What are the benefits of comfrey seeds?
Comfrey will put nutrients into the soil, mulch trees, and shrubs, prevent weeds, feed livestock, attract beneficial pollinators, and make quick compost tea. Comfrey seed is by nature a low germination seed. On average expect 25% germination. Comfrey is found in moist grasslands or along riverbanks and ditches in western Asia, Europe, and North America. It is a perennial herb that is cold hardy down to −35 °C (−31 °F) and drought tolerant.The herbaceous plant Symphytum officinale L. Boraginaceae), is frequently used for its therapeutic properties. Extracts from comfrey leaves inhibit the germination of fungal pathogens and activate natural plant defense mechanisms (24).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.This perennial herb grows in USDA growing zones 3-9. Although comfrey is tolerant of a variety of growing conditions, I’ve found it grows best in full to partial sun and in rich, loosened soil. The more compacted the soil is, the more shade it prefers.A comfrey plant is a must-have in any organic garden. Garden comfrey has high nutrient content and can be cut several times in a season. Comfrey is very easy to grow and harvest, producing large quantities of leaves that are rich in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium – all nutrients needed by growing plants.
Can comfrey heal nerve damage?
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]. 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.Please N. B. Although comfrey can be used to ease inflammation via topical application in poultices or lotions, the plant is toxic if ingested and could seriously damage your liver. Comfrey (Symphytum spp.Historically, the Greeks and Romans used comfrey to treat bronchial problems and stop heavy bleeding. Although the leaves have been used for internal ailments, in salads, and as potherb, recent studies have linked comfrey to liver toxicity and cancer in rats. In 2001, the FDA banned edible products containing comfrey.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.
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 can be started either directly outdoors at the end of frost season, or indoors 6-8 weeks before the end of frost season.Extremely cold hardy perennials, comfrey plants become dormant in winter and re-emerge every spring.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 can be started either directly outdoors at the end of frost season, or indoors 6-8 weeks before the end of frost season.Comfrey is also rich in many nutrients including protein, antioxidant vitamins, and vitamin B12 (Rode, 2002).
Can humans eat comfrey?
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. Comfrey contains compounds that are toxic to the liver and animal experiments suggest it can cause liver cancer. Comfrey has been confused with foxglove, a poisonous plant with similar leaves.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 phenolic acids and other antioxidants that protect the skin from free radicals, slowing the ageing process and retaining its youthful appearance.Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Comfrey is likely unsafe when taken by mouth or applied to the skin while pregnant or breast-feeding.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.
Can comfrey regrow cartilage?
Comfrey contains carbohydrates (including mucilage), tannins, triterpenes, allantoin and alkaloids [17]. Allantoin stimulates the regeneration of connective tissue, bone and cartilage [18]. The treatment reduced pain and increased muscle strength, but had no effect on systemic inflammation or cartilage breakdown over 12 weeks of treatment. Comfrey root has a strong historical record in the treatment of blunt injuries due to its anti-inflammatory, de-swelling and pain-relieving properties.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.Both active topical comfrey formulations were effective in relieving pain and stiffness and in improving physical functioning and were superior to placebo in those with primary osteoarthritis of the knee without serious adverse effects.
Can comfrey heal bones?
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. 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.Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Comfrey is likely unsafe when taken by mouth or applied to the skin while pregnant or breast-feeding.Health Canada has advised Canadians not to ingest any health product that contains comfrey because of the risk that these products might contain liver damaging UPAs.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.When applied to the skin: Comfrey is possibly safe when used on unbroken skin in small amounts for less than 6 weeks. But the poisonous chemicals in comfrey can pass through the skin, so it is possibly unsafe to use comfrey on broken skin or to apply large amounts for more than 6 weeks.
Can comfrey heal arthritis?
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 originates in Europe and Western Asia and has been used medicinally since 400BC by the Greeks – the healer Dioscorides mentioned its use in mending broken bones. This gave rise to its common name ‘Boneset’, or ‘Knitbone’. Internally it was used to treat stomach disorders and to stop internal bleeding.Symphytum officinale is the homeopathic remedy prepared from the common hedgerow plant – comfrey. Comfrey’s ancient English name is “knitbone”, and it is said that country bone-setters used it to repair broken bones.Comfrey: (Symphytum officinalis) An excellent herb for the treatment of stomach ulcers, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and ulcerative colitis it is probably most famously also known for it’s wound healing and particularly it’s repairing of damaged bones.Comfrey, scientifically known as Symphytum officinale, is a herb from the Boraginaceae family that contains allantoin, which imparts notable healing properties, making it effective for treating broken bones, wounds, and burns by accelerating cell growth and reducing healing time.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].