey root is black-brown in color. It's very powerful. The root grows in breadth and depth. Fusiform processes extend from it to the sides. This is why it is very difficult to dig up the comfrey root. The photo allows you to see what underground part the culture has. Healers say that in order to get to the root system of comfrey, you need to dig a very large hole.
Larkspur grows near canals, streams, on damp lawns, and in bushes.
Chemical composition
The root of comfrey is most in demand in medicine. At the same time, the entire plant has healing power. Therefore, healers often use the leaves of the plant for compresses for bruises and fractures.
The underground part contains many useful components:
- slimy and rubbery substances;
- alkaloids;
- carbohydrates;
- tannins;
- organic acids.
Beneficial features
Due to its composition, comfrey root is in demand in the fight against many diseases:
- Abundant mucous components give the plant an expectorant, anti-inflammatory, and hemostatic effect. That is why it is used to treat the respiratory tract and gastrointestinal tract. It is in demand for a wide variety of internal bleeding.
- The active ingredients of the root, according to recent scientific research, have antiulcer and antitumor activity.
- The plant is rich in allantoin. This component is It allows you to effectively fight various pathogenic bacteria that provoke purulent inflammatory processes in the body. Due to these properties, the root is widely in demand in the treatment of trophic ulcers and osteomyelitis. At the same time, it provides excellent results even in cases where traditional means do not provide positive dynamics.
- But the most basic use of the root is the treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system. It is used for dislocations, sprains, fractures, and ligament ruptures. Thanks to its rich composition, it effectively reduces pain, eliminates swelling and relieves inflammation.
Medicinal use
The roots of comfrey have a number of beneficial effects on the human body:
- bactericidal;
- regenerating;
- bone healing;
- antitumor.
They are able to accelerate the process of restoration of damaged tissues and stop necrosis. But you should know that the plant is quite poisonous. In addition, the alkaloids that make up the culture can have a paralyzing effect on the central nervous system.
That is why you should resort to treatment with this plant only after consulting a doctor.
In official and folk medicine, larkspur is in demand in the fight against such ailments:
- osteochondrosis;
- any bone pathologies;
- osteomyelitis;
- arthrosis, arthritis;
- dislocations;
- gout, rheumatoid joint lesions;
- thrombophlebitis;
- sarcoma;
- tumors of various origins;
- peptic ulcers;
- hardening of the mammary gland in a nursing mother;
- long-term non-healing wounds;
- angina;
- radiculitis;
- sciatica;
- periodontal disease;
- dysfunction of the musculoskeletal system;
- metastasis of cancer cells to bones.
Let's look at how to prepare medicines from medicinal roots.
Features of the workpiece
Initially, you should properly prepare the comfrey (root). It is better to postpone treatment until autumn. Since it is recommended to dig up the roots in early November. But if therapy cannot wait, then root harvesting occurs in spring and even summer.
The excavated part of the crop must be washed under running cold water. Then it should be dried. To do this, the root must be cut into small pieces and strung on a thread. The plant should be dried in a well-ventilated area. The root is dried at a temperature of 30-40 0 C. To do this, use a dryer.
Water infusion
Now that you have the raw materials ready, you can move on to the process of making the medicine.
Prepare the product as follows:
- Grind the comfrey root. You will need 2 tsp of this component.
- Fill the raw material with cold water (1 l).
- The product is infused for 8 hours. Then you need to carefully drain the liquid.
- The remainder is poured with boiling water (1 l). The product should be infused for another 30 minutes. Carefully drain the solution again.
- It is necessary to combine both liquids (after the first and second drain).
This remedy can be used both internally and externally.
- digestive problems (dysentery, intestinal catarrh, diarrhea);
- ailments of the respiratory system.
Take the medicine 50 ml orally, 30 minutes before meals. You can drink the infusion up to 6 times during the day.
The product is also used:
- as poultices, compresses for dislocations, sprains, fractures;
- in the form of a rinse solution for sore throats, inflammations in the mouth, and respiratory infections.
Tincture for compresses
The medicine is prepared somewhat differently if you plan to use the root of the comfrey herb exclusively for external purposes.
Preparation of tincture:
- Grind the root thoroughly. Take 3 tbsp. l. prepared raw materials.
- Pour boiling water (0.5 l).
- The solution should be infused in a thermos for 30 minutes.
This remedy is used in the form of compresses to treat:
- sprains, joint pain, dislocations, fractures;
- skin diseases;
- festering wounds.
Larkspur decoction
A very popular medicine is the following remedy:
- Take the chopped root (1 tbsp).
- Fill the raw material with cool water (0.5 l).
- The solution must be boiled over low heat for 5 minutes.
- Then the broth needs to brew for 1 hour.
This medicine is used to treat:
- various gastrointestinal pathologies (gastritis, ulcers);
- hypertension;
- internal bleeding;
- respiratory tract diseases.
Alcohol tincture
To prepare the product for internal use, it is advisable to use alcohol or vodka 40%. If the medicine is intended for external purposes, then you can take stronger alcohol - 70 percent.
An alcoholic tincture of comfrey roots is prepared as follows:
- Take raw materials. It is best to take the root of a mature plant. The older the culture, the stronger its medicinal properties. Peel the fresh root. Rinse it in several waters.
- Grind thoroughly using a grater or meat grinder.
- Place the resulting pulp (100 g) in a glass jar.
- Fill the raw material with vodka (0.5 l). If you use alcohol, initially dilute it to 40%.
- Shake the product and stir it well. Place the solution in a dark place. It should not be stored in the refrigerator.
- The medicine should infuse for 2 weeks. By this time the root will have completely settled. The liquid will turn brown, reminiscent of tea. It feels a little slippery to the touch. The medicine is ready. It is necessary to carefully drain the liquid without stirring the solution.
- Fill the thicket again with vodka (0.5 l). And put it in a dark place. After 14 days you will have a new dose of medicine. Raw materials can be used 3 times.
The tincture is taken for a variety of ailments:
- gastrointestinal diseases;
- tuberculosis;
- ailments of the respiratory system;
- oncology of the lungs, prostate, mammary glands;
- metastasis to bone tissue.
It can be used externally to treat ailments of the musculoskeletal system. The tincture will ease the suffering of the patient with dental diseases and pathologies of the oral cavity. In addition, it is often used to gargle.
Use the tincture as follows:
- 10 drops of medicine are diluted in 1 tbsp. l. water;
- Take 2 times a day 1 hour before meals.
Preparation of ointment
The healing properties of comfrey are appreciated by official medicine. This is confirmed by the famous “Doctor Theiss Ointment”. This development of German pharmacologists forced them to pay more attention to the medicinal properties of larkspur.
You can make an equally healing ointment yourself:
- Comfrey roots must be ground into powder.
- Prepare the ingredients. You will need root powder and pork lard in a 1:1 ratio. Just don't mix them.
- Lard must first be melted.
- Then stir the larkspur powder into the fat.
- Boil the product for 10 minutes.
- Allow the ointment to cool.
- To ensure the required consistency, add camphor oil to the product.
The ointment is used for rubbing into sore joints. It effectively relieves inflammation and eliminates swelling. People resort to its help for severe joint pain.
Comfrey with milk
Let's look at another fairly effective recipe.
The product is made as follows:
- The crushed root (40 g) is poured with fresh milk (1 l).
- The product must be infused (in a sealed container) in the oven at a temperature of 80 0 C.
- The duration of languishing is 6-7 hours.
The resulting medicine is used to treat renal and pulmonary pathologies. It is recommended to take 1 tsp. three times a day.
Comfrey root: contraindications
It should be remembered that, despite its healing power, larkspur is poisonous. That is why, if you are considering therapy with such a remedy, be sure to discuss the root contraindications of this culture with your doctor.
Larkspur is prohibited under the following conditions:
- pregnancy (it can provoke uterine contractions);
- hypotension (the root provides a decrease in blood pressure).
In addition, comfrey should not be used uncontrollably. Don't forget that it is quite toxic. It is not recommended to ingest larkspur-based medicine for a long time. Typically, optimal therapy lasts 10-20 days.
Comfrey is a perennial, which has a short rhizome with many long branches. The trunk of this plant reaches up to one hundred centimeters in height, branching at the top, with spreading leaves.
It is all covered with white, rough, slightly bristly hairs. The comfrey flower cup is violet or purple in color. It is also covered with dense hairs, just like on the trunk of the plant. In July-September the comfrey fruit ripens. The fruit consists of a dry pod, which splits into four shiny nuts; its leaves are entire.
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What does the comfrey plant look like and what is it?
Comfrey officinalis. Types and applications
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Grass was used to make silage, liquid fertilizer, bone meal, and used as green fodder. It grows in one place for more than ten years and does not reduce its productivity. Next, it is more appropriate to dwell in more detail on medicinal comfrey. Let's get to know him better.
Comfrey Useful properties and contraindications Application
Since ancient times, healers have found the use of comfrey in alternative medicine. This herb is very unique and beneficial. The root of the plant helps relieve pain in bones and joints, and helps get in shape after a fracture. That is why this herb is popularly called "larkspur".
What is the secret of such healing properties? It's simple - it's substance allantoin. It is what helps relieve inflammation, stimulate cell regeneration, heal and have an antibacterial effect. Only comfrey contains this beneficial, miraculous allantoin. It helps treat not only bones, it is also used for joints, sprains and dislocations. Its healing power is so strong that it helps to cope with such serious diseases as bone tuberculosis, osteoporosis, and bone cancer.
Remedies and decoctions from this herb help provide anti-inflammatory, astringent, antimicrobial, enveloping and hemostatic properties. Despite the fact that comfrey has a huge variety of beneficial properties, it also has contraindications. It contains poisonous components consolidin and cynoglossin.
After a thorough study of the plant by doctors, it was concluded that long-term use of drugs with comfrey has mutagenic and carcinogenic effects. It should not be taken by people who have low blood pressure, or if they are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Collection and storage rules
All the strength and healing power is contained at the root of larkspur. It is best to start harvesting in early spring, while there are still no leaves on it. Or you can collect it at the end of flowering, when the inflorescences turn blue. It is necessary to dig out the underground part, wash it and cut it into small pieces. Then you need to dry it in a dark place or on a dryer, make sure that the temperature is no higher than 40 degrees, otherwise it will lose all its beneficial properties.
Dried roots should not be stored in airtight containers or plastic containers. Paper bags or cardboard boxes that allow air to pass through are best for storage. Thanks to proper collection and storage, larkspur is good for medicinal purposes for about three years..
Comfrey root. Application. Contraindications
A decoction of the roots helps restore the periosteum, destroy microbes from wounds with pus, and heal wounds. This decoction is used for baths, compresses and washes. To prepare a medicinal decoction, you need to heat 1 liter of water and add 8 grams of root, but do not bring to a boil. Turn off the heat and leave the broth for four hours.
If you want to strengthen your child’s bones, it is recommended to bathe him in this decoction. And in order to simply enhance the properties of the decoction, it is advisable to take it freshly prepared. Classical medicine recommends taking medicine from comfrey when you are tormented by diseases of the lungs, prostate, and mammary glands. And also if there is a need to stop the spread of metastases in bone tissue and relieve inflammation.
- For trophic ulcers, arthritis, radiculitis, thrombophlebitis, mastitis, carbuncle, diseases of the oral cavity, it is recommended to use medications only externally.
- For pain in the amputated stump, sciatica, preparations from comfrey are suitable for treatment. Traditional medicine recommends preparing a gruel from larkspur and using it in the form of a compress for thrombophlebitis, bruises, and broken bones.
Larkspur juice is also used to treat bleeding wounds and nosebleeds. You can make jam from larkspur roots to help relieve colds and flu. You can also use the root as a mask, which, due to its properties, will help improve skin color and restore the epithelium. Some people also use its root in their regular bathing routine.
Despite the benefits of larkspur, it has a number of contraindications. All parts of the plant contain poison that can harm the body, so dosage should be observed when used internally. It is forbidden to take comfrey for people prone to allergies, children and pregnant women, as it can cause miscarriage.
If you are poisoned, prepare a pale pink solution of potassium permanganate and rinse your stomach. It is better to start using the plant after consulting a doctor. In minimal quantities, roots and leaves will not cause harm, but in case of overdose, disturbances in the functioning of some body systems will occur.
Doctor of Agricultural Sciences, Professor of the department. Botany RGAU-MSHA named after K.A. Timiryazeva
Genus comfrey ( Symphytum) There are 19 species from the Borage family, and in addition, interspecific hybrids have been described. First of all, this is comfrey, mentioned in all books on herbal medicine ( S. officinalis), then a very powerful rough comfrey ( S.asperum Lepech.), and very small comfrey (S. tuberosum L.). Found in the Caucasus foreign comfrey (S.peregrinum Ledeb.) and Caucasian comfrey (S.caucasicus Bieb.). In addition, it is also mentioned that it grows in Europe and the USA Russian comfrey (S.xuplandicum). However, in this case, botanists do not agree. Some equate it with foreign comfrey, and some consider it a hybrid of medicinal and rough comfrey. But it’s better to leave this problem to taxonomists.
They are almost identical in chemical composition and therefore, when talking about their medicinal properties, we will call them by the common word comfrey. Although there are some differences - some species lack individual alkaloids. And rough comfrey and medicinal comfrey are very close.
Latin name Symphytum comes from Greek "symphyeiln"- grow together, which indicates its traditional use for fusion of bones during fractures. Since the time of Dioscorides, it has been used as a wound-healing agent and for abscesses.
The above-ground mass of comfrey contains up to 0.2% pyrrolizidine alkaloids (echimidine, symfitin, cynoglossin), the glycoalkoloid consolidine, tannins, mucus, choline, and traces of essential oil. Both the above-ground mass and the roots contain large amounts of vitamin B12, its amount is comparable to meat and eggs and 4 times more than in yeast! Possessing also a low fiber content, it is readily eaten by pets. And, according to some studies, it is the high content of this vitamin that neutralizes harmful pyrrolizidine alkaloids in “animal stomachs”. It also contains a lot of potassium - almost three times more than other plants. The herb was used in folk medicine of Central European countries for lung diseases. Nowadays, due to the content of pyrrolizidine alkaloids, they are practically not used.
The root contains allantoin (0.6-0.8%), tannins and mucous substances (fructans), aspargine, triterpene saponins (primarily symphytooxide A), rosmarinic acid, silicon compounds, phytosterol and the same pyrrolizidine alkaloids (0.3 -0.4%), which should be discussed in more detail. In addition, a new glycoprotein was isolated, which has an anti-inflammatory effect and is of great importance.
Allantoin is a fairly common compound in the plant world, which is also abundant in legumes. Scientists attribute this to the fact that its formation is carried out by bacteria living on the roots, and in the form of allantoin, nitrogen simply moves in the plant to those places where it is needed for growth and the formation of proteins, nucleic acids, etc. Experiments with labeled nitrogen confirmed this. When the bacteria were removed, the content of this substance in soybeans turned out to be negligible. Comfrey also has a lot of “soil friends” and, probably, the high content of this compound has the same reason as in legumes.
Allantoin promotes granulation and tissue regeneration, as well as bone fusion. It has specific osmotic properties - liquid is released through the surface of the wound, washing away bacteria and their metabolic products. The formation of new cells increases. Choline helps improve local blood circulation and more rapid resorption of hematoma. The rosmarinic acid present has anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antioxidant effects. Saponinoxide A exhibits antimicrobial activity.
Previously, comfrey was used for gastritis and even stomach ulcers internally in the form of a decoction, but now it is limited to external use. Although in many European cookbooks its young leaves are recommended for salads and as a nutritious substitute for spinach. In general, people's experience diverged from science.
A little horror
Allantoin and its aluminum salt (aluminum hydroxide allantoinate) isolated from the roots of comfrey are non-toxic compounds. The toxic effect of comfrey on the body of animals and humans is due to the content of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in it, in particular, cynoglossin, consolidine and lasiocarpine, which can cause paralysis of the central nervous system, since they cause a partial blockade of the ganglia, disrupting the conduction of impulses to the striated muscles.
In 1992, a problem suddenly arose with pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Germany has published extremely stringent restrictive standards for this group of compounds due to their carcinogenic and toxic effects, which they showed in animal studies. Contained in the roots of comfrey, as well as in the seeds of heliotrope pubescent ( Heliotropium lasiocarpium L.) alkaloid lasiocarpine is a fairly toxic compound. Because of this alkaloid and the heliotrope seeds containing it, which got into the grain, the inhabitants of Central Asia in 1931–1945. Toxic hepatitis was common.
Pyrrolizidine alkaloids have carcinogenic properties. The ability of comfrey to induce the development of liver cancer in experimental animals is associated with symphytin. In addition, the alkaloids lasiocarpine and cynoglossin can cause mutations in the body.
The alkaloid lasiocarpine in its pure form at a dose of 50 ppm/1 kg of body weight causes liver cancer in experimental rodents. Toxicological studies indicate that adding 0.5% comfrey roots and 8% comfrey leaves to rats causes the development of malignant tumors of the liver and bladder. But at the same time, it should be remembered that there is very little of it in comfrey and it does not enter the body in its pure form.
Many previously used plants containing these substances were blacklisted, for example in Germany they banned... mother and stepmother.
Medicinal uses of comfrey
Despite the dangers described above, in Germany there is a huge amount of comfrey preparations. Its effectiveness has been confirmed by serious clinical trials. Some changes were simply made to the formulations of a number of drugs (Rectosan, Digestosan, Neopectosan) and the internal use of comfrey preparations was limited.
Only medicinal preparations from comfrey for external use, dental and cosmetic products are allowed for use. Due to teratogenic properties, comfrey preparations should not be used during pregnancy and lactation. Comfrey preparations in Germany are recommended to be used no more than 4-6 weeks a year.
But, as some literature sources indicate, comfrey roots contain small amounts of pyrrolizidine alkaloids, and they are not typical alkaloid-containing raw materials. Therefore, remedies from roots cannot lead to the above toxic manifestations in the body. Despite the significant toxicity of individual comfrey alkaloids, we have not found any publications in the scientific and practical literature on the lethal toxicity of herbal or new-galenic products made from comfrey roots or herbs. Or rather, a couple of dubious examples wander from one source to another. In general, it seems that this problem is greatly exaggerated. After all, they tested alkaloids in their pure form, but in the plant they are contained with polysaccharides and other substances. But no one has canceled its strong hemostatic and wound-healing effect on ulcers and tuberculosis.
In modern medical practice, products from comfrey are used in clinical dentistry, due to their ability to stimulate and regenerate periodontal cells. Positive results were obtained with the use of comfrey for periodontal disease, including the purulent form. For this purpose, rinsing the mouth with a decoction of comfrey roots was prescribed. The combination of comfrey with other plants, such as basil grass and linden blossom, is very popular, which significantly enhances the anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effect.
For example, a Bulgarian drug for the treatment of this disease is a decoction of comfrey roots, St. John's wort herb, bearberry leaf, nettle leaf with roots and soapwort roots. Antiseptics were added to the finished decoction: metronidazole, collargol and sodium benzoate. This combined decoction in the experiment showed a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect and a positive effect in 78% of patients with periodontal disease. But you can prepare a decoction at home without chemical ingredients, it will also be quite effective.
Quite well-known pharmaceutical companies produce a rinse for gums based on allantoin in combination with aluminum fluoride, aluminum lactate, chlorhexidine, bisabolol and peppermint essential oil.
An ointment with anti-inflammatory, keratolytic and epithelializing properties for the treatment of psoriasis, which contains allantoin, has been patented in Romania. In cosmetics, this substance fights acne. Data from clinical observations indicate a high therapeutic effect of using ointment from comfrey roots for granuloma annulare, vasculitis, focal scleroderma, trophic ulcers, cracks in the corners of the mouth.
For 100 years, comfrey remedies have been widely used in homeopathy. Comfrey was introduced into homeopathy based on knowledge of traditional medicine. Comfrey was first tested in part as a homeopathic remedy by McFarlane, who first used it in the form of a poultice as a wound-healing agent. Later Grosserio began to use Symphytum in a 30-fold dilution for bone injuries, especially fractures. Currently, its use has expanded, and modern homeopaths prescribe it not only for bone fractures, but also for paralysis, caries, gastric and duodenal ulcers and hemorrhoids.
How to use comfrey at home
There are a lot of recipes: from ordinary decoction to ointments and suppositories. Here's one option. Take fresh comfrey root, grate or grind in a meat grinder, sprinkle with corn oil, and stir. This mass in the form of a compress is applied to sore veins, burns, wounds, sore joints and ligaments, bruises and contusions. In winter, you can take dried root powder, add a small amount of water to make a paste, again add a few drops of oil and use as described above.
Decoction prepared from 10 g of crushed roots and a glass of water. Boil for 10 minutes, filter and use for compresses.
If you are a fan of aromatherapy, then add a few drops of pine and lavender oil to the crushed comfrey roots. The oils complement the action of comfrey and also exhibit a very strong antimicrobial effect. Lavender was even used in World War I to prevent gangrene. Apply the resulting pulp to the sore spot for sprains, hematomas and other traumatic injuries. These same oils can be added when preparing an ointment from comfrey roots.
A ointment Prepare as follows: mix 10 g of comfrey roots minced into meat grinders with 100 g of lard or ointment base. Place this mixture in a water bath for 2-3 hours. After this, while hot, strain through a cloth and store in the refrigerator in a jar. Use as described above.
Among other things, comfrey ointment is good for stopping nosebleeds.
For the courtyard
In Soviet times, comfrey was among the promising new forage crops designed to boost livestock production. The protein content in it is almost the same as in alfalfa, and only 2 times less than in soybeans, including all essential amino acids, free of protease inhibitors. And given that it has several mowings during the summer, the protein yield per unit area is higher than that of soybeans. In addition, rough comfrey, for example, is a very powerful perennial plant, with which weeds cannot compete. It grows in partial shade, where other cultivated plants simply do not grow. And what’s interesting is that, despite the presence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which German pharmacologists fear, toxic hepatitis and other “pyrrolizidine” delights are not detected in them.
Additionally, comfrey is sometimes called “green manure.” Due to its high nitrogen and potassium content, it is comparable in nutritional value to cow manure. But if you still decide to grow this plant, find a shaded place for it somewhere away from flower beds and other cultivated plants. It becomes a vicious weed with a very deep root, and its behavior resembles the spread of horseradish throughout the area.
Comfrey is also a wonderful honey plant: hard comfrey produces 101.5–227.1 kg/ha of honey, Caucasian comfrey – 114.5–205.0, foreign comfrey – 116.6–127.5, medicinal comfrey – 79.6– 181.2 kg/ha, and this also with quite a long flowering period.
You can sow it with seeds or transplant the root. Then self-seeding forms abundantly - try to promptly remove it from places not intended for it.
Photo: Maxim Minin, Rita Brilliantova
In this article we talk about comfrey. You will learn the chemical composition and medicinal properties of the plant. You can use recipes for preparing ointments, tinctures and infusions from comfrey for the treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system. We will tell you who should not use comfrey preparations and why.
Comfrey is a perennial herbaceous plant (lat. Symphytum) of the Borage family. Other names for comfrey: bonebreaker, greasy root, larkspur.
The plant got its name comfrey because it grows in depressions and ditches. The Latin name translated means “to bind”, “to connect”, it is explained by the ability of comfrey to restore damaged bones.
Sometimes comfrey is confused with another plant of the Buttercup family - larkspur (Delphinium). These plants have nothing in common.
What does comfrey look like?
Appearance (photo) of comfrey This is a tall, up to 1 meter, herbaceous plant with a straight, powerful stem covered with stiff hairs. The root is large, black in color with snow-white pulp, and releases mucus when broken. The leaves are large, rough, oval in shape.
The flowers are small, bell-shaped, red, white, purple or lilac, collected in a raceme. The fruits are smooth, shiny nuts. Each flower produces 4 seeds when ripe.
Where does it grow
Comfrey grows in Europe, Asia, Africa, Japan, New Zealand and North America.
Prefers fertile, humid places: banks of reservoirs, lowlands and wetlands. Often found in gardens and vegetable gardens near compost heaps, where the soil is fairly moist.
You have learned what comfrey grass looks like and where it grows, now we will tell you about the chemical composition of this plant and its beneficial properties.
Comfrey root
Comfrey roots are used for medicinal purposes. Medicines from comfrey are used in folk medicine. The leaves and roots of the plant are used. Preparations from comfrey have antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and hemostatic effects.
The most valuable part of comfrey is the root, which contains active substances.
Chemical composition
Comfrey root contains:
- allantoin;
- alkaloids;
- flavonoids;
- tannins;
- mucus;
- tannins;
- inulin;
- essential oils;
- resins;
- Sahara.
Medicinal properties
The medicinal properties inherent in comfrey root are actively used in homeopathy, folk medicine and the pharmacological industry.
Comfrey contains a large amount of allantoin. This substance is necessary for fractures and diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
The plant has strong hemostatic properties and helps with both internal and external bleeding.
Comfrey preparations have expectorant and anti-inflammatory effects. They help cope with bronchitis and colds.
The astringent and enveloping properties of comfrey are used in the treatment of diseases of the digestive tract.
How to collect
What does comfrey root look like? Large, knotty, black with a brown tint.
How to prepare comfrey root? Dig up the roots in early spring before the plant blooms or in late autumn. Small shoots are cut off, and the main rhizome is cleared of soil with a brush and cut into small pieces. It is not recommended to wash raw materials with water.
How to dry comfrey roots? Pieces of root are strung on a thread and hung in a cool, well-ventilated area until completely dry. A dry crack when breaking indicates that the roots are ready for further storage in a linen bag or a sealed glass jar.
How to use
The use of comfrey preparations should be treated with caution, especially when made independently. This plant is poisonous, so strictly follow the dosage of components and recommendations for use.
Comfrey compresses for joints
Comfrey is used for joints in complex therapy.
Ingredients:
- Chopped comfrey roots - 0.5 cups.
- Honey - 1-2 tbsp. spoons.
- Vegetable oil - 1 tbsp. spoon.
How to cook: Mix finely chopped roots with honey and vegetable oil, heat over low heat, leave for a couple of days.
How to use: Apply the resulting paste to the painful joint, cover with natural fabric, put a film on top and insulate it. Leave overnight for best results. Repeat every two days.
Result: The compress relieves pain and swelling, improves joint mobility.
Tincture for fracture
Comfrey is used for fractures.
Ingredients:
- Comfrey roots - 100 grams.
- Vodka - 500 ml.
How to cook: Pour vodka over the crushed roots, leave for two weeks in a dark place, shaking occasionally.
How to use: Drink 30-40 drops with water 3 times a day before meals. After removing the plaster, apply a cloth soaked in tincture diluted in half with water to the fracture site.
Result: The product accelerates bone healing.
Comfrey oil for intervertebral hernia
Substances contained in larkspur root accelerate the restoration of bone tissue.
Ingredients:
- Dried comfrey root - 50 g.
- Vegetable oil - ½ liter.
How to cook: Pour oil over the root, leave in a dark place for 10 days.
How to use: Gently massage your back after applying the oil.
Result: Oil relieves inflammation and relieves pain.
Comfrey for oncology
Allantoin, which this plant contains in abundance, has an antitumor effect. In folk medicine, this property is used to treat sarcoma and cancer of various localizations. The infusion is used internally and in the form of applications from the crushed root, applied to the tumor or affected bone.
Other uses of comfrey
A decoction of comfrey root is used as a lotion for arthritis and arthrosis. Ointment from fresh roots helps with bruises and torn ligaments. Osteochondrosis is fought with ointments, tinctures and compresses from larkspur root.
For hemorrhoids, microenemas are made from a decoction of comfrey.
Comfrey-based ointment helps with all forms of mastopathy.
Comfrey ointment - use for joints
The effectiveness of using comfrey ointment for joints is explained by the plant’s ability to restore and strengthen bone tissue.
How to prepare comfrey ointment for joints at home?
Ingredients:
- Chopped larkspur roots - 1 part.
- Pork lard - 4 parts.
How to cook: Mix the ingredients and place in a steam bath for 30 minutes. Filter in liquid form until solidified. Store in the refrigerator.
How to use: Rub into joints or apply a thick layer under a bandage.
Result: Reduces joint pain, increases mobility.
The joints of the hands are often affected by osteochondrosis and suffer from salt deposits.
How to make comfrey ointment at home for hand joints?
Ingredients:
- Comfrey roots - 50 gr.
- Pork lard - 50 gr.
- Honey - 3 tbsp. spoons.
How to cook: Mix all ingredients and simmer in a water bath until smooth.
How to use: Rub comfrey ointment into joints twice a day.
Result: Regular use of the ointment improves the mobility of the joints of the hands and reduces pain in the area of salt deposits.
Below is a comfrey ointment - a recipe for a vertebral hernia.
Ingredients:
- Comfrey root powder - 1 part.
- Rendered lard - 4 parts.
How to cook: Mix the ingredients thoroughly and refrigerate.
How to use: Before going to bed, rub the ointment into your back, avoiding the hernia area, wrap your back with a warm scarf.
Result: Comfrey-based ointment for intervertebral hernia improves the condition of cartilage tissue and relieves pain.
The combination of comfrey with other medicinal plants in the ointment enhances the healing effect on the joints. How to prepare ointment from comfrey and cinquefoil?
Ingredients:
- Ground comfrey roots - 2 parts.
- Ground cinquefoil roots - 1 part.
- Any rendered internal fat (preferably badger) - 100 ml.
How to cook: Mix 2-3 tablespoons of roots with fat and place in a water bath for 2-3 hours. Strain and squeeze.
How to use: Apply warm to joints, cover with film, insulate.
Result: Ointment with comfrey and cinquefoil improves the condition of joints.
You learned how to make your own comfrey root ointment.
Comfrey tincture - a recipe for joints
Comfrey tincture for joints is no less effective for treatment than ointment. It is used for rubbing against gout, osteochondrosis and salt deposits. How to make comfrey tincture for joints?
Try making comfrey tincture with vodka
Ingredients:
- Comfrey root crushed into shavings - 1 part.
- Vodka - 3 parts.
How to cook: Pour vodka over the plant material. Leave in a dark place for 21 days, shaking occasionally.
How to use: Apply the tincture to the affected joints and massage.
Result: Removes inflammation, relieves pain.
Ingredients:
- Comfrey root -100 gr.
- Alcohol - 500 ml.
How to cook: Pour alcohol into the plant material. Leave in a dark place for 1 week, shaking occasionally.
How to use: Rub into painful joints, use as a compress if there is no inflammation.
Result: Restoration of joints and cartilage tissue.
Intervertebral hernia is a fairly common disease, which at an early stage causes pain in the back and neck, similar to osteochondrosis and radiculitis. Before starting treatment for a hernia, it is necessary to diagnose it in a medical institution. At home, you can prepare comfrey tincture for a herniated disc.
Ingredients:
- Dry comfrey root - 50 g.
- Vodka - 0.7 liters.
How to cook: Pour vodka over the raw materials. Allow the mixture to steep for 14 days, then strain.
How to use: Rub the tincture on your back and make compresses.
Result: Stimulates the restoration of cartilage tissue of intervertebral discs.
If, having learned how to prepare comfrey tincture at home, you cannot do this, use the pharmacy equivalent.
Medicines with comfrey
You can buy preparations with comfrey at the pharmacy. Pharmaceutical preparations with comfrey are successfully used in the treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system, bruises, fractures and injuries.
Name | Compound | Application |
Comfrey 911 |
comfrey extract; chondroitin; badyagi extract; essential oils of eucalyptus, rosemary, cloves, juniper. |
Treats wounds and burns, relieves inflammation, removes swelling and swelling, and relieves pain. Used in the treatment of joint diseases. |
Doctor Theiss Larkspur |
comfrey extract; chlorophyll; pine oil; corn oil. |
Improves blood circulation, warms, relieves pain, relieves inflammation. Used for bone fractures, ligament ruptures, bruises, radiculitis, osteochondrosis, arthritis. |
Larkspur with bee venom |
comfrey extract; bee venom; tea tree oil; burdock extract; rosehip extract; golden mustache extract. |
Relieves pain and inflammation, improves blood supply and nutrition to joints, and stops salt deposition. Used for radiculitis, neuralgia, gout, age-related changes in the musculoskeletal system. |
Larkspur body balm comfrey |
comfrey root extract; aloe extract; tea tree oil; sea buckthorn oil; propolis; extracts of plantain, golden mustache, celandine, chamomile, arnica. |
Restores metabolic processes in joints. Used for swelling, muscle spasms, damage to cartilage and joints, and bone fractures. |
Can comfrey be used during pregnancy?
Comfrey increases the muscle tone of the uterus and contains toxic substances in moderate quantities, so comfrey preparations cannot be used during pregnancy either internally or externally.
Contraindications
You cannot use comfrey and preparations made from it:
- children;
- pregnant women;
- breastfeeding;
- for allergy sufferers.
Classification
Taxonomic position:
- Domain: Eukaryotes.
- Kingdom: Plants.
- Department: Flowers.
- Class: Dicotyledons.
- Family: Borageaceae.
- Subfamily: Borageaceae.
- Genus: Comfrey.
Varieties
There are about 20 species of comfrey.
The most common:
- comfrey (Symphytum officinale);
- Crimean comfrey (Symphytum tauricum);
- heart-shaped comfrey (Symphytum cordatum);
- large-flowered comfrey (Symphytum grandiflorum);
- wandering comfrey (Symphytum peregrinum);
- Caucasian comfrey (Symphytum caucasicum);
- eastern comfrey (Symphytum orientale).
For more information on planting comfrey, watch the video:
Comfrey infographics
Photo of medicinal comfrey, its beneficial properties and uses: Infographics on comfrey
What to remember
- Comfrey has medicinal properties that are used to treat bronchitis, bleeding, gastrointestinal diseases and oncology
- This plant is most in demand for fractures, ligament ruptures and diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
- The plant is poisonous and requires caution when used.
- It is strictly forbidden to use larkspur preparations during pregnancy.
- You have learned everything about comfrey, beneficial properties and contraindications for the use of this plant.
Larkspur is a plant with a “speaking” name that accurately characterizes its properties. This green healer has another name - comfrey. We will consider the beneficial properties and contraindications for its use in more detail. What does comfrey look like? The herbaceous perennial can reach one meter in height and has large elongated leaves covered with fluff. The root of the plant is most often used for medicinal preparations, but the leaf can also be used for medicinal purposes.
Comfrey in the backyard
When and how to harvest comfrey
It is best to dig up comfrey root in the spring, before the leaves begin to bloom. You can also harvest it in the fall, after the plant has flowered.
If you specifically need larkspur leaves, you need to collect them during flowering.
When harvesting the root, it is important to dry it reliably - comfrey prefers to grow in damp places, loves moisture and accumulates it in its roots.
The root extracted from the ground is thoroughly washed, cut into small pieces, and dried for a long time. In order to maintain the maximum concentration of nutrients in the roots of the plant, the temperature for drying the raw materials should not be higher than +60°C.
To store comfrey roots and leaves you will need paper bags or boxes; the raw materials have healing powers for about 1 year. It is the roots of the plant that contain active substances - allantoin, alkaloids, tanning components, essential oil, glucoalkoloids, sugar, organic acids, resins, etc.
Tinctures, decoctions, and steams from comfrey roots are used to treat various types of fractures, bruises of bones and soft tissues, dislocations, sprains, and spinal injuries. Larkspur - vitalizes bones (literally), promotes their accelerated fusion, the scope of its therapeutic influence extends to muscles, joints, and tissue restoration. The plant has gained well-deserved popularity in folk and official medicine, and even during the war it was the first means of aid for victims in the field.
Comfrey, photo of the plant where it grows
Medicines containing larkspur have an anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, astringent, and hemostatic effect. Comfrey loves a humid environment, places near natural or artificially created reservoirs, various ravines, depressions in the ground (trenches), which is why it got its name. Under natural growing conditions, it should be looked for in such an area.
Where is larkspur used?
As mentioned above, the use of comfrey is important for bone fractures, various injuries to the skin and muscles, and for gastric and intestinal inflammation. It also helps with kidney diseases, respiratory diseases, various abscesses, ulcers, irritations on the body, rheumatic manifestations, inflammation of the venous vessels. All kinds of ointments, alcoholic infusions, medicinal decoctions, and powders are prepared from it.
In some countries, fresh larkspur leaves are used as a soup seasoning, as well as a “green” addition to all kinds of salads. A fresh decoction (steam) of rhizomes and leaves relieves intestinal aggravation, improves appetite, promotes digestion, and helps with indigestion and colitis. A decoction of the plant alleviates the condition during exacerbations of stomach and pancreatic ulcers. Since ancient times, small, weak children were bathed in a bath with a decoction of larkspur roots to keep their bones strong, and they were additionally given tea to drink from the roots and leaves. For compresses or medicinal washes, pour three tablespoons of dry roots into a liter of water, put on fire (but do not bring to a boil), and then leave for 3-4 hours. Freshly dug comfrey root, crushed to a pasty consistency, is the best natural compress for bruises. It is recommended to rinse the mouth with a decoction for various dental problems.
Freshly squeezed juice of the plant helps in the treatment of wounds; larkspur has even found its use in cosmetology; many regenerating masks, applications, and oils also contain its extract.
To prepare a medicinal infusion, take 1 tablespoon of finely chopped roots, pour 250 ml of boiling water, cover the container with a lid and leave for 8-9 hours. Then strain the contents, and re-fill the roots with the same amount of boiling water, leave for half an hour, strain through cheesecloth, mix both infusions. The resulting drug is recommended to be taken 2-3 tablespoons every 3 hours - it helps with respiratory diseases, coughs, colds, bronchitis, promotes the removal of phlegm, and relieves inflammatory processes.
How to prepare comfrey tincture from fresh root? An alcoholic tincture of comfrey is made as follows: take 100 g of raw material, fill it with a bottle of vodka (0.5 l, 40 degrees of strength). You need to infuse the roots for about 2 weeks, after this time the mixture must be strained. This medicine should be taken orally, 15-20 or 30 drops dissolved in 100 ml of water (frequency 3-5 times a day). The same composition can be used for rubbing, compresses, lotions for dislocations, bruises, for accelerated healing of bone fractures, for washing wounds (pre-dilute with water), and rinsing the mouth. This remedy helps with stomach diseases, ulcers, kidney inflammation, and mastitis (applications).
Comfrey root - use as a decoction: 1 tbsp. Place a spoon in 250 ml of boiling water, cook over low heat for about 10 minutes, cool, strain. The resulting composition is successfully used to treat the ailments described above, plus it is used for douching for “female” diseases, exacerbations of hemorrhoids (after consulting with a doctor), and inflammatory symptoms of the bladder. This decoction is also good for your appearance - skin irritations disappear, peeling and various types of redness are removed. Hair, and especially the scalp, respond well to rinsing with comfrey decoction, hair loss is significantly reduced, irritated skin is soothed, and itching goes away.
Steamed comfrey tincture is an excellent remedy that helps with the previously described misfortunes; even with complex treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis, its use often improves overall well-being and accelerates regeneration processes. To prepare it you will need a regular thermos, 15-20 g of finely chopped roots, 250-300 ml of milk or clean water. The root is placed in a thermos, filled with boiling liquid, and left overnight. You should take 50 ml of steam every 2-3 hours.
Contraindications to the use of comfrey
As always happens, the medal has a downside - despite the wide range of useful components, comfrey grass is still poisonous. The plant contains toxic alkaloids of plant origin, glucoalkoloids. Scientific research has proven that long-term use of larkspur-based drugs can provoke the growth of tumors in the human body and even cause changes in gene structure.
Any use of pharmaceutical or self-prepared drugs containing comfrey must be agreed with a doctor. If you suffer from low blood pressure, comfrey should not be taken. Larkspur is strictly contraindicated for pregnant or breastfeeding women! If you have an individual intolerance, naturally, you should not torture your body and take medications containing comfrey (both folk and pharmaceutical). If there is a tendency to form blood clots, treatment with this herb should also be excluded (especially taking decoctions and infusions orally).
Follow the correct dosage, start treatment with the smallest doses - do not experiment with your own health. Remember - there is poison in a cup, and a healing elixir in a spoon, then comfrey, the beneficial properties and contraindications of which you are now also familiar with, will give you its natural strength.