For the slower infusion method (only with dried herbs), allow the herbs to infuse at room temperature for 2-6 weeks before straining. Measure the strained herb-infused oil. The gather + root online foraging course will help you to safely identify, harvest, and use common edible and medicinal plants with confidence. Comfrey speeds healing and promotes the growth of new skin cells. Some people do get a skin rash reaction from comfrey leaves, so be careful during your first time handling them or using remedies made from comfrey leaves. You can also purchase organic dried comfrey leaf from Mountain Rose Herbs. This salve has been in the making for a long time. Strain with a kitchen strainer. Use a scissors to cut the comfrey leaves into pieces. By the time you add the beeswax and Shea it overflows. A soothing salve or poultice made from the leaves of the comfrey plant may promote the healing of closed wounds and bruises or soothe breast pain in nursing mothers, reports the Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine 2 3. Comfrey Poultice The simplest way to use comfrey for a wound is as a poultice. If you use dried comfrey leaves and store the oil away from heat and light it will stay good for up to a year or more. And if you know of a way of turning comfrey leaves into salve that doesn't involve my wife getting angry at me, that would be great as well. Allow the comfrey pieces to dry overnight. Plant Comfrey Plants NOW and Have Fresh Leaves in Two to Three Weeks! Strain out the comfrey leaf before using in this recipe. Turn it on very low, and gently heat the mixture keeping it under 140 degrees. Comfrey is a potent anti-inflammatory wound healer and both the root and leaves can be used. Comfrey is a potent anti-inflammatory wound healer and both the root and leaves can be used. Hi! It’s anti-inflammatory, demulcent, and astringent attributes combine to reduce swelling, soothe, protect, and tone inured, angry tissues. Beesworks® Beeswax Pellets, Yellow, 1lb-Cosmetic Grade-Triple Filtered Beeswax. Comfrey is also an excellent herb for reducing pain. You can easily and cheaply buy comfrey on the internet, check your local on line stores or eBay. Once you have the comfrey leaves, rinse them off under cool water. Create a makeshift double boiler by putting a small bowl or a. Pull off any parts that look sick or diseased and brush off dirt with a dry cloth if needed. Strain the oil and squeeze out the leaves. Condition Soil on Future Perennial Garden Sites. If you want to freeze comfrey leaves, I suggest you juice them first. Some herbalists feel that comfrey should not be used on the skin for longer than a few weeks. Please see my Privacy Policy. Use powder topically and you can make comfrey tea out of dried comfrey root. I prefer to use a French Press for my herbal teas or tisanes. Besides being medicinal, comfrey is also great for the garden and makes an excellent natural compost tea. This way you can have access to fresh leaves which are also useful for injuries. Comfrey Salve is a popular and powerful salve which blends comfrey leaves and roots for optimal healing. Yes, Mary, the man who gave you the comfrey roots is correct. I cannot find fresh leaves here to make a poultice. I share information on foraging and wildcrafting, fermenting and preserving, cooking whole foods from scratch, permaculture gardening, and making herbal products. Your email address will not be published. It is made from fresh comfrey leaves, vegetable oil and a tiny bit of vitamin E to keep it fresh. Why refined shea butter? Add the shea butter and stir until it completely dissolves. Last updated on July 10, 2019. can be unrefined? Your email address will not be published. Cutting comfrey leaves to make an infused oil, and eventually a comfrey salve. May contain affiliate links or sponsored content. To infuse the oil , fill a clean and dry jar about 2/3rds with dried comfrey, cover with a neutral oil like olive, jojoba , perilla , almond, or avocado. I simply use clothes pegs and peg them by their stems to the clothesline, in a spot where they are in shade for most of the day. Aluminum Round Lip Balm Tin Containers with Screw Thread Lid - Great for Spices, Candies, Tea or Gift Giving. I live in Perth, Western Australia, and through spring and summer I use a cowboy method to dry my leaves, which can grow to an enormous length. It makes an excellent salve, either on its own or combined with other healing herbs like calendula, plantain, yarrow, or lavender. After i strain my comfrey and am left with my infused oils, does it get harder, more like an ointment, less like an oil? Allow the herbs to infuse in the warm oil for 24 hours before straining. "Comfrey leaves are a main ingredient in a healing salve we use for wounds, scratches, sunburn and a variety of other skin irritations experienced in a typically busy summer. You can use comfrey leaves in tea, and you can use your comfrey in a bath. No it won’t get harder unless you add some beeswax and/or some kind of butter like shea butter. I do find fresh comfrey poultices to be the most potent form of the medicine in terms of topical injuries etc. Mix the juice with the leaf fibre, and seal … I dehydrated my fresh leaves for a couple of hours. This comfrey salve is one that I always have on hand in my herbal medicine cabinet. Let the oil infuse in a cool and dark place for 4-6 weeks (or longer) before making this salve. Fill a pint jar about ½  to ⅔rds full of dried comfrey leaf, then cover the plant material with your carrier oil of choice. Place the herb-infused oil and beeswax into a heatproof bowl and warm gently over a double boiler. Wrap the comfrey leaf poultice in a cotton cloth or gauze bandage and apply to the skin. Also known as knitbone, comfrey is commonly used externally as a poultice for wounds, sores, burns, and fractures. The high water content of fresh leaves can shorten shelf life, so wilted or dried leaves are recommended. Even though this plant contains poisonous chemicals called pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), some people use the leaf, root, and root-like stem (rhizome) to make medicine. **(see note at end of post about dry vs. fresh herbs for infusion oils) If you do not own comfrey, you can purchase dried comfrey leaves from Mountain Rose Herbs. Put the comfrey oil and beeswax into the small bowl or Pyrex, and heat until the beeswax completely dissolves into the oil, stirring occasionally. What to Forage in Fall: 30+ Edible and Medicinal Plants and Mushrooms, How to Make Soap For Beginners + Calendula Soap Recipe, What to Forage in Spring: 20 Edible and Medicinal Plants and Fungi, How to Make a Gallon of Mead: A Simple Mead Recipe. You can unsubscribe at any time. Anxious to give it a try. Do you have any thoughts? How to make comfrey poultice Crush or mash about two tablespoons of fresh or dried comfrey leaves in very hot water. ; Used an immersion blender to blend it all up and make a paste. what’s the difference? You can use a single oil or a combination of oils. Roughly chop the leaves and put them in a wide mouth mason jar. It requires dried comfrey leaves, a carrier oil such as olive oil, and some beeswax. I want to inspire you to live seasonally, become more self sufficient, and protect your health. I did that about two months ago and now the leaves have turned to mush and smell disgusting, like strong cat urine. Fresh comfrey is a delightful addition to salads. Copyright © 2021 Grow Forage Cook Ferment & Cocos Creations LLC. Harvest your leaves on a dry, sunny day. Be sure to cover the herb material by at least an inch, and stir to remove air bubbles. Homemade Comfrey Salve Recipe  (this post contains affiliate links) 1/2 cup dry comfrey leaves (where to buy) 1/2 cup dry plantain leaves (where to buy) It makes an excellent salve, either on its own or combined with other healing herbs like calendula, plantain, yarrow, or lavender. Learn more. You should have roughly 8 ounces of oil. Hello! Heat the oil mixture over very low … Foodie Pro & The Genesis Framework, Stainless Steel Double Boiler Pot for Melting Chocolate, Candy and Candle Making (18/8 Steel, 2 Cup Capacity, 480ML), Tosnail 24 Pack 2 oz. Thank you for your details on comfrey leaf drying. Arrange leaves in a single layer on a clean, dry surface (best lined with a towel even though I forgot to take a photo after putting it down) and allow them to air dry for 2-3 days. Combine the strained comfrey oil, beeswax, vitamin E oil, and lavender essential oil in a pot on the stovetop. Required fields are marked *. To create the comfrey poultice: Mash the comfrey leaves using a heavy wooden spoon or pestle until it has formed a thick paste. Was ready to put it in dropper bottles when I saw comfrey should not be ingested. The healing power of comfrey to the skin and connective tissues is enhanced by five other herbs contained in this salve recipe. * To begin, I combined 2 ounces of dried comfrey leaves and 1 ounce of dried plantain leaves in … The leaves cook up like spinach, a pot of greens to enjoy with dinner. Here are some other healing herbal salve recipes you may like: This will also subscribe you to the Grow Forage Cook Ferment newsletter. The making of a salve starts with infusing a skin-friendly oil with dried comfrey leaves or stems. Would it work to use it with beeswax and/or shea butter since it is vodka and not oil? 23) Use it for musculoskeletal pain, nerve pain, bites, stings, burns, sprains, strains, and just about any other pain. (Can be used with fresh or dried herbs.). Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) is a fast-growing perennial herb in the borage family with large, bristly leaves. Coe’s Comfrey sells the Bocking #4 strain of Russian comfrey, Symphytum Peregrinum, which is best for hardiness, highest yield and the highest protein with high allantoin content; for fodder, compost and all around general use. Salves are great to make if you don’t have fresh stuff around and it works well for wounds (cuts, bites, scrapes etc). Place the mashed ball of hot leaves inside a piece of cheesecloth or a sturdy paper towel and tie the ends together with a rubber band … Pick only relatively young, fresh leaves before any … However, health officials now strongly discourage any internal use of comfrey. 12 Ways to Preserve Apples: Canning, Freezing, Drying + More! Comfrey has so many healing benefits, and this salve is amazing for healing minor cuts, scrapes, and wounds. Thanks again for sharing. Stir to combine and once melted, remove from heat. I bought the seeds grew the plants and had misplaced the recipe. Comfrey leaves should be harvested right before the flower blooms and be used dried or fresh. And that’s just the beginning! I’m always amazed by the power of herbal medicine. applied in a number of ways as soil amendments, « 20+ Ways to Preserve Pumpkin and Winter Squash, https://theherbalacademy.com/how-to-make-a-poultice-with-herbs/, https://www.amazon.com/Starwest-Botanicals-Organic-Comfrey-Sifted/dp/B003AYEHGG/ref=as_li_ss_tl?keywords=dried+comfrey&qid=1572562269&sr=8-5&linkCode=sl1&tag=selfrelianc0e-20&linkId=474b7611a8f3d3c03f32dc066dc9ffb1&language=en_US. Place comfrey in a pint mason jar and cover with a carrier oil (like olive oil). Please see my. 6 ounces dried comfrey leaves; 3 ounce dried plantain leaves; 4-6 ounces beeswax; Method Please note: For this salve — because I had the time — I decided to create a triple-infused herbal oil. Steep fresh chopped leaves in water that has been brought to a boil for 20-30 minutes. My only suggestion is you show a 1 cup pyrex. I was thinking about adding some cannabis but can’t find anything on the net about mixing these herbs. But just like all greens, it will go harsh after the plant starts to fill in with the growth. This homemade comfrey salve helps to heal minor wounds fast! Especially in the first few days. Originally published on September 5, 2018. If harvested in the early spring, the leaves taste just like spinach. From shop BumblingAcresFarm. Pour the comfrey salve into salve tins or small jars and allow the mixture to cool for a few hours before using. It really works wonders! My favorite combination for making salves is equal parts of olive, coconut, and sweet almond oils. but I would poultice for deeper tissue injuries. Skin Toning. Comfrey’s roots break up heavy clay and creating … But usually a few days of treatment is all that you should ever need. Using it externally, like in this salve or as a poultice, is perfectly safe! Comfrey is one of those herbs that truly has healing properties and is excellent when used in a salve. The plant puts down a large black taproot and grows to up to four feet tall. I use dried comfrey leaf that I harvest from my garden and dry on homemade drying screens. « Zucchini Chips (made in a dehydrator): Low Carb, Vegan, Paleo, & Whole 30. I hate to waste it….. Comfrey herbs have astringent properties, which helps draw the cells together so that … Drying comfrey leaves. Add the hot water slowly during this process to get the correct consistency. Using fresh or dried leaves, combine with warm water and place over the wound, covering with a bandage. If you are using dried leaves, let the leaves soak in hot water to cover for several minutes. A little goes a long way. Also known as knitbone, comfrey is commonly used externally as a poultice for wounds, sores, burns, and fractures. Before making this salve, you will need to make a comfrey infused oil. You can also buy comfrey plants, seeds or seedlings and grow them at home. To make a poultice from fresh comfrey leaves coarsely chop the leaves and puree in a blender, adding water to aid in processing. It can be picked fresh and partially dried. anon87855 June 1, 2010 . Gently heat the water in a double boiler, warming the oil, but keeping it under 140 degrees… It should not be used on deep or infected wounds as it will heal the surface first and could potentially seal in an infection. It is a plant that I will always have growing in my medicinal herb garden, even if it does have a tendancy to spread. There is conflicting evidence on the safety of using comfrey internally, so please do your own research and proceed with caution. The poultice should be damp but not drippy. Then you could switch to a salve. I made this monster last november, and able to scrape off the top layer of mostly-bees-wax with a hint of comfrey and that worked pretty well as a salve. Do NOT mash the comfrey leaves in a bowl that will be used for food preparation. Refined shea butter has no scent. Add enough water to just barely cover them and add a tsp of psyllium husks to thicken it up so that it doesn't just slide all over the place. This homemade comfrey salve has amazing healing benefits! I drink one comfrey leaf twice a week it cured all my pain.One comfrey leaf,one glass of water,one glass of ice goes into my vitamix blender for one minute then its bottoms up tastes like a mild cucumber juice and abra cadabra no more back pain and no more arthritus pain in my hands or hip.More people die of aspirin every day of the week then have died of comfrey in recorded history. Strain out the comfrey leaf before using in this recipe. I had made a tincture of comfrey, lavendar and lambs ear with vodka. Hi there, you can use unrefined, but be aware that it does have a strong scent that not everyone likes. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Both the leaves and roots can be used to make external comfrey remedies, often in either an oil, salve, or plaster. Used Comfrey leaf about twenty years ago and have never forgotten the occasion.I had an infected sore on my lower leg ,maybe from a large splinter, that had caused the glands to swell in my groin…next step would have to be anti-biotics.At night I put some fresh Comfrey leaves under a bandage around the sore and by next morning Comfrey Salve, Comfrey Leaf Salve, Comfrey Ointment, Farm Grown Salve, Natural Skin Care, Natural First Aid, Garden Gate Apothecary ... Comfrey Herbal Salve 100% Organic Screw-Top-Lids Double Infused- Concentrated Made from fresh plants grown by seller Handmade small batches BumblingAcresFarm. For the fast infusion method, which is required for fresh herbs, place the jar in a double boiler or crockpot with water. Place the fresh or dried herbs in a jar, cover with oil and then place the jar into a double boiler. Older leaves, or leaves that have overwintered in mild climates, may have higher concentrations of alkaloids. Soothing and highly moisturizing, this unscented salve is wonderful for supporting the treatment of chapped lips, dry skin, eczema, psoriasis, wrinkles, pregnant bellies, sore nipples, diaper rash, and allergic skin reactions, as well as bruises, shallow cuts, and many more skin conditions. This recipe makes approximately 12 ounces of salve total, or six 2 ounce tins. Echinacea both in its root (more potent) and leaf form is included to provide natural antibiotic properties. Also, how long before it gets rancid? Someone told me that comfrey leaves put in dry into a jar and sealed will result in a sort of salve. Folk recipes mention using comfrey root tea to cure stomach upset and eating comfrey leaves fresh or cooked as a general tonic. 1. For every 8 ounces of oil, add 1-ounce beeswax (by weight). I am making a healing salve with comfrey, calendula and plantain. Finally dried the leaves -soaked the leaves- and today made the salve. Thank you!!! Instructions. Let the oil infuse in a cool and dark place for 4-6 weeks (or longer). The compounds in comfrey’s leaves and roots--pyrrolizidine alkaloids--are … Hi Jennifer, I think that sounds like a great combination! Your email address will not be published. Would it work as a topical spray, or addition to a poultice? Harvest the comfrey leaves on a dry and sunny afternoon. The leaves at the base of the plant can be a foot long and get progressively smaller toward the top of the stem.