How to Heal Bones With Comfrey
Comfrey plants, also referred to as knitbone, are perennial shrubs that grow in temperature climates the world over and have been utilized since antiquity to promote healing. The active ingredients in comfrey are allantoin, rosmarinic acid and tannins. Allantoin promotes cell regeneration, rosmarinic acid acts as an anti-inflammatory and tannins provide antiseptic effects. Together, these ingredients allow comfrey to promote the healing of bones and regeneration of tissues. Comfrey ointments and poultices are made from dried comfrey root.
Things You'll Need
- Ointment:
- 100 g dried comfrey root
- 3 tbls. olive oil
- Medium sized bowl
- Cheesecloth
- 1 ¼ cup beeswax
- Saucepan
- 1-cup castor oil
- 20 drops lavender essential oil
- 2 to 3 glass storage jars
- Poultice:
- Dried comfrey root
- Water
- Mortar and pestle
- Gauze
- Ace bandage
Instructions
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Preparing Ointment
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1
Place the comfrey root and the olive oil in the bowl. Allow this to sit undisturbed, covered, for at least two weeks in order to allow the oil to become infused with the comfrey.
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2
Strain the olive oil and comfrey root through the cheesecloth, reserving the oil.
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3
Melt the beeswax in your saucepan and stir in the castor oil, olive oil and lavender essential oil.
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4
Pour the mixture into the glass jars. When it has cooled, it is ready for topical use.
Preparing a Poultice
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5
Place the comfrey into the bowl and add enough water to make the comfrey wet, but not saturated.
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6
Grind the mixture with the mortar and pestle until it forms a paste, adjusting the water and comfrey ratio as necessary. You'll want to make enough paste to cover the affected area.
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7
Heat the paste briefly on low heat in the saucepan, being careful not to burn it.
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8
Place a layer of gauze over the affected area and apply a layer of paste over the gauze. Add an additional layer of gauze over the paste. Wrap the area with the ace bandage. Keep it in place until the poultice is dried out.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Always buy comfrey from a reliable source; there are non-legitimate comfrey retailers out there.
In making the poultice, a blender can replace the mortar and pestle.
Due to ongoing research on this popular herb, it has been documented in the United States, Canada and many nations of the European Union that oral ingestion of comfrey is harmful to the liver and should be avoided due to the content of substances called hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA's).
The skin can absorb PA's, and so even topical comfrey should not be used for extended periods of time or applied to broken skin.
Comfrey should be used under the supervision of a professional.
Do not use comfrey on small children.
