I first learned about the herb comfrey from The Crown Prince of England. Bet you didn't see that coming. And I bet it requires an explanation, so here goes:
His Royal Highness Prince Charles is an avid organic gardener and has written much on the subject. I, being the garden-obsessed/bookworm/royal watcher that I am, have devoured his writings. Amongst all the fabulous garden insight His Highness shares, the use of comfrey as a natural fertilizer on his estates intrigued me the most. I began to research comfrey and it's uses, and to my surprise, I unearthed a wealth of knowledge about it's impressive medicinal and organic abilities. I quickly decided to add some comfrey to my garden.
Here's why:
You can imagine my excitement upon discovering the impressive resume on this herb. Obtaining a plant, however, was not to be as easy as I had expected. Since it's not a well known herb, it's not readily available at most plant centers. After a year-long quest, I finally chanced upon a specimen at a garden booth at the Baker's Creek Spring Garden Festival in Mansfield, Mo. With thoughts of Prince Charles' elegant royal English estate swirling in my head, I promptly purchased a comfrey start for my fixer-upper Ozarkian homestead. Yes, I realize The Prince and I live very different lives, but just let me dream. Shoot for the stars, I say!
His Royal Highness Prince Charles is an avid organic gardener and has written much on the subject. I, being the garden-obsessed/bookworm/royal watcher that I am, have devoured his writings. Amongst all the fabulous garden insight His Highness shares, the use of comfrey as a natural fertilizer on his estates intrigued me the most. I began to research comfrey and it's uses, and to my surprise, I unearthed a wealth of knowledge about it's impressive medicinal and organic abilities. I quickly decided to add some comfrey to my garden.
Here's why:
- It is a natural fertilizer and compost accelerator, and is a great companion plant
- It is an excellent animal fodder
- It enhances overall bodily health
- It promotes healing in joint and bone issues
- It is a remedy for bruising, sprains and muscle tears
- It helps to heal skin irritations like scratches, insect bites, burns, and even psoriasis
You can imagine my excitement upon discovering the impressive resume on this herb. Obtaining a plant, however, was not to be as easy as I had expected. Since it's not a well known herb, it's not readily available at most plant centers. After a year-long quest, I finally chanced upon a specimen at a garden booth at the Baker's Creek Spring Garden Festival in Mansfield, Mo. With thoughts of Prince Charles' elegant royal English estate swirling in my head, I promptly purchased a comfrey start for my fixer-upper Ozarkian homestead. Yes, I realize The Prince and I live very different lives, but just let me dream. Shoot for the stars, I say!
Since comfrey likes partial shade and damp conditions, I planted my comfrey beneath the pear tree. It makes a great companion plant for the tree because the deep comfrey roots "mine" minerals from the subsoil, funnel them up through the plant into the leaves, and deposit them at the base of the tree when the leaves die back in the fall. This process is called "dynamic accumulation", and it's a natural and easy way to fertilize my tree. Plus, my ducks, geese, and chickens love to nibble on the leaves as they forage around the tree for fallen fruit. Since comfrey has been fed to livestock for centuries to boost overall animal health, I don't mind a bit when they browse the "buffet".
But the garden and the livestock aren't the only ones who can benefit from comfrey. I've been known to indulge in it myself!
But the garden and the livestock aren't the only ones who can benefit from comfrey. I've been known to indulge in it myself!
Throughout the growing season I like to harvest and dry the leaves, and occasionally I will crumble a bit of leaf in my morning smoothie. Comfrey has long been used to treat a variety of health issues and boost immunity to disease. In fact, old-timers used to nibble on a leaf a day to relieve the effects of asthma!* The high levels of chlorophyll and allantion are the main reason for it's overall effectiveness.
Let me explain: The chlorophyll in comfrey has a cell structure that mimics that of human blood cells, which means it is readily absorbed to assist in cell regeneration. Allantion promotes rapid cell growth, and is more commonly found in umbilical cords, where it performs the same function for fetuses. These properties mean that comfrey has the ability to enhance recovery from, and even arm our bodies against outside attack! Plus, it's rumored to promote a more youthful appearance--and at the risk of sounding desperate, I'm all for that. Can I get an amen? Thank you.
*Although comfrey has been used internally for centuries without evidence of human bodily damage, there are advisories against consuming large quantities. I always like to advocate caution when consuming any herb for medicinal purposes, so be sure to do your research!
Let me explain: The chlorophyll in comfrey has a cell structure that mimics that of human blood cells, which means it is readily absorbed to assist in cell regeneration. Allantion promotes rapid cell growth, and is more commonly found in umbilical cords, where it performs the same function for fetuses. These properties mean that comfrey has the ability to enhance recovery from, and even arm our bodies against outside attack! Plus, it's rumored to promote a more youthful appearance--and at the risk of sounding desperate, I'm all for that. Can I get an amen? Thank you.
*Although comfrey has been used internally for centuries without evidence of human bodily damage, there are advisories against consuming large quantities. I always like to advocate caution when consuming any herb for medicinal purposes, so be sure to do your research!
The main use for comfrey on my homestead is as an ingredient in my healing Comfrey Balm. The balm is applied to the surface of the skin to treat skin irritations, but it doesn't stop there. Comfrey is considered "transdermal" which means that it is able to soak deep within the skin into the tissue, and even reaching bone depth! This ability allows the healing properties of comfrey to treat all those bruises, muscle issues, sprains, and fractures that we, as humans, manage to end up afflicted with.
The balm is a soothing, non-invasive way to treat our aches and pains. It's certainly not intended to substitute for major medical care, but I love having it on hand for those "non-emergency" situations. It's a nice, natural addition to my medicine cabinet, and knowing it's there brings me such comfort.
In fact, I call comfrey the "comforting herb" because...well, it is! And it's just another example of how my garden makes my life so satisfying.
So, if you're in search of some satisfaction, get out there and start growing! On second thought--wait until Spring, otherwise you'll freeze your tail off. And I don't think even comfrey can help you there!
The balm is a soothing, non-invasive way to treat our aches and pains. It's certainly not intended to substitute for major medical care, but I love having it on hand for those "non-emergency" situations. It's a nice, natural addition to my medicine cabinet, and knowing it's there brings me such comfort.
In fact, I call comfrey the "comforting herb" because...well, it is! And it's just another example of how my garden makes my life so satisfying.
So, if you're in search of some satisfaction, get out there and start growing! On second thought--wait until Spring, otherwise you'll freeze your tail off. And I don't think even comfrey can help you there!
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