Comfrey is a plant with yellow or purple flowers found in Europe, Asia, and North America. It has been used in traditional medicine for over 2,000 years to treat muscle sprains, bruises, burns, joint inflammation, and other conditions. Comfrey contains substances that help skin regrow, including allantoin, rosmarinic acid, and tannins. Some of the best uses of comfrey include:
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Topical use: Comfrey is sometimes used on the skin to treat wounds and reduce inflammation from sprains and broken bones. It has also been used to treat inflammatory conditions such as arthritis and gout. However, it is important to note that comfrey contains toxic substances called pyrrolizidine alkaloids that can damage the liver and lead to death. As a result, many countries have banned the sale of oral comfrey preparations, and experts advise against using topical comfrey on open wounds.
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Composting: One of the best uses for comfrey is as biomass for bulking up compost. The leaves are remarkably rich in potassium, with some nitrogen and phosphorous as well. Studies have found that greens can be cut up to four times a year without seriously weakening the plants.
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Fertilizer: Fermenting comfrey leaves into a fertilizer, called com-fert, is an old English tradition. You chop a bunch of leaves into a bucket, weight them with a brick, add a little water, and cover loosely to slow evaporation. You can let nature take its course, and in a few weeks, youll have a nutrient-rich liquid that can be used to fertilize plants.
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Mulch: Freshly cut comfrey leaves make good mulch because they have high nitrogen content and don’t pull nitrogen from the soil while decomposing. Comfrey’s high potassium content makes it especially beneficial for vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, and potatoes.
It is important to note that comfrey contains toxic substances and should be used with caution. Eating or taking any form of comfrey by mouth is not recommended due to the pyrrolizidine alkaloids that can harm the liver and may be carcinogenic.
