Comfrey the wonder plant

plantpotty · New Member Joined: 02 Nov 2009 Posts: 3 Location: Beverley

Is comfrey a wonder plant? I've been reading that comfrey can been used to made a liquid organic fertilizer and as medication for many physical ailments! Anyone been using comfrey for any reasons and why has this so called wonder plant been forgotten in recent times?!?

rainbowgardener · Mod Joined: 15 Feb 2009 Posts: 6173 Location: Ohio, USA

I use it as an ingredient for herbal teas (very good for coughs and colds) and I throw the excess in my compost pile, where it is reputed to be helpful for stimulating the composting process and adding nitrogen.

soil · Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 9:18 pm Post subject:

i grow it...and love it. easy to propagate, easy to grow, full of benefits. perennial, the list goes on. make sure to search for the bocking 14 variety so you don't get overwhelmed. it can happen.

oh and plant it where you want it. because that is where it will stay. even if you don't anymore.
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Sage Hermit · Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2010 3:44 pm Post subject:

chicken food
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GardenGeek · Cool Member Joined: 02 Feb 2010 Posts: 84

Comfrey is a plant that is much loved by organic gardeners and permaculturalists because of its ability to provide fertility. Comfrey is a dynamic accumulator - it sends down deep roots and extracts mineral nutrients from the depths. These nutrients are stored in the leaves, which can then be used to feed other plants (and animals).

The Helpful Gardener · Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2010 4:10 pm Post subject:

I need add nothing. Nice job, team... Very Happy

HG
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rainbowgardener · Mod Joined: 15 Feb 2009 Posts: 6173 Location: Ohio, USA

Comfrey makes a nice tea which is good against coughs and colds, especially if combined with sage and other herbs.

But read the posts above-- it's great for your compost pile and improving soil fertility.
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Toil · Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 11:53 pm Post subject:

Awesome thread!

Especially the hint about the less aggressive variety

Thanks guys!
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applestar · Mod Joined: 01 May 2008 Posts: 5749 Location: nj

I'm trying to grow some from seed this year. We'll see. Wink

If these don't grow, then I know my favorite herb lady has the Russian Comfrey. She gave me her own writeup about applying crushed leaves (maybe chewed up, but I don't remember -- that might have been plantain leaves for bee stings and mosquito bites) for bumps and bruises because she says she's constantly running into things in the garden and have found them very effective.

Rainbowgardener, again, I'm a bit vague, but I thought I read that comfrey is not recommended for internal use?

Toil · Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 12:56 am Post subject:

Yeah but topically it makes you run into things constantly...
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The Helpful Gardener · Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 3:26 am Post subject:

From the HSA' s Encyclopedia of Herbs and Their Uses

rainbowgardener · Mod Joined: 15 Feb 2009 Posts: 6173 Location: Ohio, USA

Any herb with the officinalis in the scientific name (as in symphytum officinalis = comfrey) was part of the "official" pharmacopeia of recognized medicinal herbs sold at apothecaries. This would date back to the 17 - 1800's when plants were being named in the Linnean system.

Comfrey has been a traditionally recognized healing herb internally and externally for centuries. Might there be side effects to it? sure Would I recommend taking it or any other medication long term or in big quantities without checking with some kind of expert? of course not. Have you ever listened to the list of possible negative effects up to and including death, they give in the voice over on all the pharmaceutical commercials on TV? Makes you not want to take anything again, ever!

But a cup of soothing comfrey root tea here and there is the least of my worries and I've had plenty of them (cups of the tea, not worries! Smile

)

http://www.targetwoman.com/articles/comfrey-root-benefits.html
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The Helpful Gardener · Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 2:00 pm Post subject:

Understood RBG, but it would hardly be the first herb to be regulated as we find out the scientific background; wormwoods were also a very integral part of the old herbal lexicon, but we now know they cause nerve damage and should be used sparingly, if at all (I notice abisinthe has been making a comeback, nonetheless).

We tend to assume that herbal or plant extracts are safer than chemically synthesized poroducts; as a general statement I support that, but at the same time we need to be cognizant that these compounds are chemicals as well and as such can be harmful. The most prevalent poisoning in the US over the past few years has been pythethrin, a daisy extract. They ain't ALL safe... (still I will take my chances with daisies versus test tubes).

Forewarned is forearmed; I have given you the most official pronouncement from the leading authorities on herbs in these US's of A. Your link recommends it for natal mothers for fetus development; I run across issues for fetal develpment including infant mrtality from liver damage. Depends on what you are looking for I guess. As always, feel free to use or disbuse the info, but my recommendation remains not to use it internally...

So if a cup of tea "here or there" is every other evening, you could be killing your liver and increasing your chances of cancer. Once a month is likely okay, but still undertested. Depends on other intakes of PA's as well as what you get from comfrey. Use at your own risk...

HG
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cynthia_h · Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 2:46 pm Post subject:

The Helpful Gardener · Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 2:59 pm Post subject:

Sorry maam; it was covered extensively in the link so I didn't bother to spell out pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), the causal agent in all this fuss...

HG
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