Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) | A Herbal Monograph

Materia Medica: Comfrey (Symphytum officinale)

Disclaimer

This information in this Comfrey Herbal Monograph is here to share accumulated herbal wisdom, not to play doctor.

Everything you’ll find here is for my own records and educational purposes only, there will be no diagnosing, treating, curing, or preventing diseases here.

Plants have been cherished for generations, but your health is uniquely yours.

Always chat with a qualified practitioner before diving in, especially if you're pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or dealing with health concerns.

This is about empowerment, not prescriptions. Use herbs with intention, respect, and a little bit of magic.

Botanical Name:

Symphytum officinale

Common Names:

Comfrey, Knitbone, Boneset, Bruisewort, Slippery Root, Knitback, Consound, Slippery-root, Quaker Comfrey, Cultivated Comfrey, Blackwort, Gum Plant, Consolida, Ass Ear (the leaves really do look like ass ears).

Latin Binomial:

Symphytum Officinale L.

Plant Family:

Boraginaceae (Borage family)

Duration:

Perenniel

Habit:

Herb, large, coarse, tuberous, clumping, capable of growing to to 1 meter tall and 1 meter across.

Leaves:

Large basal leaves, pointed, hairy, ovate lanceolate, dark green in colour and grow to about 20-30cms long. Upper leaves are decurrent, smaller. Mature leaves are winged.

Stems:

Stems are green in colour, hair, erect to ascending, clump forming, branched.

Flowers:

Tubular, bell shaped, 1-2cm long, white, pink or purple in colour, 5 shallow lobes, borne in drooping clusters. Clayx and stalks are covered in bristly hairs.

Fruit & Seeds:

Clusters of 4 nutlets maturing to shiny brownish-black in colour.

Habitat & Growing Regions:

Native to Europe and Asia. Can be found in roadsides, on the banks of rivers, ditches, fields, yards and disturbed sites. Often found "escaped".

Comfrey will grow in almost any soil type or situation but does best growing under the shade of trees.

I have several large clumps of comfrey that started from tiny divided plants purchased from a local market. One such plant died right off last year from a lack of water but I have just noticed recently that there is a comfrey plant shooting up in that spot and taking off.

It is a very hardy plant and can be dug up and divided with rigour and create a good many new plants from a single clump.

Parts Used:

Root, Leaves

Energetics:

Cooling, Moistening

Taste:

Mild, mucilaginous, slightly bitter

Historical Uses & Folklore:

Comfrey has been cherished for centuries as the plant that “knits together” flesh and bone.

The name “Knitbone” reflects its long-standing reputation for healing broken bones, bruises, and torn tissues.

Ancient Greek physicians like Dioscorides praised it for wound healing, and it was a staple in medieval apothecaries for everything from lung complaints to digestive soothing.

Folklore casts comfrey as a plant of restoration and protection.

In old English traditions, it was worn as a charm to safeguard travelers and was thought to bind relationships as much as bones.

Its deep taproot and lush, broad leaves speak to its grounding, stabilising nature that reaches deep into the earth and offers strength from below.

Scientific Studies:

Modern science affirms comfrey’s traditional use, particularly for topical application. It’s rich in allantoin, a compound that encourages cell regeneration, and rosmarinic acid, known for its anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties.

A comprehensive review titled "Comfrey: A Clinical Overview" by Christiane Staiger, published in Phytotherapy Research in 2012, discusses multiple randomised controlled trials demonstrating the efficacy and safety of topical comfrey preparations for treating pain, inflammation, and swelling in muscles and joints.

The review highlights comfrey's use in conditions such as degenerative arthritis, acute back myalgia, sprains, contusions, and strains.

Due to concerns over pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), comfrey is generally recommended for external use only, and internal use is not advised without professional guidance.

Traditional Uses:

• Support the healing of bruises, sprains, strains, and fractures
• Encourage tissue and bone repair
• Soothe inflammation and pain in joints and muscles
• Calm irritated skin and support wound healing (abscesses etc.)
• Provide mucilage for topical hydration and barrier support

Herbal Actions:

• Anti-inflammatory
• Astringent
• Cell proliferant (supports new tissue growth)
• Demulcent (soothes and protects tissues)
• Vulnerary (promotes wound healing)

Preparation & Applications:

• Infused Oil: Slow-infused or gently warmed, comfrey leaf or root oil is a base for many balms and salves.
• Salve/Balm/Ointment: Combined with beeswax and other herbs for muscle, joint, and skin support.
• Poultice: Fresh leaves mashed and applied directly to bruises, swelling, or sprains. Can be done in the garden on the go, chew the leaves and then apply where required.
• Compress: A strong leaf infusion soaked into cloth and wrapped over injured areas.
• Soak: A decoction of root added to a bath or foot soak to ease soreness and support tissue healing.

Note: Internal use is discouraged due to the presence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), which may be harmful to the liver if ingested over time.

Pairing Herbs:

Comfrey pairs beautifully with calendula for skin support, arnica for pain and bruising, and plantain for drawing and soothing. In salves, it works harmoniously with lavender or peppermint to ease discomfort and tension.

Precautions & Considerations:

Generally considered for external use only. Avoid applying comfrey to deep, open wounds or infected skin, as it may encourage tissue repair too rapidly before underlying tissue is healed. Not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Do not use internally unless under the care of a qualified herbal practitioner.

Growing & Harvesting:

Comfrey is a hardy perennial that thrives in rich, moist soil and partial sun. It spreads easily and grows rapidly, making it both a blessing and a garden bully.

The leaves can be harvested several times a year, while the roots are best dug in autumn or early spring when the plant is dormant. To preserve the roots for later use they can be sliced and dried or macerated as an oil-infusion.

Foliage is best cut before flowering. Comfrey leaves have a higher moisture content than a lot of plants and therefore take longer to dry than some.

Make sure the leaves are crumbly before storing or any dampness will cause mould.

Wear gloves when handling fresh leaves, as the tiny hairs may irritate sensitive skin.

Reproduction & Propagation:

By seed and vegetatively by root fragments or division. The roots will break up easily and the tiniest bit of root will take and create a beautiful new plant in a short period of time.

Storage:

Dry comfrey leaves and roots thoroughly and store them in an airtight container away from sunlight and moisture.

Use within one year for best potency.

Asti Mary’s Additional Notes:

Comfrey was the very first herb I truly fell in love with, the one that opened the door to herbalism for me and made me believe in the power of plants.

I first learned about comfrey through my interest in permaculture and comfrey's use as a nitrogen fixer in the garden.

I remember watching YouTube videos from Geoff Lawton and Morag Gamble and feeling truly amazed by all the things this plant could be used for and implementing it around our garden and home.

Seeing bruises fade and skinned knees heal almost overnight, and marveling at how something so simple could be so profoundly effective. She took me on my journey of learning what other magic could be found within the plant world.

Comfrey felt ancient and wise, like she had answers stored in her roots. She became the heart of my most beloved, Comfrey Magic, and she's never stopped teaching me since.

If there’s one herb that made me who I am as a herb nerd, it’s this one.