Grow | Harvest | Use
with
Comfrey
"Where comfrey grows, there lives a woman wise in the way of plants."
Symphytum officinale
Member of the boraginaceae family with relatives including borage, lungwort, and alkanet
Comfrey might be referenced as "boneset" which is also the common name of Eupatorium perfoliatum of the Asteraceae family
I D E N T I F I C A T I O N
Hardy growing 2-4ft tall and spreads wide
Hairy, fibrous dark green leaves with prominent veins
Dense, thick, moist stems
Pinkish purple bell-shaped flowers in drooping clusters
Roots that are black on the outside and white on the inside
G R O W
Perennial
Hardy in zones 3-9
Well drained, moist, fertile soil, but will grow most anywhere
Full sun to part shade
Flowers attract pollinators, especially bumblebees
Choose it's forever home before planting as a teeny bit of root left behind can sprout
H A R V E S T
Late summer to early autumn
After it flowers, to possible reduce pyrrolizidine alkaloids in leaves
Midmorning
D R Y
Cool, dark place with good airflow
Remove from stems before drying
Handle carefully to avoid browning
U S E
Plant near trees as its roots will bring up minerals closer to the soil surface.
Use large leaves as mulch along edges of beds or around the base of plants.
To advantage of the nitrogen, calcium, phosphorus and potassium in the leaves:
-Enrich a compost pile by mixing in chopped leaves
-Make a compost tea by steeping leaves for 4-6 weeks and diluting the strained tea before watering your plants with it once per week
Mini Monograph with Comfrey
If anything is broken,
use comfrey
Symphytum officinale
Greek "sympho" means "to unite"
Latin "confirmare" means "to make firm"
Common names include boneset, knitbone, knit back and bruisewort.
P R O P E R T I E S
Anti-inflammatory | Astringent
Emollient | Nutritive
Styptic | Vulnerary
C O N S T I T U E N T S
Allantonin | Calcium
Mucilage | Nitrogen
Phosphorus | Potassium
Tannins | B Vitamins
E N E R G E T I C S
Cool
Moist
Bitter
M A K E
Compress + Oil + Poultice + Wash
Fractures, burns, wounds, bruises, bleeding, sprains, cartilage, joints, ligaments, muscles, inflammation, arthritis
Because comfrey is not recommended for internal use, due to its pyrrolizidine alkaloid properties that have been linked to liver cancer when consumed in high doses.
F O L K L O R E
Ruled by Saturn and the sign Capricorn.
Symbolizes protection and travel
Purchase herbs by visiting Mountain Rose Herbs
All suggestions are intended for external use.
For educational purposes only.
Not intended for medical advice.
Always consult your physician.
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