Comfrey - Health benefits
Comfrey certainly seems to have been a cure-all at one point in time as it is a plant that has just as many uses as it does names. Comfrey is also known as Quaker Comfrey, cultivated Comfrey, boneset, knitbone, consound, and slippery-root. Today, it’s known for its soothing, rejuvenating, anti-inflammatory, and pain-relieving properties.
Some Brief Background On Comfrey
Comfrey is a shrub that has long, thin leaves and black roots. It produces clusters of purple, blue, and white flowers, and can grow up to five feet on average. It’s native to Britain but can be found throughout most of Europe and into Central Asia and Western Siberia. It was brought to North America by English immigrants.
Its various names hint towards its historical uses as a remedy for broken bones, fractures, and bruises. For over 2,000 years, Comfrey root and other parts of the herb have been used to treat a wide variety of ailments. The earliest records of its use date back to 400 B.C. Greece, where it was recommended to staunch bleeding.
What Health Conditions Can Comfrey Help?
Comfrey has been used to heal and soothe a large variety of conditions such as bronchitis, bruises, cancer, fractures, rheumatism, ulcers, sprains, excessive menstrual flow, gum disease, many skin conditions, and more. However, recent research has found that Comfrey is most effective for relieving muscle and joint pain when applied topically. It is clinically proven to relieve pain, inflammation and swelling of muscles and joints in the case of degenerative arthritis, acute myalgia in the back, sprains, contusions and strains after sports injuries and accidents.
How Comfrey Soothes and Rejuvenates The Skin
Comfrey’s soothing qualities are not limited to muscle tissue or joints. It’s extremely beneficial to the skin as well, thanks to an extract within its roots and leaves called Allantoin. Allantoin is an emollient ingredient that’s safe and gentle on even the most sensitive, inflamed skin. It’s an effective anti-irritant for a variety of skin conditions, but it can also increase the hydration of cells, restore collagen in the skin by stimulating collagen-producing cells, and even help new skin cells to grow altogether.
It has been used to promote wound healing, and because it helps with cell regeneration, is proving to be an excellent treatment for healing and renewing skin that has suffered abrasions or burns. Because of these wonderful qualities, Allantoin is now even found in some anti-aging products because it softens skin and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
How Should Comfrey Be Administered?
Healers of antiquity once recommended ingesting Comfrey to cure various ailments, however, modern clinical studies have found that Comfrey is toxic when consumed. Today, all modern medicinal uses of Comfrey are topical and should only be applied externally to unbroken skin.
Comfrey may not be able to knit bones back together as one of its nicknames suggests, but its cellular rejuvenating abilities, potent pain relief, and anti-inflammatory properties make it an excellent healer and a must-have ingredient in KhaliliTM Natural Pain Relief Cream.
