COMFREY (Symphytum
officinale)
Common names: Knit Bone,
Boneset, Consound and Bruise wort.
This medicinal plant belongs to our most indispensable and valued
herbs, which nature has in store for us. It grows in moist meadows, ditches and
near streams, is found also near fences and in gravel pits, flowering all
summer. The leaves are rough and pointed at the end. The several year old root,
dark brown to black on the outside, white to yellowish within, is of the
thickness of a thumb and, cut open, is sticky, almost slimy.
The root is dug out
in spring or autumn. The fresh plant is gathered before and during the time of
flowering.
The tincture of Comfrey, easily prepared, contains wonderful power.
People, who suffer from rheumatism and swelling of joints and have been treated
with other remedies without success, have found relief with Comfrey tincture.
A
woman could hardly use her right arm (the socket joint was almost unusable) and
the doctor had already diagnosed paralysis. Following my advice, she rubbed the
tincture into the joint of the right arm daily. From day to day she felt how her
complaint eased. Today she can use her arm normally and can look after her
household.
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DIRECTIONS
Tea preparation from the roots: 2 teaspoons of finely
chopped roots are soaked in 1/4 litre cold water overnight, slightly warmed in
the morning, strained and taken in sips.
Tea (for stomach
ulcers): A heaped teaspoon of the mixture (see text above) to 1/4
litre of boiling water, infuse for 3 minutes. 3 to 4 cups are sipped during the
day.
Poultice: Well dried roots are finely ground, mixed
quickly with very hot water and a few drops of cooking oil and spread on a piece
of linen, applied warm on the affected area and bandaged.
Leaf
applications (fresh): Fresh leaves are washed, beaten to a pulp and
applied to the affected part.
Leaf applications (hot):
Comfrey leaves are scalded and applied warm.
Additions to full
bath: 500 gm. fresh or dried Comfrey leaves are soaked in approx. 5
litres of cold water. Next day it is brought to the boil and the liquid is added
to the bath water (see "full bath" - General Information).
Sitz
bath: Proceed as for full bath, but use only 200 gm. of leaves.
Comfrey tincture: Comfrey roots are washed and cleaned with
a brush, finely chopped, loosely placed in a bottle, rye whisky or wodka poured
over them and the bottle kept in the sun or near the stove for 14 days.
Comfrey ointment: 4 to 6 fresh, washed Comfrey roots,
depending on size, are finely chopped and added to 250 gm. of heated lard and
left to cool overnight. Next day reheated, lightly strained and pressed through
a cloth, immediately poured into clean, small jars and stored in the
refrigerator. This Comfrey ointment can be used instead of the meal. For
treatment of wounds in humans and animals the ointment is invaluable.
Comfrey wine: 2 to 5 fresh roots are finely chopped and
macerated in one litre of white wine for 5 to 6 weeks. An excellent remedy for
pulmonary complaints!