Herb Weavers Journal # 119 - 29th April 2025

Comfrey

I absolutely love this plant and have lots of it in my garden. It is invasive, so you do need to keep on top of it if you only have a small space.

It is a great plant for the bees and butterflies, comes back year after year and takes no looking after at all.

Once called knitbone as it’s large leaves were used to tend broken bones in the early days, it has many benefits.

Helping sprains, strains, joint issues and pulled muscles, it also aids stomach issues like ulcers. Skin problems and hemorrhoids.

I love making comfrey balms and rub them into the joints which through previous breaks (side effect of having horses) have become arthritic. It relieves the symptoms and the pain.

The plant contains both allantoin and rosmarinic acid, which have anti-inflammatory and wound-healing effects, so clean cuts and grazes can be supported with a leaf placed over the top and secured, much like a plaster.

They also contain Vitamin A & B12, K & K2, Potassium, Magnesium, Manganese and Selenium.

Be aware that research papers now suggest that Comfrey should not be consumed orally. Do your own research.