Is comfrey easy to grow from seed?
Growing this herb is super easy. Propagation can be done with seed, division, or separation. Sow comfrey seeds in fall or early spring directly in the garden or in a cold frame and pot seedlings to be over-wintered inside. Division of comfrey herb plants may occur at any time, however, spring is suggested. Comfrey adapts well to different conditions and needs little maintenance: Plant it in a spot with full sun or partial shade and good drainage. Water young plants until they are established and mature plants during prolonged dry spells. Amend the soil with plenty of compost.Comfrey grows quickly and when it is cut back hard, new leaves should quickly emerge from the base until the whole aboveground portion of the plant dies back for winter. The leaves for medical use are harvested in early summer before the plant flowers, the roots are harvested in the autumn.Comfrey seeds grow best when they are raised in trays or other containers and transplanted to the garden once established. Fill trays, punnets or jiffy pots with a good quality seed-raising mix, or use soil starter pellets. Sow seeds 5mm deep. Keep soil moist but never wet or dry.I have experimented quite a bit with various planting locations. I find that comfrey is most prolific in full sun to part shade. I do have a few in full shade that are doing fine, they just don’t grow as fast or get as large. When planting new comfrey, keep it well mulched, fertilized and watered.
What is the controversy with comfrey?
The medicinal uses of comfrey have become controversial since the identification of its pyrrolizidine alkaloids-content, substances known for their toxicity in humans. Comfrey contains carbohydrates (including mucilage), tannins, triterpenes, allantoin and alkaloids [17]. Allantoin stimulates the regeneration of connective tissue, bone and cartilage [18].Comfrey root extract can mainly be used for topical nerve pain management, swelling in muscle, acute myalgia in the back, strain, contusion and distortion, epicondylitis, tendovaginitis, and periarthritis [19].The leaves are more gentle in the way they work and are easier to harvest. Plus, it is easier to create topical poultices with the leaves than the root. Comfrey root, however, contains more mucilage, so in circumstances where you may want to soothe a “hot/dry” condition, the roots may be more effective.The therapeutic properties of comfrey are based on its antiinflammatory and analgesic effects. Comfrey also stimulates granulation and tissue regeneration, and supports callus formation (Kommission E, 1990a, 1990b).Allantoin is a chemical substance found in this plant which impart a remarkable healing properties to it. Comfrey is useful in broken bones, wounds, and burns. It significantly reduces healing time owing to its property of accelerating cell growth. It can be used in form of poultice [73].
Can I grow comfrey in my garden?
Comfrey is an excellent plant to grow in the food forest or permaculture garden when chosen and located mindfully. Use it as a pioneer plant to condition your soil, a natural fertilizer, a pollinator attractor, green manure, and living mulch. Even use the young leaves to make a healing salve. Comfrey is a native perennial and medicinal plant. In a suitable habitat, the plant can live for up to 20 years. The genus Comfrey (Symphytum) is made up of about 40 species native to Eurasia and North Africa and belongs to the Boraginaceae family.Comfrey contains phenolic acids and other antioxidants that protect the skin from free radicals, slowing the ageing process and retaining its youthful appearance.Osteoarthritis: In people with knee osteoarthritis, a degenerative wear-and-tear joint condition, comfrey ointment has been shown to significantly relieve pain, reduce stiffness, and improve function.Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) is a hardy perennial wildflower that thrives along riverbanks and in grasslands.Comfrey has been consumed by humans as a vegetable and a tea and used as an herbal medicine for more than 2000 years. Comfrey, however, produces hepatotoxicity in livestock and humans and carcinogenicity in experimental animals.
How fast does comfrey grow?
Comfrey begins growth in early-April and by early May compact clusters of young leaves are visible in the crown of the old plant. Within a few weeks, the leaf blades with long petioles have grown to over 12 in. Cultivating root cuttings is a reliable, cost-effective method of growing comfrey Bocking 14. They can take up to 40 days to properly take, so crown cuttings may be a better option if you want to accelerate production.Comfrey can also be grown indoors, in pots (1 to 5 gallon size) for a continuous harvest of fresh, small leaves. For this purpose best results are obtained by planting two-year or 3-to-4-year plants in the larger pots or 5- gallon buckets.Comfrey is an invaluable addition to most gardens and allotments. You should only need to buy it once, do so with confidence from the UK’s leading grower and supplier of Bocking 14 comfrey.
Is comfrey legal?
I note that the Food Standard Code includes comfrey (as Symphytum asperum, Symphytum officinale, and Symphytum x uplandicum) in Schedule 23 as a prohibited plant. Comfrey is a plant that grows in parts of Europe, Asia, and North America. While it may help with wounds and joint pain, healthcare professionals warn against eating it due to the risk of liver damage. Comfrey, also known as Symphytum officinale, is a plant that can grow up to five feet tall.In a monograph, the German Commission E positively rated the use of comfrey root (symphyti radix) for external application to treat bruises, pulled muscles and tendons, and sprains.Symphytum officinale, commonly called comfrey, is a large, coarse, tuberous-rooted, clumping perennial (to 3′ tall and 2. Large, pointed, hairy, ovate-lanceolate, dark green basal leaves grow to 8” long.
Can humans consume comfrey?
Despite safety concerns, some people use comfrey for bruises, osteoarthritis, sprains, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. The US FDA has recommended that all comfrey products that are taken by mouth be removed from the market due to serious safety concerns. While you can make comfrey tea at home, health experts warn against drinking it. For that reason, some fans of the herbal treatment make comfrey tea, allow it to cool, and apply it topically to the skin or areas with aches and pains.People should only use comfrey preparations made from the leaves and avoid those made from the root. Less. Comfrey has a long history of use as a topical agent for treating wounds, skin ulcers, thrombophlebitis, bruises, and sprains and strains.However, in recent years, most consumers only use comfrey externally. While you can make comfrey tea at home, health experts warn against drinking it. For that reason, some fans of the herbal treatment make comfrey tea, allow it to cool, and apply it topically to the skin or areas with aches and pains.