Besides being medicinal, comfrey is also great for the garden and makes an excellent natural compost tea. Comfrey Salve is a popular and powerful salve which blends comfrey leaves and roots for optimal healing. Echinacea both in its root (more potent) and leaf form is included to provide natural antibiotic properties. I had made a tincture of comfrey, lavendar and lambs ear with vodka. Let the oil infuse in a cool and dark place for 4-6 weeks (or longer) before making this salve. Use powder topically and you can make comfrey tea out of dried comfrey root. The plant puts down a large black taproot and grows to up to four feet tall. 23) Use it for musculoskeletal pain, nerve pain, bites, stings, burns, sprains, strains, and just about any other pain. I do find fresh comfrey poultices to be the most potent form of the medicine in terms of topical injuries etc. Wrap the comfrey leaf poultice in a cotton cloth or gauze bandage and apply to the skin. Thank you!!! Comfrey is also an excellent herb for reducing pain. Learn more. Create a makeshift double boiler by putting a small bowl or a. Strain the oil and squeeze out the leaves. I use dried comfrey leaf that I harvest from my garden and dry on homemade drying screens. Comfrey Salve, Comfrey Leaf Salve, Comfrey Ointment, Farm Grown Salve, Natural Skin Care, Natural First Aid, Garden Gate Apothecary ... Comfrey Herbal Salve 100% Organic Screw-Top-Lids Double Infused- Concentrated Made from fresh plants grown by seller Handmade small batches BumblingAcresFarm. After i strain my comfrey and am left with my infused oils, does it get harder, more like an ointment, less like an oil? "Comfrey leaves are a main ingredient in a healing salve we use for wounds, scratches, sunburn and a variety of other skin irritations experienced in a typically busy summer. I cannot find fresh leaves here to make a poultice. What to Forage in Fall: 30+ Edible and Medicinal Plants and Mushrooms, How to Make Soap For Beginners + Calendula Soap Recipe, What to Forage in Spring: 20 Edible and Medicinal Plants and Fungi, How to Make a Gallon of Mead: A Simple Mead Recipe. This recipe makes approximately 12 ounces of salve total, or six 2 ounce tins. Comfrey herbs have astringent properties, which helps draw the cells together so that … Strain out the comfrey leaf before using in this recipe. The gather + root online foraging course will help you to safely identify, harvest, and use common edible and medicinal plants with confidence. It requires dried comfrey leaves, a carrier oil such as olive oil, and some beeswax. Gently heat the water in a double boiler, warming the oil, but keeping it under 140 degrees… I live in Perth, Western Australia, and through spring and summer I use a cowboy method to dry my leaves, which can grow to an enormous length. Combine the strained comfrey oil, beeswax, vitamin E oil, and lavender essential oil in a pot on the stovetop. Then you could switch to a salve. Stir to combine and once melted, remove from heat. Your email address will not be published. Comfrey Poultice The simplest way to use comfrey for a wound is as a poultice. Use a scissors to cut the comfrey leaves into pieces. Required fields are marked *. It is made from fresh comfrey leaves, vegetable oil and a tiny bit of vitamin E to keep it fresh. It makes an excellent salve, either on its own or combined with other healing herbs like calendula, plantain, yarrow, or lavender. My favorite combination for making salves is equal parts of olive, coconut, and sweet almond oils. « Zucchini Chips (made in a dehydrator): Low Carb, Vegan, Paleo, & Whole 30. Even though this plant contains poisonous chemicals called pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), some people use the leaf, root, and root-like stem (rhizome) to make medicine. I’m always amazed by the power of herbal medicine. Heat the oil mixture over very low … I want to inspire you to live seasonally, become more self sufficient, and protect your health. It can be picked fresh and partially dried. Fresh comfrey is a delightful addition to salads. Hi! Do NOT mash the comfrey leaves in a bowl that will be used for food preparation. However, health officials now strongly discourage any internal use of comfrey. It’s anti-inflammatory, demulcent, and astringent attributes combine to reduce swelling, soothe, protect, and tone inured, angry tissues. Allow the herbs to infuse in the warm oil for 24 hours before straining. Refined shea butter has no scent. Someone told me that comfrey leaves put in dry into a jar and sealed will result in a sort of salve. Comfrey is one of those herbs that truly has healing properties and is excellent when used in a salve. Soothing and highly moisturizing, this unscented salve is wonderful for supporting the treatment of chapped lips, dry skin, eczema, psoriasis, wrinkles, pregnant bellies, sore nipples, diaper rash, and allergic skin reactions, as well as bruises, shallow cuts, and many more skin conditions. You can use comfrey leaves in tea, and you can use your comfrey in a bath. I did that about two months ago and now the leaves have turned to mush and smell disgusting, like strong cat urine. Finally dried the leaves -soaked the leaves- and today made the salve. This way you can have access to fresh leaves which are also useful for injuries. If you use dried comfrey leaves and store the oil away from heat and light it will stay good for up to a year or more. Comfrey has so many healing benefits, and this salve is amazing for healing minor cuts, scrapes, and wounds. Once you have the comfrey leaves, rinse them off under cool water. From shop BumblingAcresFarm. The high water content of fresh leaves can shorten shelf life, so wilted or dried leaves are recommended. Also known as knitbone, comfrey is commonly used externally as a poultice for wounds, sores, burns, and fractures. Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) is a fast-growing perennial herb in the borage family with large, bristly leaves. But just like all greens, it will go harsh after the plant starts to fill in with the growth. Before making this salve, you will need to make a comfrey infused oil. Some herbalists feel that comfrey should not be used on the skin for longer than a few weeks. If harvested in the early spring, the leaves taste just like spinach. I bought the seeds grew the plants and had misplaced the recipe. If you are using dried leaves, let the leaves soak in hot water to cover for several minutes. Instructions. what’s the difference? Harvest your leaves on a dry, sunny day. Place the herb-infused oil and beeswax into a heatproof bowl and warm gently over a double boiler. Fill a pint jar about ½  to ⅔rds full of dried comfrey leaf, then cover the plant material with your carrier oil of choice. Pick only relatively young, fresh leaves before any … Comfrey is a potent anti-inflammatory wound healer and both the root and leaves can be used. I prefer to use a French Press for my herbal teas or tisanes. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Measure the strained herb-infused oil. It is a plant that I will always have growing in my medicinal herb garden, even if it does have a tendancy to spread. Thank you for your details on comfrey leaf drying. Comfrey is a potent anti-inflammatory wound healer and both the root and leaves can be used. The poultice should be damp but not drippy. applied in a number of ways as soil amendments, « 20+ Ways to Preserve Pumpkin and Winter Squash, https://theherbalacademy.com/how-to-make-a-poultice-with-herbs/, https://www.amazon.com/Starwest-Botanicals-Organic-Comfrey-Sifted/dp/B003AYEHGG/ref=as_li_ss_tl?keywords=dried+comfrey&qid=1572562269&sr=8-5&linkCode=sl1&tag=selfrelianc0e-20&linkId=474b7611a8f3d3c03f32dc066dc9ffb1&language=en_US. 6 ounces dried comfrey leaves; 3 ounce dried plantain leaves; 4-6 ounces beeswax; Method Please note: For this salve — because I had the time — I decided to create a triple-infused herbal oil. 1. The healing power of comfrey to the skin and connective tissues is enhanced by five other herbs contained in this salve recipe. A soothing salve or poultice made from the leaves of the comfrey plant may promote the healing of closed wounds and bruises or soothe breast pain in nursing mothers, reports the Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine 2 3. Comfrey leaves should be harvested right before the flower blooms and be used dried or fresh. Homemade Comfrey Salve Recipe  (this post contains affiliate links) 1/2 cup dry comfrey leaves (where to buy) 1/2 cup dry plantain leaves (where to buy) The leaves at the base of the plant can be a foot long and get progressively smaller toward the top of the stem. Harvest the comfrey leaves on a dry and sunny afternoon. A little goes a long way. This comfrey salve is one that I always have on hand in my herbal medicine cabinet. It should not be used on deep or infected wounds as it will heal the surface first and could potentially seal in an infection. To make a poultice from fresh comfrey leaves coarsely chop the leaves and puree in a blender, adding water to aid in processing. You can also purchase organic dried comfrey leaf from Mountain Rose Herbs. To create the comfrey poultice: Mash the comfrey leaves using a heavy wooden spoon or pestle until it has formed a thick paste. Put the comfrey oil and beeswax into the small bowl or Pyrex, and heat until the beeswax completely dissolves into the oil, stirring occasionally. This salve has been in the making for a long time. Here are some other healing herbal salve recipes you may like: This will also subscribe you to the Grow Forage Cook Ferment newsletter. For the fast infusion method, which is required for fresh herbs, place the jar in a double boiler or crockpot with water. Let the oil infuse in a cool and dark place for 4-6 weeks (or longer). This homemade comfrey salve has amazing healing benefits! You can also buy comfrey plants, seeds or seedlings and grow them at home. but I would poultice for deeper tissue injuries. Cutting comfrey leaves to make an infused oil, and eventually a comfrey salve. By the time you add the beeswax and Shea it overflows. Allow the comfrey pieces to dry overnight. Condition Soil on Future Perennial Garden Sites. Folk recipes mention using comfrey root tea to cure stomach upset and eating comfrey leaves fresh or cooked as a general tonic. Hi there, you can use unrefined, but be aware that it does have a strong scent that not everyone likes. It makes an excellent salve, either on its own or combined with other healing herbs like calendula, plantain, yarrow, or lavender. Please see my. The leaves cook up like spinach, a pot of greens to enjoy with dinner. Comfrey speeds healing and promotes the growth of new skin cells. **(see note at end of post about dry vs. fresh herbs for infusion oils) If you do not own comfrey, you can purchase dried comfrey leaves from Mountain Rose Herbs. Add the hot water slowly during this process to get the correct consistency. I am making a healing salve with comfrey, calendula and plantain. Would it work as a topical spray, or addition to a poultice? Originally published on September 5, 2018. And that’s just the beginning! Using fresh or dried leaves, combine with warm water and place over the wound, covering with a bandage. Also, how long before it gets rancid? Mix the juice with the leaf fibre, and seal … Strain with a kitchen strainer. Yes, Mary, the man who gave you the comfrey roots is correct. But usually a few days of treatment is all that you should ever need. To begin, I combined 2 ounces of dried comfrey leaves and 1 ounce of dried plantain leaves in … Using it externally, like in this salve or as a poultice, is perfectly safe! The compounds in comfrey’s leaves and roots--pyrrolizidine alkaloids--are … My only suggestion is you show a 1 cup pyrex. I made this monster last november, and able to scrape off the top layer of mostly-bees-wax with a hint of comfrey and that worked pretty well as a salve. Arrange leaves in a single layer on a clean, dry surface (best lined with a towel even though I forgot to take a photo after putting it down) and allow them to air dry for 2-3 days. can be unrefined? Aluminum Round Lip Balm Tin Containers with Screw Thread Lid - Great for Spices, Candies, Tea or Gift Giving. Hello! I hate to waste it….. Coe’s Comfrey sells the Bocking #4 strain of Russian comfrey, Symphytum Peregrinum, which is best for hardiness, highest yield and the highest protein with high allantoin content; for fodder, compost and all around general use. You can easily and cheaply buy comfrey on the internet, check your local on line stores or eBay. How to make comfrey poultice Crush or mash about two tablespoons of fresh or dried comfrey leaves in very hot water. Pull off any parts that look sick or diseased and brush off dirt with a dry cloth if needed. You can use a single oil or a combination of oils. 12 Ways to Preserve Apples: Canning, Freezing, Drying + More! Your email address will not be published. Thanks again for sharing. Skin Toning. Last updated on July 10, 2019. Copyright © 2021 Grow Forage Cook Ferment & Cocos Creations LLC. Do you have any thoughts? Would it work to use it with beeswax and/or shea butter since it is vodka and not oil? There is conflicting evidence on the safety of using comfrey internally, so please do your own research and proceed with caution. Beesworks® Beeswax Pellets, Yellow, 1lb-Cosmetic Grade-Triple Filtered Beeswax. Drying comfrey leaves. I was thinking about adding some cannabis but can’t find anything on the net about mixing these herbs. Why refined shea butter? anon87855 June 1, 2010 . ; Used an immersion blender to blend it all up and make a paste. (Can be used with fresh or dried herbs.). Some people do get a skin rash reaction from comfrey leaves, so be careful during your first time handling them or using remedies made from comfrey leaves. Was ready to put it in dropper bottles when I saw comfrey should not be ingested. Your email address will not be published. Both the leaves and roots can be used to make external comfrey remedies, often in either an oil, salve, or plaster. To infuse the oil , fill a clean and dry jar about 2/3rds with dried comfrey, cover with a neutral oil like olive, jojoba , perilla , almond, or avocado. May contain affiliate links or sponsored content. Foodie Pro & The Genesis Framework, Stainless Steel Double Boiler Pot for Melting Chocolate, Candy and Candle Making (18/8 Steel, 2 Cup Capacity, 480ML), Tosnail 24 Pack 2 oz. Roughly chop the leaves and put them in a wide mouth mason jar. I dehydrated my fresh leaves for a couple of hours. Older leaves, or leaves that have overwintered in mild climates, may have higher concentrations of alkaloids. Before straining which blends comfrey leaves in a jar, cover with a dry, sunny day potentially! 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