| COMFREY SYMPHYTUM OFFICINALE The roots of Comfrey taken fresh, beaten small, and spread upon leather, and laid upon any place troubled with the gout, doth presently give ease of the pains. A common herb, Comfrey has large hairy green leaves which cause the hands to itch if they touch any tender part. The stalk grows two or three feet (60 to 90 cm) high and is hollow and hairy. The flowers stand in order one above another. They are long and hollow like the finger of a glove and are of pale purplish colour though some bear pale whitish flowers. Where to find it: It grows by ditches and watersides and in moist fields. Flowering time: Early to midsummer. The seeds ripen in late summer. Astrology: A herb of Saturn and under the sign of Capricorn, cold, dry and earthy in quality. Medicinal virtues: Comfrey helpeth those that spit blood or make a bloody urine. The root boiled in water or wine and the decoction drunk helps all inward hurts, bruises, wounds and ulcers of the lungs and causes the phlegm to be easily spit forth. It helpeth the defluxion of rheum from the head upon the lungs, the fluxes of blood or hurnours by the belly, women's immoderate courses, the reds and the whites and the running of the reins. A decoction of the leaves can be used for all the same purposes, but is not so effectual as the roots. The roots outwardly applied help fresh wounds or cuts and are especially good for broken bones and ruptures. It is also good applied to women's breasts that grow sore with an abundance of milk and also to repress bleeding of the haemorrhoids. Modern uses: Traditionally, this has been a valuable demulcent and healing herb used in the treatment of ulcers, colitis and hiatus hernia. However, in recent years there has been a cloud put over its use by research which suggests it should not be used internally. This research has been the subject of debate and dispute for some time and until the dust settles medical herbalists are recommending that comfrey be used for external conditions only. The root and leaves are used as an application for wounds, fractures and leg ulcers in the form of a poultice or ointment. Comfrey contains allantoin which is used to encourage wound healing and is an ingredient in skin preparations to treat psoriasis. The ointment can be made by digesting the root or leaves in hot paraffin wax, straining and allowing to cool, but it can also be bought ready- made in health shops. |
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