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| COMMON NAME:
Comfrey |
| LATIN NAME:
Symphytum officinale |
AKA:
boneset, knitbone, blackwort, brusiewort,
gum plant, healing herb, knitback,
salsify, slippery root, wallwort, yalluc,
ass ear, nipbone |
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HERBAL WIKI INDEX |
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| Symphytum
officinale, Wikipedia |
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Common Name:
Comfrey
Latin Name: Symphytum officinale
AKA: L.; Comfrey; boneset, knitbone, blackwort,
brusiewort, gum plant, healing herb, knitback, salsify,
slippery root, wallwort, yalluc, ass ear, nipbone
Family: Boraginaceae
Part Used: Leafs, roots, rhizomes
Native to Europe |
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| Active constituents:
Leaf: mucilage, tannin, allantoin, symphytine,
echinidine, Vitamins including Vit B 12; Root: allantoin
( responsible for the bone healing qualities), mucilage,
phytosterols, triterpenoid, phenolic compounds, tannin,
aspargines, *pyrrolizidine alkaloids*, |
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| Actions:
*Leaf: vulnerary*, demulcent, antihemorrhagic,
antirheumatic, anti-inflammatory; *Root:* *vulnerary*.
Demulcent, cell proliferant, astringent, antihemorrhagic,
expectorant, antiulcer, hemostatic; stimulant to
fibroblast, chondroblast and osteoblast activity. TCM
actions: treats Yin deficiency; benefits the throat;
treats blood and fluid deficiency, Clear damp heat,
promotes tissue repair. |
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| Indications:
Currently not used internally (but can use in
homeopathic dilutions) due to PA’s- *internal use in
homeopathic dose*-cough, allergies, tuberculosis; IBS,
peptic ulcer, chronic constipation, rheumatic pain and
arthritis, bone and connective tissue weakness, back
injuries, decreased bone density in lower lumbar spine;
chronic lumbosacral instability, soreness of 4-5 lumbar
process, hematemsis, ulcers and colitis, Urinary tract
infections, nephritis; bloody discharges from weakened
mucosa, leukemia in young; delayed development and
deformities, difficult reunion of broken bones,
facilitates bone repair, nutrition and strengthening,
delayed puberty, brain injury, apparent death,
Alzheimer’s |
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| External use:
Blepharitis, conjunctivitis, poultice, ointment or
fomentation for bruises, chronic skin ulcer,* fracture*,
rashes, strains, sprains, thrombophlebitis, wounds, and
mastitis. 10 drops 4X/day- cancer following an injury at
the site; especially in the chest/breast (Sinha) |
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| Cautions: Care
with deep wounds; may heal too quickly with still deep
infected tissue; can cause exuberant growth. Recommended
not to be applied in open wounds; dermal use on intact
skin only for 4-6 weeks per year for humans. Do not use
if any pre-existing Liver disease or cancer |
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| Contraindications:
Pregnancy and lactation (speculative); potentially
hepatoxic-Not recommended for internal use |
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| Herb Drug Interactions:
None known |
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Dosage
(use animal doses where available, otherwise human doses
can be included here but specify):
Human: internal dose* (currently not recommended)*:
Dried Herb *2-4 g TID; Tincture (leaf): 1:2 or 1:3: 1-5
ml TID; *Infusions and decoctions* 5 g per cup of water,
One cup TID; *Fluid extract:* 1:1: 2-4 ml TID *Small
Animal:* external use only, watch for any oral
consumption *From J. de Bairacli Levy: Horses and cows*:
good drench made from 1lb. comfrey, boiled slowly in 1
½ quarts of water, boiling for 1 hr. Add handful of
ground ivy and 2 oz of Spanish licorice, brew well; give
half-pint drench TID. Feed 2 handfuls per day, for bone
knotting. * Topically*, pour onto affected area with a
strong brew of Comfrey tea |
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Notes:
Energetics*: Mucilaginous, slightly bitter, astringent,
cold and damp: Treats Atrophy and relaxed tissues.
Meridians: Lu, LI, St and Bl Pyrrolizidine alkaloids:
highest in the roots, then early leaves; lowest in old
leaves after flowered; *Susun Weed*-purple flowered
plants are fine; only worry about yellow flowered ones |
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| Traditional use -
Culpeper: retrains spitting of blood and bloody
urine; heals inward hurts, bruises, wounds and ulcer of
the lungs; outwardly, wounds or sores; cures fresh
wounds or cuts immediately; and is special good for
ruptures and broken bones; good for women’s sore
breasts; and repress profuse bleeding of hemorrhoids or
piles.; gout and pained joints and heal running ulcers,
gangrenes, mortification. |
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| Juliette de Bairacli
Levy: use for spring cleanse, uterine
hemorrhages; pulmonary ailments; internally for bone
fractures and as a topical |
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| Wood: also a
drawing agent and will often draw stagnant or toxic
material out of injured joints, muscles and tendons;
regenerative to cartilage and bone |
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| Published research:
recent studies have shown very effective for acute and
chronic back pain, topical for knee pain; wound closure
from stimulation of fibroblasts; potential use in
prostatic cancer-it suppressed and induced death of
cancer cells with no cytotoxicity toward non-neoplastic
prostate epithelial cells; very effective treatment of
blunt trauma with and without abrasions for children ,
multiple randomized controlled trials have demonstrated
the efficacy and safety of comfreypreparations for the
topical treatment of pain, inflammation and swelling of
muscles and joints in degenerative arthritis, acute
myalgia in the back, sprains, contusions and strains
after sports injuries and accidents. |
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