Comfrey
(Symphytum officinale)
bruisewort, knitbone, slippery
root, gum plant, healing herb
Description:
A perennial with a deep taproot. The plant contains a glutinous
juice. The 3-5 foot stem is angular and hairy bearing bristly,
oblong, lanceolate leaves, some petioled, some sessile. The
white to blue-mauve flowers grow in forked scorpiod racemes
and have a tubular corolla resembling a glove finger. It is
cultivated throughout Europe, U.S., occasionally escaped, thrives
in almost any soil, does well in moist areas or in shade.
EDIBLE,
Medicinal: The young leaves make good greens. Roasted roots,
together with chicory and dandelion roots, makes a coffee substitute.
It is a
anodyne, astringent, cell proliferant, demulcent, emollient,
expectorant, hemostatic, refrigerant, and
vulnerary. It contains calcium, potassium, phosphorus and allantoin
which speeds up cell renewal in damaged muscles and broken bones.
The leaf tea can help inflamed, ulcerated digestive tracts and
coughs. Leaf poultices reduce swelling and bruising around sprains,
arthritic joints, speeds healing of cuts, burns, open sores,
eczema. Internal use of large amounts of roots and leaves should
be avoided. Latest research indicates the whole plant may have
anti-cancer properties. The leaves make excellent manure and
fertilizer.
