Magic in the Garden: Comfrey

---

The information provided on this site is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

I rediscovered comfrey when my daughter came home with a nasty bruise under her eye. She had been hit in the face and broken the bone right below her eye socket. I carry around an arsenal of homeopathics (small white pellets that come in small tubes), ready to plop them under your tongue for quick relief. Literally within hours of taking it the bruise and pain had disappeared.

Comfrey, (Symphytum officinale F. Boraginaceae) is also known as knitbone. Symphytum itself means to heal together and comfrey is considered to be a blood, bone and flesh builder, promoting the production of cartilage, tendons and muscles. I personally use it to help with my connective tissue issues.

Comfrey can be propagated from the roots. It’s a hardy plant that will come back for years to come, so it is important to choose a permanent location in your yard. 

Choose a site where it will get full sun or part shade, it really isnt’t that picky.

The more you pick its leaves, the more it grows, so don’t hesitate to harvest it. In the winter you can use the root as well, but I mostly dried it for winter use. 

Some websites I’ve seen say to feed it sparingly to your rabbits, but years ago when I belonged to my local breeders’ association, everyone in the club fed it freely to their rabbits as a preventative as well as when they got sick.

Comfrey has been found to promote the growth of new cells, which, in turn, has a rejuvenating effect. 

For all of these reasons, comfrey is one of the most powerful plants to have in your arsenal. Not only is it easy to grow and use, but it should be your go-to for your rabbits but also for yourself.

Here is a list of conditions comfrey is commonly used to treat:

Internal applications:

Indigestion                          stomach & bowel issues        excessive menstrual flow  

hoarseness                          periodontal diseases              bleeding gums

coughs                                  lung conditions                         thyroid disorders

hemorrhaging                  diarrhea                                         gastro-intestinal ulcers 

hernia                                  glandular  issues                        fever 

cancer                                 catarrh                                            anemia  

sinusitis                              lupus                                               high blood pressure 

hiatus hernia                    blood purifier

inflammation: joints and mucus membranes.

External applications:

Leaves or roots can be applied as a wash, poultice or ointment to treat the following conditions:

bruising                               sciatica                                           boils 

rheumatism                       neuralgia                                       varicose veins

bed sores                            wounds                                          ulcers

insect bites                         tumors                                           muscular pain

pulled tendons                 gangrene                                      shingles

dermatological conditions