Comfrey
Symphytum officinale
Habitat:
By river banks, in ditches and in wet spots.
Also called: Knitbone;
Knitback; Consound; Blackwort; Bruisewort; Slippery Root; Boneset;
Consolida; Ass Ear
Treatment for:
wounds; broken bones; ulcer;
hernia; haemorrhage; bronchitis
-
Preparation:
[Root, rhizome, leaf]
- Unearth the roots in spring or autumn. Split and dry in fairly
cool place. Infuse one to three tsp of the dried herb in a cup of
water, bring to a boil and let simmer for 10-15 minutes.
Active ingredient:
Allantoin
vulnerary; demulcent; anti-inflammatory; astringent;
expectorant
A relative of the forget-me-not, comfrey is
recognizable by its broad, hairy leaves. One of the best known of
traditional herbal treatments; its use goes back at least to the
Middle Ages and into the indefinite past. Has been used for gout
and aching joints as well as for all kinds of breaks, wounds and
ulcers.