Medicinal
Compost accelerator
Throw a few comfrey leaves in your compost pile, or better yet make some comfrey tea and add it to your soil or compost heap.Mulch
Lay comfrey leaves on the soil around your plants. It will enrich the soil while it blocks weeds.Soil enriching
Comfrey sends its long roots deep into the soil and mines the minerals that lay deep below the surface, bringing them up where your other plants can access them.Livestock feed
Some people say that their goats don't like comfrey but mine fight over it, both fresh and dried.It's also a good feed for sheep, pigs, cattle, chickens, ducks, horses and other animals. Dried comfrey has a very high protein content.
There is some controversy that comfrey taken internally might affect the liver, so do some research on this subject before deciding how much comfrey to give your livestock.
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Comfrey is a space hog, but it's well worth the room it requires. Be sure to give it plenty of space to spread out in your garden.
Comfrey is certainly an excellent plant to grow on your homestead. Do you already have a comfrey patch, or is it on your to-plant list?
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Disclaimer: I am not a doctor nor a vet. You are responsible for your own health and for that of your animals. Comfrey is not to be used by pregnant or nursing women, and should not be taken internally by humans. Please research this or any other herb or essential oil before using.
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor nor a vet. You are responsible for your own health and for that of your animals. Comfrey is not to be used by pregnant or nursing women, and should not be taken internally by humans. Please research this or any other herb or essential oil before using.
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My hope is to inspire you, and to encourage your homesteading plans and your dreams of a
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I had comfrey growing in my herb bed a while ago but I think it's been taken over by a particularly invasive oregano plant - I might have to find some more!
ReplyDeleteMaybe you could move the oregano? Or else do get more comfrey and plant it in another spot. I can't get oregano to grow!
DeleteWowie Wow Wow! Ok I have to admit that I have never heard of Comfrey. I am also glad you posted a link of where to purchase because I would have been looking at the seeds for hours! So glad I read this. Wonderful information!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad it was helpful, Ginger. Comfrey is a garden treasure, and I hope you'll decide to grow some.
DeleteIt sounds like a very beneficial addition to the garden!
ReplyDeleteIt is, Daisy.
DeleteWe discovered Comfrey a couple years ago and are always finding new ways to use it around the homestead. Great article.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lynn. I'm glad you stopped by.
DeleteThe things I learn! I've not heard of this plant so thanks for all the info!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Betty.
DeleteGreat post - I hadn't thought of the benefits of comfrey for animals, but recently experienced it with my husband's injury http://seekingjoyfulsimplicity.com/healing-with-comfrey/. I would mention that once you plant it, it can be difficult to remove it - any root pieces left behind will sprout new plants! This is our second year with comfrey in the garden, and they are absolutely amazing and versatile - I wish everyone knew about it! Thanks for posting. Visiting from the Farm Hop!
ReplyDeleteComfrey is an amazing plant. Thank you for sharing your story!
DeleteThanks for sharing with another great post on comfrey thanks for sharing with Hearth soul blog hop.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Swathi.
DeleteI love comfrey! Every time a family member or I get hurt a combo of comfrey and plantain is mixed up and the results are just amazing. Great article!
ReplyDeleteComfrey and plantain are both amazing herbs, aren't they, Jenny? Thanks for sharing!
DeleteWe have grown comfrey for a couple of years now. We use it as chop/drop mulch around fruit trees, comfrey/compost tea, and treats for our rabbits and chickens.
ReplyDeleteThank you for these tips on more ways to use comfrey!
DeleteI used to grow comfrey to doctor my horses when we had acreage. I'd dry it and make a very dark tea out of it and refrigerate. I would soak a rag in it and wrap around a sore muscle, knee pain, a kick from another horse, sprains. It takes the swelling down and reduces the water on joints. This stuff really works! Now I buy it at the health food store if I need some. Yes, I use it on us too!
ReplyDeleteMore great uses. Thank you, Linda.
DeleteI don't mean to sound silly, but can comfrey grow wild? because I think I've seen this plant around the farm! My cows and pigs love to eat it....
ReplyDeleteJamie, comfrey is native to Russia and Europe. It was imported to Britain, and from there it was imported to Canada. So while it isn't native here, it has been naturalized. One type of comfrey is spread by seeds and you could easily have wild plants spread by birds. The kind I have spreads by roots instead. Both are very useful though - medicinally and as feed for livestock.
ReplyDeleteKelinci suka makan comfrey.
ReplyDeletekelinci
Translated: "Rabbits like to eat comfrey."
DeleteThank you, Kelinci. I don't have rabbits, wild or domestic, but I bought my comfrey from someone who raises rabbits. He grows it to feed to his rabbits.
My rabbits love, love, love comfrey. They come running and scramble to get the most. It's a part of the foraged plants we give our rabbits during the summer.
DeleteWhy do some say that you can take it internally and other say you can take it only externally I don't understand is it poisonous just asking
ReplyDeleteThat's an excellent question. Comfrey is not poisonous nor toxic. Some studies show that it might cause cancer if taken internally in large quantities. For this reason I'm not going to say it's safe to take internally. I'm just being cautious; I'd hate to say it's perfectly safe and then have someone suffer for my advice so I'm not going to say it's safe or that it isn't. I hope that you will do your own research and decide whether or not it is safe for you. We are all responsible for our own health and I believe we are all capable of making informed decisions.
DeleteI've been led to believe that it causes Cancer if consumed. In fact I had a spaniel that used to munch on it. As it was in a container, I was able to get rid of it quite easily. Since she has now died, we have another container out of reach of our Chihuahuas as the leaves if left in a sealed container of water, makes an excellent tomato feed, N.B. you must dilute before use as it can be very strong.
DeleteFlorriee, some studies say it can cause cancer if taken internally, others say you'd have to consume a huge quantity for that to happen. I won't say it's safe. I do feed leaves to my goats - a couple of leaves a week at the most. I mostly use it externally in salves and infused oil. I LOVE using comfrey tea on my garden, it is indeed excellent! You can find the directions for making it here: http://www.oakhillhomestead.com/2017/06/how-to-make-comfrey-tea-for-your-garden.html
DeleteKathi, thanks for the info on comfrey. Reading about it has me stirred up to revive my herb garden.
ReplyDeleteGood for you, Jean!
DeleteI never heard of comfrey until now. This sounds amazing! So many benefits!
ReplyDeleteIt really is amazing, Christina, and well worth a spot in your garden!
DeleteComfrey has been on my list of things to add to the garden for a while. I usually order dried online. However, after reading your post, I will try to move it to the top of the list. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteIt'll be a good addition to your garden, Ann. Go for it!
DeleteI had heard of comfrey, but I didn't really know anything about it. I was really interested to read this post, Kathi. I had no idea comfrey was so versatile, nor that humans are not supposed to eat it. It's a very pretty plant as well and would look nice in the garden as well as being very useful. Thank you for sharing this post with us at Hearth and Soul. Sharing on the Hearth and Soul Facebook page.
ReplyDeleteBees love it too! It's very worth the space it takes in a garden, April.
DeleteI've never heard of this before. Thanks for sharing on the #WasteLessWednesday Blog Hop!
ReplyDeleteNow you've had your eyes opened, Katy. :-)
DeleteI've began my comfrey from a cutting over 20 years ago. Still have the original plant that grew from the cutting, and have split the plant several times. It just keeps growing and growing. I can't miss any pieces of the plant when I cut it back because it will take off wherever it drops! I do love all of the medicinal and non-medicinal uses for comfrey as well.
ReplyDeleteIt is very determined and durable, isn't it? A great plant for a gardener who needs the encouragement of a plant that is very hard to kill.
DeleteI didn't know much about Comfrey so I enjoyed reading about it. Sounds like another herb I need to try.
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely worth the space it takes up, Michelle.
DeleteWe made tea for years from our comfrey leaves and we are all alive. Lol
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you are. :-) These days, folks have to be very careful about what they say is safe, know what I mean?
DeleteAfter years of growing this medicinal herb and using it I have to warn you that 1. It is not recommended to take this herb internally. 2. It can be quite invasive and hard to “move” once it is established. 3. It is such a quick healer that it is not recommended for a deep or puncture wound because your wound can heal over but leaving the internal wound not healed, creating a ripe environment for an infection. In this case use Calendula instead. I have used this for all kinds of injuries, the most impressive was a poultice for my husband’s “water on the knee”. Worked great! The flowers are impressive. Dry some comfrey leaves for use during the winter when fresh leaves are unavailable.
ReplyDeleteWow. Didn't know comfrey was so impressive. Will pin this post as I'm visiting you from Natural Living Bloggers Helping Each Other. Great info and keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteJust began dreaming over my seed catalog last night!
ReplyDeleteComfrey is also a healer of psoriasis when made into a salve. It clears up poison ivy, too. It speeds up the healing process of pulled muscles, ligaments, and broken bones. Works great for all kinds of skin irritations and rashes. Never apply it to any open wounds because it heals from the outside in. For open wounds use Aloe leaves cause it heals from the inside out. Comfrey is definitely a must have plant with many medicinal benefits.
ReplyDeleteI would love the recipe for your healing salve that includes the lemon balm and yarrow. Where can I find that?
ReplyDeleteHi Lesley! Here's the link to my go-to salve that includes plantain, yarrow, lemon balm and comfrey. https://www.oakhillhomestead.com/2016/06/making-salves-and-ointments.html
DeleteI have a comfrey plant. It is going crazy. Do you divide the plant by root cutting or like my Dad the 90 year old farmer would say "shove your shovel in the middle of it and dig it up". Is there a better way? I don't wish to hurt my jewel of the garden. Also, I 'pruned' mine this year for the first time to make my garden tea, and it looks like it helped it. Do you prune and how? Thanks for your wise words, yes we must be careful with our natural advise... ;)
ReplyDeleteFor everyone.
ReplyDeleteSeeds Foe Generations sells the Russian Comfrey root crowns and the cuttings.
I purchased both this year.
I'm very excited due to say that everyone is growing well.
For those who do not know a root Crown is still green and has a leave for 2 maybe. Root cuttings is where they divided roots and cut into sections and you buried in the dirt.
I am very pleased with my purchase.