As a beekeeper, stings are to be expected, especially in times of high stress. I got stung on the tender flesh of my inner thigh, not just once, but twice. Normally, I get a localized reaction from a sting, swelling and then itching for 2-3 days. But sensitive areas like the face or inner thigh can be painful and I expected a fair amount of swelling and itching. The recipe makes about 5 cups of whipped creamy lotion. Without overexposure to air or heat—and without cross-contamination—the recipe should last as long as the expiration date of the carrier oils used. In the U.K., researchers found that practitioners prescribed it in about 15 percent of all consultations My herbal teachers have personal stories to share of their experiences working with comfrey, either for themselves or their clients, and I understand comfrey is excellent at promoting the growth of new tissue and speeding the healing process. But until recently, I never had the opportunity to experience the healing power of comfrey for myself. Healing with Comfrey – Our Experience

Comfrey Cream: Uses, Benefits, Side Effects, Dosage

Wrap the steeped leaves in cheesecloth, muslin or felt to make a poultice and apply externally. Do NOT apply to broken skin or open wounds. Reapply every 10-15 minutes over the next hour, as needed. Much to my surprise, I had instant relief from the comfrey poultice ( more on poultices here)! I then soaked a cotton ball with comfrey and taped it on the sting overnight, and the swelling was gone the next morning. I do have one caution. The mucilaginous nature of comfrey may start to clog up your cloth bag, causing water to be forced out the top of the bag, pulling herbs with it, and generally making a mess in your bath. This doesn’t hurt anything, but it is a bit unsightly. If you notice this starting to happen, just remove the bag, tie it off, and let it float in your bath like a tea bag. Poultices She stresses that the research done by the Henry Doubleday Research Association (HDRA) resulted in a hybrid Symphytum species, which is free of the alkaloid said to cause health issues.For those familiar with natural medicine and chronic pain, comfrey is likely on your list of remedies. This herb has been used for centuries to treat a variety of pain- and inflammation-related issues.

Making comfrey ointment - BBC Gardeners World Magazine

Actions: Astringent, anti-hemorrhagic, anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic, anti-ulcer, demulcent, expectorant, vulnerary I normally use beeswax, but candelilla wax is a good vegan substitute for those who avoid using beeswax. If you choose to use another wax, you may have to experiment to make a salve with a nice consistency. Some waxes, like carnauba wax, are harder than beeswax, so you will want to use less. If you are using soft floral wax, you would likely want to add more. While comfrey is well-known for its health benefits, it also poses some risks. It contains compounds that can harm your liver. It may also be carcinogenic. As a result, many countries have banned the sale of oral comfrey preparations. Many experts also advise against using topical comfrey on open wounds. Once the beeswax is melted, pour the oil into the pan, stirring it constantly. Be careful to keep the heat low. You don’t want to overheat the oil as doing so could reduce its strength. Staiger, Christiane. “Comfrey: A Clinical Overview.” Phytotherapy Research, 2012. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.4612It should be noted that, while allantoin is the primary healing constituent in comfrey, it is not the only healing chemical. Extracted allantoin products are commercially available as health and beauty aids. However, these isolated extracts are not as effective as applications made from the whole plant. This would indicate that multiple phytochemicals, or likely the interaction of various phytochemicals, play an important role in the effectiveness of comfrey. 19) Forêt, Rosalee de la. “Comfrey.” HerbMentor. Accessed September 21, 2019. https://herbmentor.learningherbs.com/herb/comfrey/#marker-1080-14.

Healing with Comfrey and How to Use Comfrey Healing with Comfrey and How to Use Comfrey

Comfrey is a nutrient accumulator. Its roots reach far down into the earth to pull up minerals. It’s an excellent source of calcium, manganese, niacin, potassium, riboflavin, selenium, silicon, Vitamin A, and Vitamin C. While larger and more studies are needed to fully determine safety and effectiveness, short term topical application of comfrey may give you peace of mind, relief, and support while you rest and heal, following any additional advice from your physician. For Knee Pain and Stiffness Europeans have also used comfrey to treat inflammatory conditions, such as arthritis and gout. Some traditional healers have also used it to treat diarrhea and other stomach ailments.In most instances, Comfrey compresses and ointments are used topically to facilitate the healing of bones and wounds. It is very important to make sure that wounds are completely clean before applying Comfrey – this is because the skin can regrow so fast that it can trap any debris left in the wound. The opportunity to observe comfrey’s excellent ability to “knit a wound” presented itself when my husband sliced open his thumb. The cut was long and deep, and wild yarrow was the first plant applied to stop the rapid bleeding. Yarrow is an excellent styptic – its ability to stop bleeding has been known since ancient times, and legend has it that Achilles and his warriors carried yarrow into battle to treat their wounds. Kucera A, Barna M, Holcova S, Horacek O, Hladiková M, Ottillinger B. Tolerability and effectiveness of an antitrauma cream with comfrey herb extract in pediatric use with application on intact and on broken skin. Int J Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2018;5(4):135-141. doi:10.1016/j.ijpam.2018.11.002 Comfrey has been shown to reduce inflammation, reduce pain, and speed skin healing. It contains allantoin, a substance believed to promote healing by stimulating the growth of new cells. Slowly add beeswax pastilles and emulsifying wax. I use an organic beeswax/emulsifying wax combination of about 2/3 cup.