Comfrey healing salve

Herbal pain reliever cultivated since 400 B.C.

Comfrey, a member of the Boraginaceae family has a long tradition as a medicinal plant.

It is a leafy perennial with long, hairy leaves. The plant will grow in sun or shade, has bell-like purple flowers furling in clusters from the top. To avoid that leaves would dry out in direct sunlight, it is preferable to plant it in the shade. It does not have a need for high quality soil.

It can grow up to two to three feet high, flowering from early spring to summer. When I was cutting down the leaves and stems, it felt very unpleasant to my fingers to break down the leaves, it does itch when touched. Once established in the yard, it is very hard to dig out because any small section of root left behind can sprout a new plant.

When you have extra comfrey leaves, you can add them to the compost pile since they help breaking it down more quickly and also make a great mulch, adding nutrients to the soil. Comfrey has a lot of beneficial nutrients so ideal to plant around your fruit trees. It contains nitrogen, potassium, and phosphors. You can also make a comfrey tea to fertilize your tomato trees.

Comfrey works for rashes, dry skin, eczema, burns, cuts, scrapes, bruises, muscle soreness, bug bites, joint pain (sore joints), osteoarthritis, back pain, arthritis, rheumatism, gout, strains and sprains.

The allantoin in comfrey is much like aloe gel and therefore an ideal healing salve for sunburn relief. It is very moisturizing and soothing to damaged skin cells.

Used as an ingredient in salve for cosmetic purposes, comfrey aids the slowing of wrinkles, crow's feet and aging skin.

Comfrey plant in my yard

These salves are with 100% comfrey oil.

This first recipe I made is with 100% comfrey oil, beeswax and essential oils such as lavender, lavandin, frankincense, helichrysum, geranium. I have infused the leaves in olive and sunflower oil.

Directions for use:

Do not use to an open fresh wound or sore.

Do not ingest.

Apply immediately and then keep on using it several times a day for a few days. It is also better to keep the salve in the fridge for an additional cooling effect.