Comfrey

Part Used: root and leaves

Energetics: sweet, astringent/cooling/sweet PV- K+

Tissues: plasma, blood, muscle, bone, marrow and nerve

Systems: respiratory, digestive, circulatory, nervous

Actions: nutritive tonic, demulcent, expectorant, emollient, vulnerary, astringent, hemostatic

Indications: cough, lung infections, coughing blood, lung hemorrhage, gastrointestinal ulcers, blood in urine, diarrhea, dysentery, sprains, fractures, wounds, sores, boils

Precautions: edema, malabsorption, obesity, high Ama

Preparation: decoction, milk decoction, powder (250 mg to 1 g), paste

COMFREY is a powerful tonic and vulnerary; the root has stronger tonic properties, while the leaves are more astringent and antiinflammatory. Comfrey root is a nutritive and rejuvenative tonic to the lungs and the mucous membranes. It can be used in most conditions where membranes are inflamed, bleeding or wasting away. Comfrey is one of the best agents for promoting tissue growth, externally and internally, and healing throughout the body, when it has been afflicted by disease or traumatic injuries.

As a tonic and hemostatic, two teaspoons of powder can be boiled in one cup of milk. For expectorant action it should be combined with hot spices like ginger, cloves and cardamom as by itself it can cause Congestion. As a lung tonic it can be used with elecampane root. It is a rasayana for Vata and Pitta, for the lungs, the plasma (rasa dhatu) and the bones. It is one of the most powerful agents-a true tonic-for promoting new tissue growth.