Comfrey and Calendula Oil
Thank you very much!
Best,
Tanja from Munich
(TN)
06/03/2022
Dear Tanja,
It's almost certainly the leaf. It's rare to find the root. Even if it were the root, or a combination, it would still work well for your purpose. You just don't want to use the root internally.
I'm currently using a salve a friend made with root and leaf.
~Mama to Many~
Comfrey Root Extract
★★★★★
When you have a little time, can you share how you might use Comfrey root Extract and how often during the day? I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks in advance.
I ordered some comfrey oil to help my sprained hand heal. While I was waiting for my order to arrive, I used the egg white and salt method mentioned on EC as much as I could guess. I stirred about ¼ teaspoon of salt in the egg whites from two eggs. One egg white would have been enough. I wetted my hand with the mixture several times for two days. I just let it dry. I did not cover it. I had no more swelling after two days. I thank God for EC.
After the swelling left, I began to focus on curing the sprain and the pain. I began rubbing on MSM cream and things. I started exercising my wrist. I also bought a hand wrap.
As I mentioned I have now received my comfrey extract but do not know if I am using it properly. I have been rubbing the comfrey oil on a few drops at a time in the areas of the pain a few times a day. I started using the comfrey yesterday and already I have much less pain.
HisJewel
(TN)
06/14/2021
Dear Hisjewel,
I am so happy to hear you are already finding the comfrey root oil to be helpful! Using it frequently through the day is ideal.
When I was using comfrey root salve for a recovering joint I tried to use it every two hours. But when I was using it on my hip when it was bothering me, I really only got around to it a couple of times a day. Both were helpful.
I checked my favorite herb book, Practical Herbalism, by Philip Fritchie. Regarding topical use of comfrey, he says to use it "as often as needed." I think the point is, you really won't over do by using it very often.
If you were using a poultice, you would have basically continuous application. So, to maximize the benefit, I would be inclined to apply the oil as soon as it seems to have absorbed, even every hour or two during the day.
One reason that herbs sometimes don't seem to "work" is that in many cases they need to be used more frequently than over the counter medications. (Not always, but sometimes.)
Using herbs can be as much art as science.
I will share an herb story from today with you; it is definitely not a scientific story! :)
I had taken my children to a nearby swimming hole this afternoon and we got a flat tire on the way home. We pulled the car safely to the side of the road. My teens set to work on getting the flat tire off. I started to walk up the hill to try and get a cell signal to text my husband in case it turned out that we didn't have what all we needed to change the tire.
I texted him and he was on his way home and would stop by soon. I headed back to the car and my kids. I had noticed some jewelweed along the roadside. (I don't normally pick herbs from the roadside, but this is definitely a road less traveled - in all the time we were stopped on the side of the road only one vehicle passed by.) I collected a bunch of jewelweed. My husband arrived and he and the kids got the spare on. We headed home to make dinner and process my unexpected jewelweed treasure.
I chopped up the jewelweed and put the chopped stalks and leaves (no flowers yet, or I would have put them in as well) in the blender with water to cover and blended it it until just blended. I put all of that in a crock pot on "High" with the lid off. After several hours the water had reduced. I strained the liquid through a coffee filter into a jar. The "jewelweed tea" (never to be taken internally) I poured into ice cube trays. I will keep the ice cubes in a plastic bag in the freezer. It is a great poison ivy remedy. Just rub the poison ivy with the ice cube, very often through the day.
Hisjewel, please keep us posted on the progress you have with your hand!
Love,
~Mama to Many~
(New York)
06/15/2021
Oh wow, what an interesting happening! You have answered all my questions, it's good to know that I can use comfrey oil often throughout the day. You have also introduced me to something new, jewelweed. It makes me want to get to know plants, I also wonder if the Lord was telling you I called. Thank you for being there for us.
HisJewel
Comfrey Side Effects
★★★★★
(Alberta)
03/09/2022
It has been banned here in Canada making me want to get it as our Government Ban anything that is good for you and would cut into Big Pharma poisoning us all.
Comfrey Side Effects
(Denver)
01/23/2014
Courtney: 3000 years ago there were city states. Everybody had to have great strength because they were always warring against each other. They had to get their strength from properly prepared food. Today there is peace. People don't need great strength. There are a handful of people who figured an easy way to make a lot of money. They would make people sick with improperly grown food and then make them sicker with some synthetic meds. When somebody said comfrey can heal they hired some underlings to slander God's Goodie. They isolated 1 substance from comfrey and gave that to some rats at 1000 times the dose. Of course they got sick. There are farmers in Australia who fed their animals bales of comfrey for decades. They drank comfrey tea and ate comfrey salad every day. You can make green smoothies from comfrey leaf and feel like wonder woman.
(Tennessee, Usa)
01/24/2014
Dear Courtney,
The company that made your salve is trying to avoid liability. We have used a homemade salve using comfrey for years and it is very effective and safe, in my opinion. Three herbalists whom I trust and have gleaned much from (Rachel Weaver, Phillip Fritchey, and Lalitha Thomas) are all aware of the "studies" and yet, they still give information about comfrey and how to use it internally. My family has used it internally and externally and love it. Personally, I think the FDA does not want comfrey to be safe. It is so effective that it has the potential to hurt drug sales. I find it sad that comfrey gets a bad rap, when there are so many drugs called, "safe" by the FDA that are not safe at all. It is a money thing. Drug companies do not make money if people get better using comfrey.
All that said, you must do what you are comfortable with. If you try your salve, be sure to let us know if it is effective for your pain!
Have a great day!
~Mama to Many~
(Brentwood, Tn)
01/14/2016
I also live in TN and would like to know where your herbalist are as I really need to see someone. Thanks!
(Tennessee)
01/29/2016
Dear Marla,
Sorry to take a while to respond - I lost track of this post.
The herbalists I mention are all reputed authors; they don't actually have practices, that I know of, anyway, and none of them live in TN.
If you are needing an herbalist for a women's health issue, you might look into The Farm Midwifery Center. My understanding is that they take a natural approach to health. If they are too far away from you, perhaps they would be able to recommend someone closer.
~Mama to Many~
(Brentwood, Tn)
02/01/2016
Dear Mama to Many,
Did I understand that you make your own comfrey salve? If yes, will you share your recipe? Also, I live in Middle Tennessee --- is this plant readily available to buy as I would like to plant some. I am just now learning about this plant!
Thanks again,
Marla
(Tennessee)
02/02/2016
Dear Marla,
Comfrey does grow very well in Middle TN, I am happy to say. You might look for it at farmer's markets or smaller nurseries in the spring. A very small plant will flourish into a large plant. And it is hard to get rid of (as if one would ever want to!) so plant it in a place where it can flourish and stay put a long, long time. (It does like full sun.)
I used dried comfrey for my homemade salve. I tried to use fresh comfrey for it once and it went bad - because the fresh has a high water content. So, I usually use dried herbs from Mountain Rose Herbs. I combine several herbs in my salve - I will list them all. But even just using the comfrey (or just the plantain or calendula) will make a wonderful healing salve.
I fill (about 3/4 to the top) a mason jar with the dried herbs I want to use. I usually use comfrey, plantain, calendula, and burdock root, equal parts of each. Then I cover the dry herbs with oil. I use about 1/2 olive oil, 1/4 extra virgin coconut oil, and 1/4 castor oil. You could use all olive, but the coconut and castor have their own wonderful properties.
The jar is now full to the top with herbs and oil. I stir this up and let it sit in the laundry room for 2-4 weeks. If I need it in a hurry, I put the lidded jar in a crock pot (on a cloth towel towel) and fill the crock with water and keep the pot on warm overnight and low during the day. The water will need to be refilled a few times a day. I keep this brewing for 3 days.
Next I take the oil that has been sitting for 2 weeks or steeped for 3 days and strain the herbs out through a large piece of old but clean cotton t-shirt. The oil can be used "as is" now. This was my original recipe. Eventually, I melted in beeswax to make a salve, which is easier to use, much of the time. To make the salve, I add 1 Tablespoon of beeswax pastilles to each 4 ounces of herbal oil. I heat up the oil (a double boiler is ideal, though hard to clean out when you are finished! ) and add in the beeswax. I usually add some lavender essential oil, too. About 3/4 teaspoon for 4 ounces of oil. 4 ounce mason jars are ideal to store this in. Or you can buy all manner of cute little tins or containers online.
We use this salve for everything. Chapped lips, dry skin, eczema, bug bites, poison ivy, scrapes etc.
Let me know if you make some and how it goes!
~Mama to Many~
(Brentwood, Tn)
02/03/2016
Thank you for this recipe! I have one more question regarding the comfrey. Right now I have comfrey root powder---should I use this powder form? I have seen dried leaf comfrey for sale--is this the type of comfrey I should get? I am looking forward to making this, just need to get all the ingredients now.
(Tennessee)
02/03/2016
Dear Marla,
I have always used comfrey leaf for salve making, though I do use comfrey root some times for relieving pain of sprains etc.
I do use Burdock root though. So roots can be used to make a salve. I find that using powder to make the salve makes it very hard to strain. Die-hard herbalists tend to prefer powdering the herbs before making a tincture or salve out of them, but I have nearly always just used cut dried herbs and have always been happy with the results.
~Mama to Many~
(Tennessee)
02/03/2016
Marla,
I just realized that while you are making your salve, you can also make a tincture with the same herbs. I just started a batch of this tincture tonight. All you would have to do is get some Vodka, 50 proof preferred. In a jar I put the same dried comfrey, calendula (flowers), plantain leaf, and burdock root. I cover it all with vodka. Just like the oil, I let it sit 2 weeks (or up to 6 weeks. You can also do the 3 day crock pot method. I have had two jars going in a crock pot at once, with a cloth between the jars so they don't hit one another and break.) Then I strain it through a clean t-shirt or coffee filter. (Coffee filter won't work for the oil.)
Then you have the herbs in a tincture. I don't use this internally. I get a small spray bottle and you have a spray! Sometimes it is more convenient to use the spray. I will use the spray on weepy rashes and weepy poison ivy as the alcohol helps to dry it out. This is more convenient at times. Sometimes having a salve on the area might be messy. My teen boys prefer the spray. It may briefly sting broken skin, so I would use caution using it on a child.
Anyway, as long as you are making a salve, you might want to add one more ingredient to your list (vodka) and make a tincture, too!
Some will use rubbing alcohol instead of vodka. I prefer vodka as it is food grade.
Enjoy!
~Mama to Many~
(Brentwood, Tn)
02/03/2016
Comfrey Smoothie for Women
★★★★★
- 2 medium sized comfrey leaves
- 3/4 cup yogurt
- 1 Tablespoon Chia Seeds
- 1 Tablespoon Gelatin
- 1/4 cup frozen blueberries
- 1/4 cup almond milk (maybe a little more)
Blend all in a blender.
It wasn't very sweet; some honey could be added.
Benefits of this smoothie for women:
Comfrey is good for strong and flexible bones, healthy skin and good digestion. Herbalist Susun Weed says it contains special proteins for short term memory brain cells.
Susun Weed also recommends regular consumption of yogurt for menopausal women.
Blueberries are tasty antioxidants.
Chia seeds are good for digestion and give you Omega 3's.
Gelatin is good for the health of joints, skin, hair and nails.
Enjoy!
~Mama to Many~
(Tn)
11/20/2017
Dear Mary in Arcadia,
Back when we were conversing about how much dried comfrey leaf equals a leaf, I cut a leaf and hung it up in my kitchen. It long since dried and today I finally crushed it up and measured how much dried leaf it made (without the stem.)
The leaf in the picture, (with a regular sized domino to compare) dried and crushed made just over a teaspoon of dried comfrey leaf. If I had powdered it, it would have been less than a teaspoon.
~Mama to Many~
Comfrey Toxicity
★★★★★
"Water01 - Thank you for that great post AND for this opportunity to set the record straight about one of Nature's/God's GREATEST healing plants!
That 'warning letter' was sent to virtually every company that was selling herbs at that time (of which the FDA was aware). What is most frustratingly (to me) is that one of the LARGEST companies with the most money to fight the lies (Dr. Christopher's company, now run by his children), willingly chose to kowtow and remove the Comfrey from all their father's products, rather than fight the FDA. So, with one of the major players 'knocked out of the fight', the smaller players (armed with truth & integrity, but very little money), had to shoulder the burden of the battle. And battle they did, and they WON (even if the court costs for them were astronomical with no way to recoup them). Herbalists ARE still allowed to include comfrey in products for internal use legally.
The unneccesary "warning" (regarding comfrey only being safe for external use) is still widely in place...which is VERY frustrating. It is very rare to find someone familiar enough with herbs & natural health/healing that they are not 'scared away' by a "liver damage" & "cancer" warning...so likely millions of people that could benefit from the healing miracles of comfrey are deprived. :( And this is all very similar to the authorities manipulation of the public concept of the safety of natural Ephedra (not the varieties of sythetic kinds or the products that were mixed with other unsafe plants or chemical stimulants). The "scare" about Ephedra even 'got me' for a time. (Note - it's a true shame we don't have a legitimate organization that will test and oversee the marketing of herbal products. There were truly innocent people hurt very seriously by the use of Ephedra products that were adulterated with chemical toxins. And there have been cases of people having all kinds of abnormal reactions and problems from taking herbs that were grown with the usage of DDT and other incredibly toxic chemicals. Besides being a carcinogen, DDT is also a neurotoxin, so there have been people with neurological illnesses that have worsened after taking the very herbs that should help them heal. :(
When I was researching the FDA/Comfrey/Christopher situation, I found (what appears to be) the "final word on Comfrey" from the FDA's website. It is pasted below in it's entirely (as written), and then there's "my review" of the data AFTER running it through my "Spin Detector" (this document puts a theme park ride to shame with the velocity of spin it contains!).
Let's see how good YOUR "Spin Detector" is! Read the document below and discern what you determine & conclude after reading it. After you've finished, ask yourself: Does it provide factual evidence? Is it legitimate? After reading it, does the use of Comfrey concern you? What do you now know about Comfrey that you didn't know before?
Here it is, straight from the mouth of the FDA:
The use of comfrey in dietary supplements is a serious concern to FDA. These plants contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids, substances which are firmly established to be hepatotoxins in animals. Reports in the scientific literature clearly associate oral exposure of comfrey and pyrrolizidine alkaloids with the occurrence of veno-occlusive disease (VOD) in animals. Moreover, outbreaks of hepatic VOD have been reported in other countries over the years and the toxicity of these substances in humans is generally accepted. The use of products containing comfrey has also been implicated in serious adverse incidents over the years in the United States and elsewhere. However, while information is generally lacking to establish a cause-effect relationship between comfrey ingestion and observed adverse effects humans, the adverse effects that have been seen are entirely consistent with the known effects of comfrey ingestion that have been described in the scientific literature. The pyrrolizidine alkaloids that are present in comfrey, in addition to being potent hepatotoxins, have also been shown to be toxic to other tissues as well. There is also evidence that implicates these substances as carcinogens. Taken together, the clear evidence of an association between oral exposure to pyrrolizidine alkaloids and serious adverse health effects and the lack of any valid scientific data that would enable the agency to determine whether there is an exposure, if any, that would present no harm to consumers, indicates that this substance should not be used as an ingredient in dietary supplements.
So now, how ya feelin' about the internal use of Comfrey? Do you feel like you're heard and absorbed the truth? Before you read the "Sarcastic Spin Detector" version below, there's two things you need to know (or remember).
#1 There are pyrrolizzidine alkaloids present in MANY plants, and many are known to cause liver damage, but so far, there is absolutely zero factual evidence that the specific pyrrolizzidine alkaloids in Comfrey have ever caused liver damage or cancer. Here are a few of the plants with PAs that have caused damage:http://lib.bioinfo.pl/pmid:7311596
The inset text below is from this FANTASTIC article of the safey & use of Comfrey:http://www.herbsarespecial.com.au/free-herb-information/comfrey.html
Outbreaks of PA poisoning in humans, in the past, have usually been the result of accidental contamination of food crops, with the toxic seeds of other plants. One such instance was an outbreak of veno-occlusive disease in Afghanistan in 1974. This outbreak followed a severe drought and the people were suffering from acute malnutrition (an important factor). About 22% of the people showed evidence of liver disease when examined in 1975. The cause of the outbreak was traced to bread, contaminated by heliotropium seed (which grew extensively in the wheat fields). Samples of the wheat examined, were found to contain an average of 40 seeds (300 mg) per kg of wheat.
Cases of liver damage, due to people drinking bush teas of seneca and crotalaria, have been reported from a number of places. J. A. Pembery, B.Sc., advisor to the Henry Doubleday Research Association, Essex, U.K. says, in the book ‘The Safety of Comfrey', that there appear to be no cases, in medical history or veterinary records, of humans or animals, showing clinical symptoms, of pyrrolizidine alkaloid poisoning, from the consumption of comfrey. Lawrence D. Hills, in his forward in the book, mentions that the Commonwealth Bureau of Animal Health very kindly carried out a computer search through their records of 137,000 cases of stock poisoning by plants, since 1972, and found only one concerning case: a case of comfrey-nitrate poisoning in pigs from excessive use of fertilisers in Germany.
#2 At some time in school (likely a long time ago in a science class far, far, away), you probably heard the very valid statement that "correlation does not prove causation" (or "association does not prove causation"). This means, that's just because two things happen to be correlated or associated, it doesn't prove that one causes the other. For example, it may be true that almost always when you're trying to take a relaxing soak in the tub, the phone starts ringing or the kids go ballistic. (That's a correlation or an association). But running a bath full of hot water and getting in it does not CAUSE a phone to ring (or children to misbehave). Hence, correlation/association does not prove causation (although it's possible that when things are correlated or associated, one of them does cause another). But two events happening together does not PROVE one causes the other. One has to do more testing and studying to find out how the events are related.
So, here it is - The Comfrey Bomb (FDA in black - me in cool blue :)
The use of comfrey in dietary supplements is a serious concern to FDA.
Perhaps you, the FDA would care to be seriously concerned about the 50,000+ deaths from the drug you approved named Vioxx - or the fact that even without including that drug in the number, more than 100,000-150,000 people actually DIE each year from ingesting, as prescribed, the drugs that you've tested and approved. And before you start researching the dangers of a plant that have been proven to be safe for decades, perhaps you'd like to start dealing with the fact that you allow chemical additives in our food that have already been thoroughly tested and proved to cause cancer and other diseases.
These plants contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids, substances which are firmly established to be hepatotoxins in animals.
Yes, some of the various pyrrolizidine alkaloids in some plants have been shown to be hepatoxic in animals. But there has NEVER been a verified instance of anyone using Comfrey and developing liver disease because of it. So what you likely meant to say is: "Some plants contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids that are firmly established to be hepatotoxins in animals (and humans)...but that has never been established with Comfrey".
Reports in the scientific literature clearly associate oral exposure of comfrey and pyrrolizidine alkaloids with the occurrence of veno-occlusive disease (VOD) in animals.
Yes, there are reports that associate oral exposure to comfrey with VOD, but there are none that prove it...or you (the great and almighty FDA) woulddefinitely be mentioning it. And 'association' is a LONG way from causation...and barely worth mentioning to a critically thinking scientist without other evidence or conclusive studies. Do you HAVE any conclusive studies?
Moreover, outbreaks of hepatic VOD have been reported in other countries over the years...
Well, yes, VOD has many causes...what does that have to do with Comfrey?
...and the toxicity of these substances in humans is generally accepted.
There's absolutely no doubt that some pyrrolizidine alkaloids, and virtually all of those extracted/isolated and injected in large amounts, or synthesized pyrrolizidine alkaloids that are typically use for testing, are toxic at high levels. So yes, that is "generally accepted" as you say...but you still haven't proven that the specific pyrrolizidine alkaloids in Comfrey are hepatotoxic in any way (even though you continue to strongly imply that). And just because you're giving us a major "spin treatment" doesn't mean we're dull enough to fall for it.
The use of products containing comfrey has also been implicated in serious adverse incidents over the years in the United States and elsewhere.
Ahem, taking a bath daily and getting fresh air was implicated as the cause of many diseases and 'adverse incidents' throughout the world for centuries. The 'fact' that the earth was flat and the oceans had sea monsters was implicated in the 'adverse incidents' of ships for centuries. Those turned out to be incorrect implications.
Besides"implicated" is a far cry from "proven". And if you happen to have some "implication" other than heresay or gossip, we'd like to know. Please tell us what else was in those 'products that contained comfrey'; and were those products -and that comfrey in them- grown in third world countries and doused with DDT and other hepatotoxic pesticides? And forgive us for questioning you, but just because "you say" Comfrey has been 'implicated in serious adverse incidents', that doesn't make it true --unless you have evidence, of course. Do you have any evidence? Can we just stick to the facts please?
Drumroll please, from THE mouth of the FDA! However, whileinformation is generally lacking to establish a cause-effect relationship between comfrey ingestion and observed adverse effects humans... well, gosh-golly-gee, you're the FDA, I'm sure you would know if there's any evidence to be found. And since you admit "information is lacking to establish a true cause-effect", then, uh, there's no information to establish one, eh?)
...the adverse effects that have been seen are entirely consistent with the known effects of comfrey ingestion that have been described in the scientific literature. HUH???? You just said there's no information to establish a cause-effect relationship...so how can there even BE adverse effects with known comfrey ingestion, if there's no information to establish a cause-effect??? We're not quite as dumb as you think we are, are you're certainly not as "smooth" as you think you are! (Did you really just put two totally conflicting statements in the same sentence?)
The pyrrolizidine alkaloids that are present in comfrey, in addition to being potent hepatotoxins, have also been shown to be toxic to other tissues as well. No! No! No! You just said that information is generally lacking to establish a cause-effect with Comfrey and adverse effects in humans...and you've NEVER proven or referenced a study that proves Comfrey is a potent hepatotoxin. What you probably MEANT to say, is that some pyrrolizidine alkaloids from some plants are potent hepatotoxins...and you'd like to lump Comfrey in with those, but you'd don't have any evidence to do so. So you're lumping it all together anyway and hoping we'll fall for it.
There is also evidence that implicates these substances as carcinogens. Implicated? or PROVEN? And by 'these substances', do you mean synthetic or extracted/isolated pyrrolizidine alkaloids from the known toxic alkaloids/plants, or from the 'Comfrey substances' which you've already clearly admitted have no proven cause-effect relationship to adverse effects in humans?
Taken together, the clear evidence of an association between oral exposure to pyrrolizidine alkaloids and serious adverse health effects... Again, as we learned in science class: "association" or "correlation" does NOT prove "causation". And again-again :::sigh::: are we talking the PA's from the plants that are KNOWN to contain toxic PA's, or the PA's from Comfrey (that have NEVER been proven to cause ANY harm to man or beast)?
...and the lack of any valid scientific data that would enable the agency to determine whether there is an exposure, if any, that would present no harm to consumers, ... So far you've got "association" -which you're quite aware, means absolutely nothing unless you have valid scientific data that PROVES a correlation. AND you have "lack of any valid scientific data". So exactly what are you going to conclude?
...indicates that this substance should not be used as an ingredient in dietary supplements.
:::in my best Mr. Rodgers voice::: Okay folks, can you say "AGENDA"??? Sure, I knew you could.
Now then, it is any wonder, that after almost a century of this level of "spin & lies" being imbedded into the minds of society and physicians (AND alternative & natural healers), that we're all scared to death to eat plants to heal ourself? (Of course, this doesn't mean that we should be stupid and run out there and stuff our face with anything and everything just because it's "natural" and someone said it was good for us). But it is VERY important to know the the pharmaceutical industry-owned AMA (whose foundational mission is "to protect the legal & financial interest of it's members") and all it's greedy tentacles, have spent BILLIONS of dollars since the late 1890's,,,, hiring the TOP psychologists and advertising PR experts to propagandize & brainwash society and destroy the competition. And you just saw one little blurb that's part of the process. All of us (and all of those we ever try to help) are victims of this 'fear & quackery' campaign...and how deceitful, impactful, and health-destroying their incredible levels of "spin" really are.
Let truth and freedom REIGN!
Unyquity
"Those who know the least obey the best."--George Farquhar
Yes, yes, Yes!! I will take generations of people and livestock consuming comfrey over their lifetimes, thriving, flourishing and regaining health over anything the FDA or it's equivalent says. After reading some miraculous testimonies I planted four plants in my tiny garden. I have been consuming it daily, initially in salads, most recently in teas (best results for me). Here (Australia) it is not allowed to be sold for internal use. Unfortunately many people are not willing to open their mind (my personal experience) until bigpharma leave them in drastic ill health, and sometimes not even then.
(Ct)
04/24/2018
Dr. Christopher products no longer contain comfrey? As of when? I just purchased the comfrey ointment.
Dr Christopher's comfrey ointment has written on it for external use only, much like most comfrey products sold here.
(Nashville)
04/25/2018
Comfrey has been removed from all of Dr. Christopher's ingestible products.
(Ireland)
02/13/2022
It is about time someone standing up for the people s rights.
The thing is, if one fights, they will just dig their heels in. You can't fight corruption. Fortunately, you don't have to. If you refrain from attacking those who attack you, karma will find a far better, far more creative and far more painful way to get her due. Karma has the whole of creation at her fingertips. She can part seas, if that's what it takes. It really is best to leave them alone and let her do her thing.
THAT'S a whole other experiment. Even more exciting than the 4 C's - charcoal, cayenne, comfrey and castor oil.
"Alternative" or "old fashioned" medicine has been a target since healers have received appreciation from the people. At the advent of king and class, the "doctor" title - like the politician title - became sociopolitically viable and a way for the "lowly" to climb the otherwise unavailable sociopolitical ladder which turned medicine into a sociopolitical ambition that has nothing to do with healing. "Doctors" are revered which is attractive to those who seek to BE revered but is of no interest to those who just seek to heal.
"Doctors" and politicians are peas in a pod. And, now, "alternative medicine" is well along the way to creating its own social hierarchy via dueling social media "influencers". Real information is getting harder and harder to find as it gets buried deeper and deeper.
Currently, the darker hearts of the ambitious are openly showing themselves and karma is raining down pretty heavily but, the same is also happening to the just-plain-mean who relish the discomfort of their enemies, shouting "Hit them again! Hit them again! ".
And now there are three topics of conversation to avoid. Politics, religion and medicine.
I don't even want to be a "medicine woman" anymore. I'm just going to be a minister of comfort - both physical and spiritual.
Comfrey Toxicity
★★★★★
(Hope Bc Canada)
01/23/2014
EC researchers--- please look out. Vested interests are putting out their bit to mislead and misinform the public. Especially if an herb or substance is effective and within means, there come the lies and efforts to discredit herbology and folk remedies that have been used for hundreds of years.
For example: recently and longer, BORAX, KEROSENE, TURPENTINE, COMFREY, even KOMBUCHA.
I was perusing a page on Kombucha, when a well known link that starts with L...discredited it as being unsafe when Kombucha has been brewed in countless homes for umpteen years with the effect that in those areas in the world cancer did not make its debut.
I am getting angry when Truth becomes "myth", when well being of man is undermined and the public drained of resourses and left callously to die from man made poisons. In the name of commerce and control.
If one peruses history, this has been done every time, killing volk wisdom and its knowledgeable citizens over and again.
How many of the good people who have made a huge difference to mankind with their natural remedies are in jail or IN HIDING??
Very angrily, yours, Namaste Om
Deep Wounds, Tennis Elbow
★★★★★
Unfortunately, not long after you could no longer buy the Comfrey capsules.
I also used them for Tennis Elbow, which was also successful.
Joyce
(Idaho)
02/05/2021
Was it comfrey leaf or comfrey root?
Digestive Issues
★★★★★
I plan to try many many things here.
I came here because of a gallbladder attack. I was sooo sick with this last attack, and I am not working and have no medical insurance. So I started out with AVC in apple juice and wow !! I felt much better (((but a very wonderful side effect occurred, which I wasn't expecting.... I have been holding water a lot lately in my ankles, and I have been drinking lots of water to help rid my body and eating very little to no salt, but still some puffiness.... I have been using ACV for 3 days now and my ankles and lower legs are TINY again !!! I can't believe it !!!) I have since then been reading all the wonderful things ACV does so I am a believer and will be taking it from now on.))) I did start out drinking the regular kind from the store in apple juice, but I have bought the organic ACV now...
My second subject is LETTUCE. I wanted faster relief on my gallbladder and eating a chunk of lettuce makes your stomach and gas build up from all of this ease down quite fast ...and it works! THANKS
My third subject is comfrey.... comfrey has many many used more than just bones.... I have it growing in my yard, and ((of course I haven;t been using it for about 1 month)) but that was me being dumb))) anyway I have a whole read out on comfrey and all of it's cures... but it may be too long for here. One thing it is for is the digestive system in your body. I usually cut me about 8 to 10 leafs each morning and bring them to a simmer and eat them. They are delicious and taste like rough spinach. My mom drinks comfrey tea. It is supposed to heal any upsets in your digestive track from your stomach right on down to your bowls, and ground comfry root is powerful stuff. Here is a small readout on just a few of it's healing powers......
((Tea of the leaves or decoction of the root was traditionally used for arthritis, respiratory problems, persistent coughs, pleurisy, bronchitis, bronchial pneumonia, lung disease with dry cough, lung congestion, quinsy, whooping cough, consumption, metritis, periostitis, gastrointestinal ulcers, ulcerative colitis, internal hemorrhage (lungs, bowel, stomach), bleeding piles, bloody urine, bladder infections, prostate infections, cystitis, leukorrhea, excessive menstrual flow, scrofula, anemia, wasting disease, DIGESTIVE & STOMACH PROBLEMS, spitting blood, colds, nasal congestion, diarrhea, and dysentary.))
I know a lady of 98 still going strong, a dear friend of my mom's, gave a plant to my mom and she in turn gave me some starts from it years ago, to help us with stomach problems and I did use it for 3 months once ... and was wonderfully healthy and no digestive problems at all... then I moved and my landlord would not allow me to pull it up. So it took me years to find it again and only this year, I have plenty... so along with my AVC, lettuce and comfrey I plan to get healthy and well.... ohh and I am just starting to use organic coconut oil on my skin ... will let everyone know .... :)
Thanks again !!!
(Olivet, Michigan)
03/16/2009
Hay Zella, I have used Comfrey for alot of things. I even make Comfrey salve from my plants in my yard. I would love to have a copy of your Comfrey uses. I want to know all of its uses. I've never heard of eating it but am looking foward to trying this when spring brings up new plants. I pick the leaves, dry and store them for winter use. Please email me and let me know. Thanks Romona
(Coloma, Mi)
03/17/2009
Ramona, I would love to know how to make comfrey salve. I also grow it in my yard and I am looking for different ways to use it.
(Olivet, Michigan)
03/19/2009
I'm looking for my recipe. I'll get back to you as soon as I find it. Also you can email me and I'll send it to you. Thanks Romona
Dog Back Leg Paralysis
★★★★★
My doxie's back legs became paralyzed. The vet "guessed" that he had intervertebral disk disease and suggested a $5,000.00 surgery. After my research - I put him on strict crate rest, gave him supplements, chinese herbs and pumpkin (for fiber). I also gave him comfrey compresses - 3x's a day- which he would settle into. It took 3 1/2 months for him to walk again. The interesting thing was that when he got better, he would not sit for the compresses. I took it as "I'm ok now and don't need it anymore.") A big thanks to this website for it's valuable information.
General Feedback
Lately, I am testing with Comfrey Leaves and Roots. Although there are widespread information about the usage of Comfrey in Internet.
Comfrey has incredible healing powers for respiratory, skeletal, digestive systems, especially for skeletal systems.
I request you too include section about Comfrey, so the people can advice how to use comfrey.
There are some ways that comfrey should not be taken, but varying info are available online. Some say you can take Comfrey Root Tea, some say you should not take comfrey root tea.
I tried both Root Tea and leaf tea. Leaf Tea was great.
Soon I will post how to use comfrey based on my experience
Good Health
EC: Hi Ed2012, we've had a comfrey page for quite some time! It was one of the first pages we created on Earth Clinic. Looking forward to hearing your feedback!
(New York, US)
12/30/2014
I have noticed something very strange .. I am weaning off of a beta blocker and down to 12mgs. but I don't even think it's doing anything anymore and someone had mentioned that around here on the posts.. What I find very interesting is that doctors will give patients 12mgs of a beta blocker to control their hbp . Okay I have read countless stories online about people taking 12mgs. or 6mgs. of this drug and reporting their bp going down.. I think it doesn't even work at that low dose ... So now I am wondering is this like a placebo effect where people's minds are actually believing this drug is working and so the bp goes down.. There is a lot of connection as we know between mind and body... Just another reason for the health industries to push the drugs even when they don't work..and making us think they are working.. Ha. I am not one for conspiracy theories but this makes me wonder..
Gum Recession
 (1) |
100% |
(USA)
04/29/2022
Hair Rinse
★★★★★
How to Make Comfrey Tincture
★★★★★
If you can't find it in the store, simply chop some comfrey root from your garden like you would onion for a meatloaf.
Fill a small jar 2/3 - 3/4 full of this coarsely chopped root. Then fill the jar with 80 - 100 proof vodka. That is all. Let the jar set for two - four weeks or more. Strain out the liquid and bottle it in a dark bottle and there you have it!
A wonderful, but slimy, comfrey tincture that really works miracles!
Neck Injury
★★★★★
I researched and ended up at 'disc bulges' and a recommendation for a 'cold anti-inflammatory cream like Comfrey' or something to that effect... and periodic ice pack treatment.
I put something frozen on it ten minutes in each hour and that seemed to help a little until i could get somewhere to do something proper about it. I then went to a health food store and got some Comfrey cream they had... and it really was amazing, on the first application it went from a serious 8/10 pain level down to 4/10, it was like pouring water onto a fire.
I alternated between ice pack and the comfrey cream every 30-60 minutes and that kept the pain well down.
I did make the mistake of trying to lie down and sleep... very, very silly. not for a day or two of this treatment could i lie completely down without all of the pain returning. i recommend sleeping mostly sitting up until most of the pain is gone, its not worth risking setting it off again.
Apparently the reason it works is because if the muscles around the joint/disc become inflamed they will swell up and that will then put pressure on the joint/disc causing the pain. the comfrey is a 'cold acting anti-inflammatory' it is anti-inflammatory and the net effect of the cream is cooling which reduces swelling. the cold from the ice pack also directly reduces swelling.
I also took some anti-inflammatories internally to speed up general recovery, ginger, tumeric, omega 3.
Ryan.
