Comfrey in homoeopathic form is Symphytum officinal. It helps to heal fractures with the tissue salt Calc-phos. This combination has been used to treat osteoporosis.
It also heals soft tissues. I healed a torn tendon in my elbow with a few doses. The pain relief was almost instant.
Please explain what part of the plant you used and how did you apply it? Recently I felt my knees tendons were detaching. I applied DMSO and the water, from boiled leaves of comfrey as poultice. It's been healing. A few weeks later I moved to other mixes, but my knees are so much better. Still have way to go.
Great article. I didn't know about this. What immediately came to mind was the movie, Alpha. Great flick, just loved it. Apocalypto also. Hollywood tells you everything. It's either predictive programming for your future woes or it's a golden nugget of truth from the past, that if you blink, you'll miss it.
Alpha is the story of a kind hearted boy on his first hunt with his hunter-gatherer father to procure food for the clan. He cannot bring himself to kill an animal and this dichotomy literally gets him caught up in the horns of a beast that throws him over a cliff. Thinking his son is dead, the other hunters must drag the father away, as he himself, wants to join his son.
Alpha awakes from flood waters that carried him to safety. Broken bones, can't walk. He crawls to a plant, struggles to rip it out, wraps the weeds around his foot and straps it down with leather ties. He limps back to the top of the cliff and sees the cairn made for him where he was thrown off and now realizes he is alone and must find his way back home. He used comfrey.
In Apocalypyo, a Mayan man runs thru the forest after being shot with an arrow near his stomach. Bleeding profusely, he grabs hold of a tree and with his teeth removes bark from the tree and places it on his wound after he removes the arrowhead. So, Mel Gibson knows about turpentine remedies also. Referring to a recent article here on Unbekoming of tree bark remedies I took as a child, aka, Turpentine.
I've got Turpentine in my cubbard. Been there for years, unopened. Amazon (where I purchased it) recently sent me a recall email. Very very dangerous stuff, apparently. 😆
Man! This one has about as bad reviews as Chlorine Dioxide. Sounds like it might be pretty good to look deeply into this. Look at this perplexity query that I did.
# Important Health Warning: Do Not Turn Comfrey Into an Internal Protein Supplement
**I cannot and strongly advise against attempting to turn comfrey into a protein supplement for internal consumption.** This would be extremely dangerous and potentially fatal.
## Why Comfrey Cannot Be Used as an Internal Protein Source
While comfrey does contain impressive protein levels—with research showing it contains **18.6% crude protein on average**[1] and up to **26% protein content**[2], making it **second only to soy**[3]—it is **highly toxic when consumed internally**.
### Serious Health Risks and Legal Restrictions
**Pyrrolizidine Alkaloid Toxicity**: Comfrey contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), particularly lycopsamine, intermedine, and their N-oxides, which are **hepatotoxic, carcinogenic, and potentially fatal**[4][ cause:
- **European Medicines Agency**: Restricts to external use only, maximum 0.35 μg PA per day[15][16]
- **Health Canada**: Banned comfrey products for internal use[5]
### The Mechanism of Toxicity
The pyrrolizidine alkaloids are metabolized by liver enzymes into **highly toxic pyrrole metabolites** that act as **alkylating agents**, causing:
- Destruction of hepatic endothelial cells[7]
- Sinusoidal obstruction leading to cirrhosis[9]
- Mitochondrial damage and cell death[17]
- Cumulative liver damage that worsens over time[18]
Research shows that **even small amounts are dangerous** - one study found that a cup of comfrey root tea could contain **26 mg of pyrrolizidine alkaloids**[19], far exceeding safe limits.
## Safe Alternatives for Homemade Protein Supplements
Instead of dangerous comfrey, consider these **proven safe plant-based protein sources**:
### Recommended Ingredients for Homemade Protein Powder
**High-Protein Seeds and Nuts**[20][21][22]:
- Pumpkin seeds (30% protein)
- Hemp seeds/protein powder
- Chia seeds (16-20g protein per serving)
- Ground flaxseed
- Almonds and other nuts
- Sunflower seeds
**Legume-Based Options**[23]:
- Roasted chickpea flour (chana dal)
- Ground lentils
### Simple Homemade Protein Powder Recipe
Based on safe, tested recipes[21][22]:
**Ingredients**:
- 1½ cups raw pumpkin seeds
- ½ cup chia seeds
- 1 cup almond flour
- ¼ cup ground flax
- Optional: cocoa powder, cinnamon
**Method**:
1. Grind pumpkin seeds and chia seeds separately until powdered
2. Mix with almond flour and ground flax
3. Store in airtight container in refrigerator
4. Use ¼ cup per serving (approximately 13-16g protein)
## Professional Plant Protein Extraction Methods
If you're interested in the science of plant protein extraction, **legitimate methods** used in food science include[24][25]:
- **Alkaline extraction** followed by isoelectric precipitation
- **Enzyme-assisted extraction**
- **Ultrasonic-assisted extraction**
- **Microwave-assisted extraction**
However, these require **specialized equipment, safety protocols, and food science expertise** - not suitable for home use.
## Conclusion
**Never attempt to create a protein supplement from comfrey.** The risks far outweigh any potential benefits, and safer, equally nutritious alternatives are readily available. The high protein content that makes comfrey appealing is overshadowed by its **documented toxicity and potential for fatal liver damage**[5][6][7].
Stick to proven safe ingredients like seeds, nuts, and legumes for homemade protein supplements, and always consult healthcare providers before starting any new supplement regimen.
I’ve been growing this for a long time and it’s a great chop and drop fertilizer, I also add it to my compost.
Comfrey in homoeopathic form is Symphytum officinal. It helps to heal fractures with the tissue salt Calc-phos. This combination has been used to treat osteoporosis.
It also heals soft tissues. I healed a torn tendon in my elbow with a few doses. The pain relief was almost instant.
Please explain what part of the plant you used and how did you apply it? Recently I felt my knees tendons were detaching. I applied DMSO and the water, from boiled leaves of comfrey as poultice. It's been healing. A few weeks later I moved to other mixes, but my knees are so much better. Still have way to go.
I'm referring to Homeopathic remedies that are taken internally
Great article. I didn't know about this. What immediately came to mind was the movie, Alpha. Great flick, just loved it. Apocalypto also. Hollywood tells you everything. It's either predictive programming for your future woes or it's a golden nugget of truth from the past, that if you blink, you'll miss it.
Alpha is the story of a kind hearted boy on his first hunt with his hunter-gatherer father to procure food for the clan. He cannot bring himself to kill an animal and this dichotomy literally gets him caught up in the horns of a beast that throws him over a cliff. Thinking his son is dead, the other hunters must drag the father away, as he himself, wants to join his son.
Alpha awakes from flood waters that carried him to safety. Broken bones, can't walk. He crawls to a plant, struggles to rip it out, wraps the weeds around his foot and straps it down with leather ties. He limps back to the top of the cliff and sees the cairn made for him where he was thrown off and now realizes he is alone and must find his way back home. He used comfrey.
Funny, a coworker recently recommended that I watch this movie.
In Apocalypyo, a Mayan man runs thru the forest after being shot with an arrow near his stomach. Bleeding profusely, he grabs hold of a tree and with his teeth removes bark from the tree and places it on his wound after he removes the arrowhead. So, Mel Gibson knows about turpentine remedies also. Referring to a recent article here on Unbekoming of tree bark remedies I took as a child, aka, Turpentine.
I've got Turpentine in my cubbard. Been there for years, unopened. Amazon (where I purchased it) recently sent me a recall email. Very very dangerous stuff, apparently. 😆
All depends how one uses it! Plus Big Pharma can't patent it!
Indeed.
I received that email too...
RESTACKED!
Comfrey, specifically Maria Trebain’s Knit Bone Comfrey Salve. saved me when I had broken ribs! It was a true game changer.
Comfrey balm heals lesions and cracked skin very well. It's great stuff.
Thanks - I have some and thought it was just a weed. I'll start harvesting it!
Comfrey is known as the healing herb.
Great read! I planted a comfrey next to each fruit tree I have, about a year ago. I have hopes it'll help everything produce better fruits.
"You can't grow it from seed, only from root cuttings", threw me for a loop since I'm currently growing both comfrey and mugwort from seed. 🤔
Nice article, though.
Man! This one has about as bad reviews as Chlorine Dioxide. Sounds like it might be pretty good to look deeply into this. Look at this perplexity query that I did.
# Important Health Warning: Do Not Turn Comfrey Into an Internal Protein Supplement
**I cannot and strongly advise against attempting to turn comfrey into a protein supplement for internal consumption.** This would be extremely dangerous and potentially fatal.
## Why Comfrey Cannot Be Used as an Internal Protein Source
While comfrey does contain impressive protein levels—with research showing it contains **18.6% crude protein on average**[1] and up to **26% protein content**[2], making it **second only to soy**[3]—it is **highly toxic when consumed internally**.
### Serious Health Risks and Legal Restrictions
**Pyrrolizidine Alkaloid Toxicity**: Comfrey contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), particularly lycopsamine, intermedine, and their N-oxides, which are **hepatotoxic, carcinogenic, and potentially fatal**[4][ cause:
- **Severe liver damage** and liver failure[5][6]
- **Sinusoidal obstruction syndrome** (veno-occlusive disease)[7]
- **Cancer risk** - studies show carcinogenic potential[8][9]
- **Death** - there have been documented fatalities[10][11]
**Regulatory Bans**: Multiple health authorities have banned internal comfrey use:
- **FDA** (2001): Banned all oral comfrey products, advising immediate market removal[12][13][14]
- **European Medicines Agency**: Restricts to external use only, maximum 0.35 μg PA per day[15][16]
- **Health Canada**: Banned comfrey products for internal use[5]
### The Mechanism of Toxicity
The pyrrolizidine alkaloids are metabolized by liver enzymes into **highly toxic pyrrole metabolites** that act as **alkylating agents**, causing:
- Destruction of hepatic endothelial cells[7]
- Sinusoidal obstruction leading to cirrhosis[9]
- Mitochondrial damage and cell death[17]
- Cumulative liver damage that worsens over time[18]
Research shows that **even small amounts are dangerous** - one study found that a cup of comfrey root tea could contain **26 mg of pyrrolizidine alkaloids**[19], far exceeding safe limits.
## Safe Alternatives for Homemade Protein Supplements
Instead of dangerous comfrey, consider these **proven safe plant-based protein sources**:
### Recommended Ingredients for Homemade Protein Powder
**High-Protein Seeds and Nuts**[20][21][22]:
- Pumpkin seeds (30% protein)
- Hemp seeds/protein powder
- Chia seeds (16-20g protein per serving)
- Ground flaxseed
- Almonds and other nuts
- Sunflower seeds
**Legume-Based Options**[23]:
- Roasted chickpea flour (chana dal)
- Ground lentils
### Simple Homemade Protein Powder Recipe
Based on safe, tested recipes[21][22]:
**Ingredients**:
- 1½ cups raw pumpkin seeds
- ½ cup chia seeds
- 1 cup almond flour
- ¼ cup ground flax
- Optional: cocoa powder, cinnamon
**Method**:
1. Grind pumpkin seeds and chia seeds separately until powdered
2. Mix with almond flour and ground flax
3. Store in airtight container in refrigerator
4. Use ¼ cup per serving (approximately 13-16g protein)
## Professional Plant Protein Extraction Methods
If you're interested in the science of plant protein extraction, **legitimate methods** used in food science include[24][25]:
- **Alkaline extraction** followed by isoelectric precipitation
- **Enzyme-assisted extraction**
- **Ultrasonic-assisted extraction**
- **Microwave-assisted extraction**
However, these require **specialized equipment, safety protocols, and food science expertise** - not suitable for home use.
## Conclusion
**Never attempt to create a protein supplement from comfrey.** The risks far outweigh any potential benefits, and safer, equally nutritious alternatives are readily available. The high protein content that makes comfrey appealing is overshadowed by its **documented toxicity and potential for fatal liver damage**[5][6][7].
Stick to proven safe ingredients like seeds, nuts, and legumes for homemade protein supplements, and always consult healthcare providers before starting any new supplement regimen.
Of course. Real healing is death to big pHARMA.
it is for livestock not humans
Why can’t we consume it. They used to it sounds like.
I was wondering about the protein power and availability of comfrey. Does it have an estrogenic effect like soy? Another rabbit hole to dive into...
To my knowledge, it does not.
All the comfrey salves that I have looked at say, "do not put on broken skin". Is this true?
Any good books about comfrey? Or similar resources?
Shame it tastes shit. Excellent as a herb for broken bones though.