Comfrey

Uses for Comfrey

Comfrey is well known to kick start your compost. Being high in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium and calcium. Being high in nitrogen, comfrey makes a good mulch as it doesn’t draw nitrogen in its decomposition process as other mulches would do.

Researchers in British Columbia analysed the NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) ratio of comfrey leaves by air-drying them and analysing the powdered leaf tissues. They found that the leaves had N1.8; P0.5; K5.3. Compared to kelp meal at N1.0; P0.5; K2.5,

Comfrey makes a good poultice, soaking the leaves in warm water and applying wet. This is used for joint pain, swelling and inflammation. Don’t apply to open wounds

I have used comfrey for years to treat lame horses or those that have obvious bone issues, splints etc. I offer all the leaves I can pick until the horse refuses to take any more. I have noticed that the horse will eat all they can get for a period of up to 4 days and then refuse any more. The injury seems to heal in the same short period of the comfrey intake, or shortly after. I believe this method of offering rather than forcing the animal to take the leave, by adding it into their other food is a safer way of treating them.

I have heard stories of returned servicemen from WWI using comfrey the remainder of their lives to treat pain from shrapnel injuries that have affected bones. It seems it was a common vegetable in those days, but even then was taken in small doses.

Growing Comfrey

Comfrey sends its roots down as far as 1m. So make sure where you plant it, that it will be there to stay. If you dig it up, every bit of root that is left will start to grow again. This is fine if you are harvesting it for mulching or soil conditioning, but if you want just one plant it needs to be contained. We have one plant growing in the lawn so it gets mowed around in a very tight circle. It hibernates in winter so is mowed over completely. Growing around fruit trees then trimming the leaves and letting them mulch under the tree is an excellent option, one organic orchards use often. The benefits of having the comfrey harvest nutrients from deep then recycle them on the surface when you mulch becomes obvious when the quality of your plants improve.

This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.