Symphytum officinale
Comfrey
a shrub of the Symphytum genus in the family Boraginaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Boraginaceae
- Genus
- Symphytum
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Woodiness
- herbaceous
- Growth rate
- vigorous
- Height
- 1.2 m
- Spread
- 0.6 m
- Fertility
- Bees
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Flower colours
- white
- Pollinators
- Bees
Uses
Toxicity
Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.
This plant contains small quantities of a toxic alkaloid which can have a cumulative effect upon the liver. Largest concentrations are found in the roots, leaves contain higher quantities of the alkaloid as they grow older and young leaves contain almost none. Most people would have to consume very large quantities of the plant in order to do any harm, though anyone with liver problems should obviously be more cautious. In general, the health-promoting properties of the plant probably far outweigh any possible disbenefits, especially if only the younger leaves are used.
Edible uses
Young leaves - cooked or raw[19][20][22][24][21][23]. The leaf is hairy and the texture is mucilaginous. It may be full of minerals but it is not pleasant eating for most tastes. It can be chopped up finely and added to salads, in this way the hairiness is not so obvious[183, K].
- Plant part
- Leaves
- Preparation
- Dried
- Product or use
- Tea
- Plant part
- Stem
- Preparation
- Blanched
- Product or use
- Eat
- Plant part
- Roots
- Preparation
- Peeled
- Product or use
- Soup
- Plant part
- Roots
- Preparation
- Roasted
- Product or use
- Coffee
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
Comfrey is a commonly used herbal medicine with a long and proven history in the treatment of various complaints. The root and the leaves are used, the root being more active, and they can be taken internally or used externally as a poultice[14][9]. Comfrey is especially useful in the external treatment of cuts, bruises, sprains, sores, eczema, varicose veins, broken bones etc, internally it is used in the treatment of a wide range of pulmonary complaints, internal bleeding etc[4, 238, K]. The plant contains a substance called 'allantoin', a cell proliferant that speeds up the healing process[14][8][13][3][9][11]. This substance is now synthesized in the pharmaceutical industry and used in healing creams[11]. The root and leaves are anodyne, astringent (mild), demulcent, emollient, expectorant, haemostatic, refrigerant, vulnerary[14][8][13][3][9]. Some caution is advised, however, especially in the internal use of the herb. External applications and internally taken teas or tinctures of the leaves are considered to be completely safe, but internal applications of tablets or capsules are felt to have too many drawbacks for safe usage[11]. See also the notes above on toxicity. The leaves are harvested in early summer before the plant flowers, the roots are harvested in the autumn. Both are dried for later use[11]. A homeopathic remedy is made from the fresh root, harvested before the plant flowers[10]. This has a very limited range of application, but is of great benefit in the treatment of broken bones and eye injuries[10].
- Product or use
- Anodyne
- Product or use
- Astringent
- Product or use
- Demulcent
- Product or use
- Emollient
- Product or use
- Expectorant
- Product or use
- Haemostatic
- Product or use
- Homeopathy
- Product or use
- Refrigerant
- Product or use
- Vulnerary
Material uses
The plant grows very quickly, producing a lot of bulk. It is tolerant of being cut several times a year and can be used to provide 'instant compost' for crops such as potatoes. Simply layer the wilted leaves at the bottom of the potato trench or apply them as a mulch in no-dig gardens. A liquid feed can be obtained by soaking the leaves in a small amount of water for a week, excellent for potassium demanding crops such as tomatoes. The leaves are also a very valuable addition to the compost heap[13][7]. A gum obtained from the roots was at one time used in the treatment of wool before it was spun[2].
- Product or use
- Biomass
- Product or use
- Compost
- Product or use
- Gum
Ecology and functions
- Ecosystem niche
- Shrub
Environment
- Range
- Europe, including Britain, south and east from Scandanavia to Spain, Siberia and Turkey.
- Habitat
- Damp, often shady localities, in meadows, woods etc, especially near streams and rivers[18][4][12].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 5+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
Seed - sow spring or autumn in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. If you have sufficient seed you can try an outdoor sowing in situ in the spring. Division succeeds at almost any time of the year. Simply use a spade to chop off the top 7cm of root just below the soil level. The original root will regrow and you will have a number of root tops, each of which will make a new plant. These can either be potted up or planted out straight into their permanent positions.
Cultivation
Tolerates most soils and situations but prefers a moist soil and some shade[1][14]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Best grown in an open sunny site in a deep rich soil if it is being grown for compost material[7]. Plants can be invasive, often spreading freely by means of self-sown seed. The root system is very deep and difficult to eradicate, even small fragments of root left in the soil can produce new plants.
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press 1969-00-00 ISBN 0192176218
Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2
Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225
Castro. M. The Complete Homeopathy Handbook. Macmillan. London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-333-55581-3
Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Herbs Pan Books Ltd. London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30725-8
Hills. L. Comfrey Report. Henry Doubleday Research Ass.
Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
Mabey. R. Food for Free. Collins 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219060-5
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202
Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2
Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (32202/01/01)
Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (32202/01/01)
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (32202/01/01)
Mabey. R. Food for Free. Collins ISBN 0-00-219060-5 (32202/01/01)
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (32202/01/01)
Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-37216-2 (32202/01/01)