A couple weeks ago, I had a burn similar to the bacon grease example. I applied 70% DMSO w/aloe immediately and again the next day. I was fine after two days. No pain, no pain relievers. A few days later, the skin peeled like a sunburn would peel and that was the end of it. No scar.
I has the same experience with a burn just last year. Several applications of DMSO and aloe gel over a couple of days. It completely healed. Pain free after the first application.
Just a point re infusing the comfrey into oil - your slow cooker on low is too high a heat at approx 60deg C. You want to have the oil at no higher than 40-45deg C to prevent oxidation. I use a yoghurt maker that I can set the temperature to what I want.
Also, if putting in the sun, the jar with oil and comfrey should not be exposed to the sunlight but inside a dark bag or container. Again, this prevents oxidation.
That's what I did. I put the jars in a yogurt maker and kept it at around 95 degrees for 3 weeks. Some jars I did put outside, since it was 95 degrees outside, but I put boxes around it to protect the comfrey from the sun.
There are lots of youtube videos around on making salves etc. One, by An Alabama Gardener, makes compresses that he can put in the freezer for when he needs it. He places leaves and stems, fresh, on a piece of cotton, hammers it into the cotton until it is mush, puts it in a plastic ziplock bag, then then freezes it for future use. I wonder if that affects the effectiveness of the comfrey.
I did a similar thing when I took a loaf of bread out of a very hot oven and the tin fell on my forearm from elbow to wrist trapping my arm against the work top. It took a few seconds to get the tin off with my other hand in an oven glove. I ran it under cold water for ages but the pain was excruciating. I didn't want to go to hospital so I looked in my herbal remedy book and it said raw onions. My Husband sliced up some raw onions and layered them on and wrapped gauze over it to hold them in place. The pain went away completely in about 2 mins & I have no scarring. I changed the poultice twice a day for about 2-3 days.
I went to the local pharmacist the next day to get more gauze for changing the raw onion poultice. He insisted on looking at it and said I should go straight up to the emergency dept and I should be in agony. I tapped it to show I had no pain and said I was happy to continue with the raw onion treatment. His face was a picture but I am sure that what the hospital would have done would have left scarring and they can't help with pain unless you are prepared to take their opiates.
No no no! Nettles are a wonderful food, full of nutrients! Dry them. Make tea. Drink freshly made. You will get free ions of calcium which go right into the blood for bone health. Nettles tea to help with histamine prevention during allergic reactions. Make a pesto out of fresh leaves. There are YouTube videos Tube videos on how to harvest bare handed, no sting. Keep an area of nettles!
Comfrey is a very hardy and easy-to-grow plant! I planted some in a pot last year, and although it looked like it had completely died over the winter, by this spring it had already grown past the pot and was sprouting from the ground. Now let’s give it a try! =D
This is the best article on Comfrey I have ever read.
In the 1980's, when I started using Comfrey, it was almost impossible to find here in Michigan. An old couple who owned the local herb store told me the government kept close watch and would shut down any stores selling Comfrey. I was able to buy the plant from a local herb grower and have been growing and using Comfrey since then.
The one thing I always worried about was the use of Comfrey internally, until I witnessed squirrels, rabbits, and other critters eating small amounts of my fresh Comfrey leaves. They wouldn't eat much, just nibbles on the leaves on a regular basis. I figured the animals knew more than our government, so started using just small amounts in my medicinal teas, with absolutely no bad effects.
Comfrey salve has always been part of my medicine cabinet, but now I will also add the spray fermentation (I love fermenting).
The 'science' on internal use causing liver damage is shaky. I use the leaves internally without worry. There is a chance if you ate a lot often there MIGHT be issues but probably less damage than NSAIDS.
Comfrey probably does, in high doses, cause liver damage. But, even water in large quantities can do damage, even kill. Anything can cause damage to the body if it is misused or abused.
Thank you for your reply. I hope I can break away and come up there. If by any chance you will be near Detroit between 5 and 9 June, I hope you'll let me know.
Son planted his second garden in Detroit. I hope he can find value in comfrey.
Had a bike accident about 20 years ago. Was up walking around when the ambulance arrived. They duct taped my head to a backboard anyway. After an hour waiting in the emergency room with no human speaking to me, I started yelling. I was still duct taped to the backboard. The trauma I have from that accident is from the 'care' not from the accident itself. That was the last time I would accept standard medical care. It's an inversion of common sense.
The homeopathic treatment of burns is very fast. I had a similar case and the pain evaporated within a few minutes. The blisters were gone in less than a week. No scarring. Running under cool water is not the best idea as now the body feels it has to send heat. Professional cooks don't have the time to stop, so they do the homeopathic idea (like curing like) of putting the burned part back to the heat. It works very well.
I, too, have used the homeopathic treatment for minor burns. Immersing them in as 'hot as one can stand' water for several minutes. No blistering, no scarring, no pain. However, for a more serious, larger burn I would definitely use a comfrey salve.
I have been following a lot of herbalists; this is one of the most comprehensive articles I have encountered regarding comfrey. I have also started following homeopaths who talk about emergency uses of remedies. Although most of these are veterinarians, I suspect that whatever they use can be used in the human space as the converse is true. Just another tool in my toolkit. I can get dried comfrey herbs (not sure whether it is the whole plant or just the aerial parts). My goal is to disconnect myself from the experts and use them only when I need a service from them, like a blood draw for my dog.
These experts have their uses and I am glad they exist. I just think we overuse them and not take advantage of what God provides for free.
In the 1970's I rented a small house from an old doctor (86 years old and was still running his own practice) who also raised German Short-hair Pointers.
Doc had a big red pill that he would give to animals and humans equally.
If you got sick, Doc would be at your door with the big red pill.
If a dog or horse got sick, they got a big red pill.
It didn't matter to Doc! Everyone got treated equally! 😅
I'd have put the salve on immediately after being burned. That would stop the burn and there would not have even been any blistering. I have several experiences of extreme burns and have used various creams that all work. It's the ability to get moisture into the skin layers as soon as possible that heals the skin. I've used mostly calendula creams. But my husband opened a car radiator before it was cooled and got a severe burn all over his face. All I had was a Mary Kay face cream. It worked too. He never saw a blister and the burn stopped within a few minutes. But if one has it, comfrey or calendula or both work great.
Be careful if the herb suppliers on Amazon. Frontier is fine. I have been buying dried herbs from Mountain Rose Herbs for years. Their shipping can be a bit slow.
I burnt myself last night - misjudged how close the pan was when I was laying delicate fish cakes into hot butter and coconut oil and my middle finger from the tip of the finger to the first knuckle. The pain was excruciating. I ran it under warm water, got my husband to grab my homeopathic remedies - I put the little pillules in a glass of water and sipped frequently. I started with Cantharis 30c, then added Urtica Urens 30c. They were helping, but I was feeling some nerve pain, added Hypericum 200c.
I also grabbed some fresh aloe vera leaf from my garden cut it open and put that on the burn area.
Then today I come across your article - incredible information. I did a search and found that aloe vera contains allantoin also - I've used aloe vera on burns for decades. I didn't know Comfrey had similar properties.
A couple weeks ago, I had a burn similar to the bacon grease example. I applied 70% DMSO w/aloe immediately and again the next day. I was fine after two days. No pain, no pain relievers. A few days later, the skin peeled like a sunburn would peel and that was the end of it. No scar.
I has the same experience with a burn just last year. Several applications of DMSO and aloe gel over a couple of days. It completely healed. Pain free after the first application.
Just a point re infusing the comfrey into oil - your slow cooker on low is too high a heat at approx 60deg C. You want to have the oil at no higher than 40-45deg C to prevent oxidation. I use a yoghurt maker that I can set the temperature to what I want.
Also, if putting in the sun, the jar with oil and comfrey should not be exposed to the sunlight but inside a dark bag or container. Again, this prevents oxidation.
That's what I did. I put the jars in a yogurt maker and kept it at around 95 degrees for 3 weeks. Some jars I did put outside, since it was 95 degrees outside, but I put boxes around it to protect the comfrey from the sun.
There are lots of youtube videos around on making salves etc. One, by An Alabama Gardener, makes compresses that he can put in the freezer for when he needs it. He places leaves and stems, fresh, on a piece of cotton, hammers it into the cotton until it is mush, puts it in a plastic ziplock bag, then then freezes it for future use. I wonder if that affects the effectiveness of the comfrey.
Great info.
I did a similar thing when I took a loaf of bread out of a very hot oven and the tin fell on my forearm from elbow to wrist trapping my arm against the work top. It took a few seconds to get the tin off with my other hand in an oven glove. I ran it under cold water for ages but the pain was excruciating. I didn't want to go to hospital so I looked in my herbal remedy book and it said raw onions. My Husband sliced up some raw onions and layered them on and wrapped gauze over it to hold them in place. The pain went away completely in about 2 mins & I have no scarring. I changed the poultice twice a day for about 2-3 days.
I went to the local pharmacist the next day to get more gauze for changing the raw onion poultice. He insisted on looking at it and said I should go straight up to the emergency dept and I should be in agony. I tapped it to show I had no pain and said I was happy to continue with the raw onion treatment. His face was a picture but I am sure that what the hospital would have done would have left scarring and they can't help with pain unless you are prepared to take their opiates.
I must start growing Comfrey.
I just planted three plants. I put them in with my new fruit trees. I'm hoping they will also loosen the soil for the trees.
That is a good plan. RHS says it is a good ground cover. I have an apple tree that has nettles under it. I will clear those and plant Comfrey.
Leave the nettles, and plant the comfrey. Nettles are also good companions
No no no! Nettles are a wonderful food, full of nutrients! Dry them. Make tea. Drink freshly made. You will get free ions of calcium which go right into the blood for bone health. Nettles tea to help with histamine prevention during allergic reactions. Make a pesto out of fresh leaves. There are YouTube videos Tube videos on how to harvest bare handed, no sting. Keep an area of nettles!
Comfrey is a very hardy and easy-to-grow plant! I planted some in a pot last year, and although it looked like it had completely died over the winter, by this spring it had already grown past the pot and was sprouting from the ground. Now let’s give it a try! =D
Thank you for the encouragement. Here is more praise for it: https://www.rhs.org.uk/garden-inspiration/plants-we-love/why-comfrey-is-the-superplant-you-need
Comfrey is very easy to grow and will spread readily when it's happy so give it some room.
This is the best article on Comfrey I have ever read.
In the 1980's, when I started using Comfrey, it was almost impossible to find here in Michigan. An old couple who owned the local herb store told me the government kept close watch and would shut down any stores selling Comfrey. I was able to buy the plant from a local herb grower and have been growing and using Comfrey since then.
The one thing I always worried about was the use of Comfrey internally, until I witnessed squirrels, rabbits, and other critters eating small amounts of my fresh Comfrey leaves. They wouldn't eat much, just nibbles on the leaves on a regular basis. I figured the animals knew more than our government, so started using just small amounts in my medicinal teas, with absolutely no bad effects.
Comfrey salve has always been part of my medicine cabinet, but now I will also add the spray fermentation (I love fermenting).
Thanks for this wonderful article!
The 'science' on internal use causing liver damage is shaky. I use the leaves internally without worry. There is a chance if you ate a lot often there MIGHT be issues but probably less damage than NSAIDS.
Comfrey probably does, in high doses, cause liver damage. But, even water in large quantities can do damage, even kill. Anything can cause damage to the body if it is misused or abused.
Hi Shelia, I'm going to Detroit to visit my son. Can I possibly buy a comfrey plant from you?
Also, I am now in Standish, about two hours north of Detroit. It's at the beginning of the US23 tourism trail going up north.
Thank you for your reply. I hope I can break away and come up there. If by any chance you will be near Detroit between 5 and 9 June, I hope you'll let me know.
Son planted his second garden in Detroit. I hope he can find value in comfrey.
Thank you again for your response
I also have horseradish root/plants that I have been growing for 5+ years. It's great as a tincture for respiratory issues and for culinary uses.
If you would like, you can send me a self-stamped envelope, one of those smaller bubble type, and I can send a piece of root to your son in Detroit.
Direct message me if you'd be interested. We can exchange addresses.
I can give you a small root cutting. That's all that's really needed.
Had a bike accident about 20 years ago. Was up walking around when the ambulance arrived. They duct taped my head to a backboard anyway. After an hour waiting in the emergency room with no human speaking to me, I started yelling. I was still duct taped to the backboard. The trauma I have from that accident is from the 'care' not from the accident itself. That was the last time I would accept standard medical care. It's an inversion of common sense.
Comfrey Salve | Natural Hope Herbals https://share.google/zDkDvxtXDQEuU2DMu
Many comfrey valves offered on Amazon as well. After reading this it belongs in every household med-kit.
And https://www.frontiercoop.com/search/?q=comfrey&productListPgNo=1
I think Frontier has been around for at least 50 years and I've been using them for over thirty.
Thank You, will check them out.
Ace for burns also - Lavender oil. I always have a bottle in the kitchen
The homeopathic treatment of burns is very fast. I had a similar case and the pain evaporated within a few minutes. The blisters were gone in less than a week. No scarring. Running under cool water is not the best idea as now the body feels it has to send heat. Professional cooks don't have the time to stop, so they do the homeopathic idea (like curing like) of putting the burned part back to the heat. It works very well.
I, too, have used the homeopathic treatment for minor burns. Immersing them in as 'hot as one can stand' water for several minutes. No blistering, no scarring, no pain. However, for a more serious, larger burn I would definitely use a comfrey salve.
I have been following a lot of herbalists; this is one of the most comprehensive articles I have encountered regarding comfrey. I have also started following homeopaths who talk about emergency uses of remedies. Although most of these are veterinarians, I suspect that whatever they use can be used in the human space as the converse is true. Just another tool in my toolkit. I can get dried comfrey herbs (not sure whether it is the whole plant or just the aerial parts). My goal is to disconnect myself from the experts and use them only when I need a service from them, like a blood draw for my dog.
These experts have their uses and I am glad they exist. I just think we overuse them and not take advantage of what God provides for free.
In the 1970's I rented a small house from an old doctor (86 years old and was still running his own practice) who also raised German Short-hair Pointers.
Doc had a big red pill that he would give to animals and humans equally.
If you got sick, Doc would be at your door with the big red pill.
If a dog or horse got sick, they got a big red pill.
It didn't matter to Doc! Everyone got treated equally! 😅
I wrote 2 books on comfrey:
https://nantahala-farm.com/ComfreyBooks-s.shtml
440 pages and 480 pages. Includes the references you mention plus much more.
I'd have put the salve on immediately after being burned. That would stop the burn and there would not have even been any blistering. I have several experiences of extreme burns and have used various creams that all work. It's the ability to get moisture into the skin layers as soon as possible that heals the skin. I've used mostly calendula creams. But my husband opened a car radiator before it was cooled and got a severe burn all over his face. All I had was a Mary Kay face cream. It worked too. He never saw a blister and the burn stopped within a few minutes. But if one has it, comfrey or calendula or both work great.
I grow both Comfrey and Calendula. They are two of my favorites!
Okay all you wonderful experts…
I have and love my 70% DMSO gel. I use it for muscle and joint repair/injuries. I’m a believer in it for sure. So this or Comfrey Salve on a burn?
How about the Comfrey Salve offered on Amazon (multiple choices). Sufficient?
Peace n thx!
Be careful if the herb suppliers on Amazon. Frontier is fine. I have been buying dried herbs from Mountain Rose Herbs for years. Their shipping can be a bit slow.
I do love my 70% DMSO gel aloe vera. However, if I had comfrey on hand I would do both
I have never used DMSO (I hear it's good) and I don't trust buying from Amazon.
I make my own Comfrey salve.
It the safest way!
I burnt myself last night - misjudged how close the pan was when I was laying delicate fish cakes into hot butter and coconut oil and my middle finger from the tip of the finger to the first knuckle. The pain was excruciating. I ran it under warm water, got my husband to grab my homeopathic remedies - I put the little pillules in a glass of water and sipped frequently. I started with Cantharis 30c, then added Urtica Urens 30c. They were helping, but I was feeling some nerve pain, added Hypericum 200c.
I also grabbed some fresh aloe vera leaf from my garden cut it open and put that on the burn area.
Then today I come across your article - incredible information. I did a search and found that aloe vera contains allantoin also - I've used aloe vera on burns for decades. I didn't know Comfrey had similar properties.
Would like to know why white rice is used instead of brown one?
Comfrey balm is excellent stuff for healing.