Common Comfrey (Symphytum officinalis), Knook

Image: © Maigheach-gheal Taken: 8 Sep 2009

Comfrey is also known as Knitbone or Bruisewort. Comfrey is a valuable plant which has proved its worth over hundreds of years. Its common names reflect its reputation for helping bones to knit and soothing bruises. The root or leaves, crushed and applied as a poultice, will usually relieve external inflammation and may be taken as a tea to ease internal inflammation. Comfrey ointment applied to burns, sprains and strains, bruises and aching limbs will often give quick relief, but the rough hairy leaves should never be applied directly to the skin because they can act as an irritant. The peeled roots chopped into chunks and the young leaves cooked like spinach make acceptable dishes. In the garden the big leaves can be roughly chopped with a spade and laid at the bottom of trenches for celery or under plantings of potatoes, peas, beans etc. Comfrey makes good compost or mulch.

Images are licensed for reuse under creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0