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Demulcent, cell proliferant, pectoral, astringent, nutritive, tonic, expectorant, hemostatic, alterative, vulnerary, mucilage, and styptic.
Dr. Shook wrote the following:
"It does not seem to matter much which part of the body is broken, either internally or externally; comfrey will heal it quickly. It is a great cell proliferant or new cell grower, it grows new flesh and bone alike, stops hemorrhage, and is wonderful for coughs, soothing and healing the inflamed tissues in a most remarkable manner." Comfrey is one of the finest healers for the respiratory system, especially where there is hemorrhage of the lungs; it has saved thousands of lives. The root has been used reputably as both a tonic and a vulnerary from very ancient times up to the present. The root and leaves are most beneficial as a poultice in healing any obstinate or ulcerous wound. Comfrey forms an ingredient in a large number of herbal preparations, and it may be given wherever a mucilaginous or demulcent medicine is required. The chief healing element in comfrey is allantoin, a cell proliferant (promotes granulation and formation of epithelial cells in the roots and leaves)."
A perennial with a deep taproot. The plant contains a glutinous juice. The 3~5 f°°t stem is angular and hairy bearing bristly, oblong, lanceolate leaves, some petioled, some sessile. The white to blue-mauve flowers grow in forked scorpiod racemes and have a tubular corolla resembling a glove finger. It is cultivated throughout Europe, U.S., occasionally escaped, thrives in almost any soil, does well in moist areas or in shade.
The young leaves make good greens. Roasted roots, together with chicory and dandelion roots, makes a coffee substitute. It is a anodyne, astringent, cellproliferant, demulcent, emollient, expectorant, hemostatic, refrigerant, and vulnerary. It contains calcium, potassium, phosphorus and allantoin which speeds up cell renewal in damaged muscles and broken bones. The leaf tea can help inflamed, ulcerated digestive tracts and coughs. Leaf poultices historically used to reduce swelling and bruising around sprains, arthritic joints, speeds healing of cuts, burns, open sores, eczema.
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