Comfrey Root - The Magick Moon

Comfrey Root is cut, and sold by the ounce.

Comfrey is also known as Boneset, Knitbone, or Slippery Root, and is an herbaceous perennial plant. The large, hairy, lance-shaped leaves grow in clusters about 12 inches high. It sends up a central stem, which can reach three to four feet in height. The bell shaped flowers appear in clusters on this stem shortly before midsummer. The flowers of wild comfrey vary in color, but are most often yellow. Prickly comfrey may have blue or pink flowers, and Quaker comfrey has purplish flowers.

The rootstock is black outside, fleshy and whitish inside, and contains a glutinous juice. The angular, hairy stem bears bristly, oblong lanceolate leaves, some petioled, some sessile. There are also tongue-shaped basal leaves that generally lie on the ground.

The whitish or pale purple flowers have a tubular corolla resembling the finger of a glove and grows in forked scorpioid racemes from May to August.

Comfrey Root uses include being highly nutritious, and is perfect for soothing the stomach. Comfrey leaf heals sprains, strains, fractures, and sores.

The flowering tops, leaves and roots of the comfrey plant all have medicinal value. Plan to harvest the leaves and flowers in the early autumn.

Magical Properties:
Zodiac: Capricorn
Gender: Female
Planet: Saturn
Element: Water
Deities: Aine, Chiron, Hecate, Oya
Basic Powers: Worn or carried, comfrey protects and ensures safety during travel. Also, tuck some into your suitcases so that they aren't lost or stolen. The root is also used in money spells.

Comfrey is used in protective magic for the traveler and to protect against theft. Try placing a comfrey leaf in your luggage to make sure it isn't lost or stolen. Use comfrey root in sachets for protection while traveling, and to keep your lover faithful while you are gone. Also use it in sachets to protect vehicles. Hang from your rearview mirror or hide it under a seat.

Wrap your money in a comfrey leaf for several days before going to a casino or poker game. It will help keep your bets coming back to you.

Comfrey flowers, especially blue ones, can be substituted in any spell calling for borage.

Use comfrey in a bath after ritual to relax and cleanse you, especially for healing or love spells.

It can be burned in combination with mugwort to aid in divination and concentration and by itself or in combination for spells associated with letting to of unhealthy relationships.

Medicinal Usage:
Comfrey Root is used externally in for sprains, arthritis, bone and muscle damage, skin inflammations, bunions, and other topical injuries. Poultices are great for bruises and sores to aid healing.

Comfrey roots or leaves have tissue regenerative and anti-bacterial properties, so use it to treat burns, bed sores, insect bites, and eczema. Used in teas, tinctures and compresses, it will speed the healing process of cuts, rashes, and broken bones.

Culinary Usage:
Although comfrey has been used for food in the past, recent evidence suggests that it contains carcinogenic compounds and can cause liver damage. Therefore, it is not advisable to use comfrey as a major food product. Russian and Prickly comfrey have the highest levels of toxic alkaloids. In all varieties, the roots have higher concentrations than the leaves.

Comfrey does provide protein and a little bit of vitamin B12, which is rare in a plant source. The young leaves can be eaten like any leafy vegetable, but the mature leaves are unpleasant.

Comfrey roots, combined with dandelion roots and chicory roots are said to make a good coffee substitute.

Cosmetic Usage:
Comfrey soothes and softens, and promotes the growth of new skin cells. Use it (sparingly) in lotions, creams, and baths.

For rough skin patches or aching joints, apply comfrey salve (sparingly) to the affected areas.

To treat gum disease, gargle with cooled comfrey leaf infusion three times daily, as required. Do not swallow.

Usage Example:
For Bronchitis:
Comfrey tea - Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1-2 tsp. of chopped, dried leaves. Steep for 10 min.; then strain. Drink 2 cups a day until symptoms subside. Discontinue drinking the tea after 4 days.

For Sore Muscles:
Soak a linen cloth in comfrey tea, wring it out and apply it to the affected area several times daily.

For Minor Sprains:
Mix 2-4 tbsp. of crushed fresh or dried comfrey leaves with a little warm water to make a paste. Place a thin cotton cloth over the affected are; then spread the poultice onto the cloth. Leave on for approximately 1 hr. This poultice can also be used to bring relief to inflamed arthritic joints and sprains.

For Acne:
Mix ¼ cup of dried leaves or roots with 1¼ cups of vodka. Steep 4-6 weeks; filter; then discard the plant. Store the tincture in a glass bottle and use as an ointment twice daily.

Warning: Due to low level concentration of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in the leaves and roots of comfrey, regulation has deemed internal use of Comfrey roots unsafe and the traditional application of the root for treating stomach ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome and piles, as well as for bronchial afflictions, have been transferred to Comfrey leaves.

NOTE: Although there are medical usage notations provided for Comfrey Root listed above, we are not doctors, and do not provide this educational information as medical advice. We suggest you consult with a physician or certified herbalist if you are seeking medical remedies. The information provided above is strictly informational, and not meant or intended as medical advice. The Magick Moon, nor its employees shall be held responsible, or liable for the misuse of herbs listed in this section.

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