Comfrey Medicinal - a unique plant that treats fractures, abrasions and dislocations, accelerates tissue regeneration, has anti-inflammatory and protective effects on the skin. An ointment from a plant can be easily purchased at a pharmacy or prepared independently at home.
Comfrey officinalis - description
Comfrey (Symphytum officinale L.), originally from Asia and Europe. It is a perennial plant growing from a thick, fleshy root system that can penetrate deep into the earth in search of moisture and nutrients. The most beneficial properties of the herb are its ability to reduce pain, eliminate inflammatory processes, strengthen the immune system, stimulate regeneration and strengthen bones, treat skin, prevent the development of tumors and improve the health of the airways. Because of this, the herb is widely used in folk and alternative medicine, although there are some contraindications in its use.
Comfrey grows mainly in the northern part of Europe, and the height of a mature plant, as a rule, reaches 120 - 150 cm. The largest leaves are located in the lower part of the bush, their size decreases towards the top of the plant. They are oval in shape with sharp tips. Leaves are arranged alternately along the stem. The whole plant is covered with short hairs, which give a feeling of stiffness when touched with it. All parts of it, when damaged, secrete mucous juice.
Depending on the variety, comfrey has flowers in white, purple or blue. They resemble the shape of a bell, 1 to 2 cm long. After flowering, they form a capsule containing four seeds. Due to its attractive appearance, the plant is suitable for decorating gardens and parks.
Collection and drying
In folk medicine, both the leaves and roots of comfrey are used. However, it is believed that the root has stronger medicinal properties. The best time to collect leaves is a flowering period. After collecting them, drying in the sun is recommended in places with good air circulation.
It is recommended to dig roots in the early spring when shoots leave the earth, or in the fall, after the first frosts. After digging, they should be cleaned and cut into thin slices. After drying, the plant should be stored in an airtight container.
Essential nutrients in the plant
The composition of comfrey medicinal includes:
- allantoin, alkaloids, choline, tannins, saponins, asparagine, inulin, resins, phenolic acids and protein;
- vitamins of groups B, A, C and E;
- trace elements - calcium, potassium, phosphorus, chromium, copper, cobalt, iron, manganese, magnesium, sodium, sulfur, boron, molybdenum, zinc.
Allantoin deserves special attention - it is formed from uric acid in the roots of plants. Allantoin affects the formation of connective tissue, which accelerates wound healing. In addition, it has an anti-inflammatory effect, soothes irritations, accelerates skin regeneration, softens and smoothes it, alleviates the symptoms of psoriasis, helps with ulcers, and protects against the formation of pressure sores and sunburn.
Skin Benefits
Comfrey ointment due to its high content of antioxidant components, as well as vitamin C, is a miracle cure for wound healing. The tool helps to eliminate foreign substances from the body and activates the production of collagen.
Cosmetics based on comfrey oil can be used on the face and skin of the whole body, as they have a strengthening effect. Therefore, this plant is a component of serum for the face, eyes, as well as lotions and ointments, which not only have a stimulating and warming effect, but also effectively help fight cellulite. Comfrey cosmetics reduce wrinkles and stimulate skin microcirculation. After their application, the skin becomes more radiant, moisturized, fresh, and the signs of its aging are reduced.
Comfrey for bone growth and regeneration
Comfrey can help speed up the healing process of broken bones, as well as other physical injuries. This plant is high in calcium, which is a key component of the growth and regeneration of the musculoskeletal system. To this end, it can be applied directly to the skin or in the form of a compress, due to which it will significantly speed up healing. The plant is also suitable for repairing damaged muscles.
Anti-inflammatory action of the plant
Comfrey is a natural anti-inflammatory agent, as it contains various organic compounds, such as saponins and tannins. In folk medicine, there are many ways to use comfrey for joints in the stage of inflammation. Tincture and ointment from a plant are used in the treatment of arthritis and rheumatism.
Ointment from the plant is recommended for chronic pain in the body or during recovery after surgery. The use of ointments with plant extracts can quickly soothe pain, especially when other remedies are not available. Herbal preparations are often recommended for many diseases of the spine.
Comfrey and its expectorant action
Comfrey is not known to be used orally, but even inhaling its smell or rubbing it into the skin of the chest can act as an effective expectorant. Traditional medicine recommends the use of this plant for inflammation of the respiratory tract.
Comfrey and strengthening the immune system
An extremely important component of comfrey is vitamin C, which in the body can stimulate the production of white blood cells. They represent the first line of defense of the body's immune system. Thanks to this, the plant can be used to protect and treat many diseases, mainly related to the weakening and exhaustion of the body.
Comfrey with varicose veins
In traditional medicine, the beneficial properties of comfrey are also used in case of varicose veins. It alleviates inflammation, swelling, and pain. Currently, you can find Russian drugs based on comfrey extract, designed to treat inflammation of the veins.
How to apply the plant?
Reviews about comfrey and information on how to use the plant can be found on the forums dedicated to traditional medicine, as well as in our article. Comfrey root should not be used internally - it contains alkaloids toxic to the liver. The plant should be used externally, best in the form of tincture or ointment. You can also combine a teaspoon of crushed root with a few drops of boiled water and a tablespoon of olive oil. Thus, the resulting slurry must be applied to the sore spot (wound, place of pain), wrapped with linen material, covered with a towel and bandaged.
Comfrey tincture
Comfrey tincture is considered an effective drug, especially for diseased joints and muscles, inflamed skin, internal organs and respiratory system. For its preparation, only the root of the plant and alcohol (70%) will be needed. 1 - 2 comfrey roots should be washed thoroughly and chopped enough, then put into a clean bottle. Then it is necessary to fill everything with alcohol and leave in a sunny place for 2 weeks.
Tincture can be used only for external purposes, and for a short period of time. Oral administration can lead to serious health problems. Tincture is most often used in case of bruises and pains in the joints, as well as rheumatic diseases.
Decoction
Put 1-2 teaspoons of dried grass into the pan. Pour 500 ml of water, bring to a boil and cook for 10-15 minutes. Then let it stand under the lid and strain. So, the resulting broth is applied externally in the form of compresses in case of injuries, bruises, abrasions, sprains, pains, etc.
Ointment
To use comfrey medicinal for joints, it is necessary to prepare an ointment from the plant. To do this, peeled and dried root (about 6 pieces) of the grass must be chopped (cut, passed through a coffee grinder). Prepared raw materials should be sprinkled with 40% alcohol (approximately 200 ml per 500 ml of comfrey) and pour glycerin (500 ml) in half an hour. The product obtained in this way should be insisted for a month, and then it can be filtered. To get the ointment, you need to mix it in a water bath with base fat - it can be goose, as well as shea butter or cosmetic vaseline.
Comfrey ointment is an effective and safe alternative to diclofenac ointment and oral analgesics.
Comfrey oil
Only a few ingredients are needed to make comfrey oil. To prepare the macerate, you need to take about 25 g of dried root of the plant, 100 ml of vegetable oil (olive is best, but almond and hemp oil is also suitable).
First you need to grind the root in a coffee grinder to get a fine powder consistency. This is important because only in this form will he give up his most valuable substances. The pre-prepared amount of the selected oil must be poured into a pan and heated over low heat, controlling that the temperature is not too high (should not exceed 50 ° C, since cold-pressed oils lose many valuable properties under its influence). Warm oil and ground powder should be combined in a jar and mix thoroughly. Then the container should be left for 2 weeks in a shaded place and mix its contents daily. After this time, comfrey oil should be filtered and stored in a dark, cool place. The product is suitable for use for several months (use as a component of olive oil extends this period to a year).
Comfrey oil is an effective remedy for sciatica, as well as many other neurological diseases. It is best to rub a small amount directly into a sore spot 3 times a day. After this, a bandage should be applied and left for 3 hours.
Cautions and side effects
The discovery of pyrrolisidine alkaloids in comfrey influenced a change in outlook regarding its therapeutic values. In many countries, it has been decided that great care must be taken in its application. As a result of studies, it was proved that pyrrolisidine alkaloids can be highly toxic to the body, especially when taken orally. Their prolonged use can indeed lead to a gradual damage to the liver, as well as proliferation of tissue in the bile ducts. It is suggested that prolonged exposure to pyrrolisidine alkaloids can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer.
As a consequence of this, changes have been made to medical recipes with comfrey. In many Western countries, oral preparations with a plant are not used, while comfrey preparations for external use are still permitted.
Reviews
Many positive reviews about comfrey medicines can be found on the Internet. The beneficial effects of the plant on health are reported by people with diseased joints and athletes who often have injuries and bruises. They all note that drugs with comfrey help to quickly get rid of pain, swelling and restore motor activity of the joints in a short time.