Since ancient times, comfrey root has been used in folk medicine. Warriors in ancient Rome also resorted to this plant. It was used for bone fusion, wound healing. Medieval monks healed many ailments with dried roots. What is this plant, and what is its healing power?
Culture Description
Comfrey is a perennial herb. The people called the culture zhivokost. It received such a name for its ability to accelerate the growth of damaged bones. But this is not its only positive effect on the body. Comfrey has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and regenerative properties. In addition, it perfectly improves appetite and improves overall tone.
The plant has an erect long stem. In height, it sometimes reaches 1.2 m. The stem along the entire length is covered with small hard hairs. Leaflets have a rough surface. They have a characteristic cucumber flavor. The plant has beautiful flowers down. They attract the eye with a purple, purple, blue, and sometimes yellow-white palette.
Comfrey root is black-brown. He is very powerful. The root grows in breadth and inland. Spindle-shaped processes extend from it to the sides. That is why it is very difficult to dig out comfrey root. The photo allows you to consider what underground part the culture has. The healers say: to get to the root system of comfrey, you need to dig a very large hole.
A livestock grows near canals, streams, on moist lawns, in shrubbery.
Chemical composition
The most popular in medicine is comfrey root. At the same time, the whole plant has healing power. Therefore, healers often use leaflets of culture for compresses for bruises and fractures.
The underground part contains many useful components:
- mucous 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, hemostatic effect. That is why it is used to treat the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract. It is in demand for a variety of internal bleeding.
- The active ingredients of the root, according to recent scientific studies, have antiulcer and antitumor activity.
- The plant is rich in allantoin. This component is a natural antibiotic. It allows you to effectively deal with 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, osteomyelitis. At the same time, it provides an excellent result even in those cases when traditional means do not give 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, torn ligaments. Due to its rich composition, it effectively reduces pain, eliminates swelling and relieves inflammation.
Therapeutic use
The roots of comfrey officinalis have a number of beneficial effects on the human body:
- bactericidal;
- regenerative;
- bone-healing;
- antitumor.
They are able to accelerate the process of repairing damaged tissues, stop necrosis. But you should be aware that the plant is quite poisonous. In addition, the alkaloids that make up the culture can paralyze the central nervous system.
That is why resorting to treatment with this plant should only after consultation with a doctor.
In official and traditional medicine, the laparfire is in demand in the fight against such ailments:
- osteochondrosis;
- any bone pathology;
- osteomyelitis;
- arthrosis, arthritis;
- inflammation of the periosteum ;
- dislocations;
- gout, rheumatoid lesions of the joints;
- bone tuberculosis ;
- thrombophlebitis;
- sarcoma;
- tumors of various origins;
- peptic ulcer disease;
- hardening of the breast in a nursing mother;
- long non-healing wounds;
- angina;
- radiculitis;
- sciatica;
- periodontal disease;
- impaired functioning of the musculoskeletal system;
- metastasis of cancer cells in the bone.
Consider how to prepare medicines from a healing root.
Workpiece Features
Initially, comfrey (root) should be properly prepared. It is better to postpone treatment until the fall. Since digging out the roots is recommended in early November. But if therapy cannot wait, then the harvesting of roots takes place in spring and even in summer.
The dug part of the culture 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. Dry the plant in a well-ventilated area. Dried out the root at a temperature of 30-40 0 C. To do this, resort to the help of 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 tool as follows:
- Grind comfrey root. This component will need 2 tsp.
- Fill the raw material with cold water (1 liter).
- The remedy is infused for 8 hours. Then carefully drain the liquid.
- The residue 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 discharge).
This tool can be used both internally and externally.
Drinking the resulting infusion is recommended when:
- digestive problems (dysentery, intestinal catarrh, diarrhea);
- diseases of the respiratory system.
Take the medicine inside 50 ml, 30 minutes before a meal. During the day, you can drink the infusion up to 6 times.
The tool is also used:
- as poultices, compresses for dislocations, sprains, fractures;
- in the form of a rinse for tonsillitis, inflammation in the mouth, respiratory infections.
Tincture for compresses
A medicine is prepared in a slightly different way if you plan to use comfrey root exclusively for external purposes.
Preparation of tincture:
- Grind the root thoroughly. Take 3 tbsp. l cooked raw materials.
- Pour boiling water (0.5 L).
- The solution should be infused in a thermos for 30 minutes.
Use this tool in the form of compresses for the treatment of:
- sprains, joint pains, dislocations, fractures;
- skin diseases;
- festering wounds.
Liver bone broth
A very popular medicine is the following remedy:
- Take chopped root (1 tbsp. L.).
- Pour the raw material with cool water (0.5 L).
- Within 5 minutes, the solution must be boiled over low heat.
- Then the broth must be infused for 1 hour.
Such a medicine is used for therapy:
- various gastrointestinal pathologies (gastritis, ulcers);
- hypertension
- internal bleeding;
- respiratory diseases.
It is recommended to use 100 ml of the resulting product. During the day, you must take the medicine up to 4 times.
Alcohol tincture
For the preparation of funds 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.
Alcohol tincture from comfrey roots is prepared as follows:
- Take the raw materials. It is best to take the root of a mature plant. The older the culture, the stronger its healing properties. Clean the fresh root. Rinse it in several waters.
- Grind thoroughly using a grater or meat grinder.
- Put the resulting slurry (100 g) in a glass jar.
- Pour the raw materials with vodka (0.5 L). If you use alcohol, then initially dilute it to 40%.
- Shake the product, stir it well. Put the solution in a dark place. Do not store it in the refrigerator.
- The medicine should be infused for 2 weeks. By this time, the root will completely settle. And the liquid will get a brown shade resembling tea. It’s a little slippery to the touch. The medicine is ready. It is necessary to carefully drain the liquid without stirring the solution.
- Thicken again with vodka (0.5 l). And put in a dark place. After 14 days, you will have a new dose of medicine. Raw materials can be used 3 times.
Take tincture with a variety of ailments:
- gastrointestinal diseases;
- tuberculosis
- diseases of the respiratory system;
- oncology of the lungs, prostate, mammary glands;
- metastasis to bone tissue.
It can be used externally to treat diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Tincture will alleviate the suffering of the patient with dental diseases, pathologies of the oral cavity. In addition, it is often used to gargle.
Use tincture as follows:
- 10 drops of the drug are diluted in 1 tbsp. l water;
- take 2 times a day 1 hour before a meal.
It is strictly forbidden to increase the concentration of the drug. Do not forget that comfrey is poisonous.
Ointment preparation
The healing properties of comfrey are evaluated by official medicine. Confirmation of this is the well-known "Doctor Tayss Ointment." This development of German pharmacologists made us more attentive to the healing properties of the stomach bone.
You can make at least a healing ointment yourself:
- Comfrey roots must be ground into powder.
- Prepare the ingredients. You will need root powder and pork lard, in a proportion of 1: 1. Just don't mix them.
- Lard must first be melted.
- Then inject the stomach powder into the fat.
- Boil the product for about 10 minutes.
- Allow the ointment to cool.
- To ensure the desired consistency, add camphor oil to the product.
The ointment is used to rub into painful joints. It effectively eliminates inflammation, eliminates puffiness. They resort to her help with severe joint pain.
Comfrey in milk
Consider another fairly effective recipe.
The tool 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. thrice a day.
Comfrey Root: Contraindications
It should be remembered that, despite its healing power, the larkspur is poisonous. That is why, if you are considering therapy with a remedy such as comfrey root , be sure to discuss the use, contraindications of this culture with a doctor.
Larkspur is prohibited in the following conditions:
- pregnancy (it is able to provoke uterine contractions);
- hypotension (the root provides a decrease in pressure).
In addition, comfrey should not be used uncontrollably. Do not forget that it is toxic enough. It is not recommended for a long time to take inside a medicine based on a gastrointestinal tract. As a rule, optimal therapy lasts 10-20 days.