Comfrey

Symphytum officinale

Comfrey is a leafy perennial with rough, bristly leaves and deep taproots. Folk herbalists across Europe and Asia reached for it to speed the repair of bones, ligaments, and bruises. Actually, one of its oldest English names was “knitbone,” a nod to its reputation for helping tissues “knit” back together. This plant’s leaves and roots are indispensable for a repair salve.

How does it work?

This plant is rich with rosmarinic and phenolic acids, which makes it a powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant. After strenuous activity, these compounds help calm the tissue down while the real healing takes place.

Comfrey’s primary constituent is called allantoin, which encourages new tissue growth and calming inflammation. It won’t replace rest, good nutrition, or smart training, but it’s a really great herb to have handy when your tissues need support.

Oftentimes other formulations will use an isolated version of allantoin, but this study shows that on its own, allantoin just doesn’t perform the way it does inside comfrey’s naturally complex phytochemistry. This is why I like to use comfrey in its whole form, because nothing matches the efficacy of nature’s own formula.

Note: Because of its pyrrolizidine alkaloids, comfrey should not be taken internally. Topically, on intact skin, it’s considered safe and has been studied extensively that way. Used with care, it’s one of the most effective herbs for structural repair.

Some Interesting Studies:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3491633/ - A clinical overview of the studied effects of comfrey

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16323288/ - This study shows that topical comfrey is more effective than diclofenac gel for healing ankle sprains

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0926669024005181 - Understanding rosmarinic acid and phenolic compounds of Comfrey