Herbal Info
All You Have Ever Wanted to Know About Comfrey...
and then some
Comfrey
Botanical: Symphytum officinale (LINN.)
Common names: Gumplant, healing herb, knitback, slippery root.
Comfrey is one of the most beneficial herbs and has a long history of healthful uses.
- A poultice of the fresh leaves is excellent for ruptures, sore breasts, fresh wounds, ulcers, white swellings, burns, bruises, and sores. The tea taken internally is useful in anemia, dysentery, diarrhea, leucorrhea and female debility. It has an excellent effect on inward bruises and pains.
- A poultice of the fresh leaves is excellent for gangrenous sores, gangrene, and moist ulcers.
- A soft cloth dipped in strong hot tea will greatly alleviate bad bruises, swellings, sprains, fractures. It can also be used in this way to relieve boils.
From Back to Eden by Jethro Kloss
Herbalist throughout the ages have used Comfrey to help the body alleviate the following conditions: Coughs and colds, ulcerative colitis, cancer, cysts, cirrhosis of the Liver, bruised scrotum, open wounds, swelling, trick knees, and hernias just to name a few.
Comfrey can also be used as a remedy to aid dehydration in pets. Dehydration constitutes a major emergency for cats and may be lethal if not treated immediately. To check for dehydration, pull the scruff of the neck of the animal. If the skin is slow in moving back into place your animal is dehydrated. Check immediately for diarrhea and make a pot of comfrey tea. Use 1 teaspoon comfrey to 1 cup boiling water and steep for 5-10 min.
If the animal will not drink, force feed approximately 1-2 ounces of the cooled tea per hour depending on the body weight. Cats, esp., get depressed if they don't feel well and will curl up and die if they are not given plenty of love and attention. The most common cause of dehydration are worms, intestinal viruses and obstructions of the intestinal tract.
Reference for specific remedies from THE HANDBOOK OF ALTERNATIVES TO CHEMICAL MEDICINE by Mildred Jackson and Terri Teague.
Source: Botanical.com, A Modern Herbal by Mrs. M Grieve
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