Hello,

I am trying to find a herbal paste used to heal fractures and sore spots. I believe its comfrey, but, I cannot remember for sure. Does anyone know? Thanks.

Bernice

-- Bernice Raymond (geminigoats@yahoo.com), January 28, 2000

Answers

Comfrey is very good for this kind of thing,are you thinking of an ointment that will store or are you willing to use the plant as needed? There are comfrey balms available, but I think that the fresh plant is pretty effective and since it is so easy to grow, that is what we use.If there is a health food store near you that carries bulk herbs, you can buy comfrey root powder and moisten it with warm water and use that. It is the best thing I have ever found to heal burns,better than aloe vera. If you have any plants, use the leaves in spring summer, and fall, and the roots in winter.Cut the leaves up fine and pour boiling water into them,just enough to cover,or grate the roots (after scrubbing and peeling)and put them on the wound.If you have a sprained ankle, you can make a tea of the roots or leaves and soak the ankle in it.

-- Rebekah (daniel1@transport.com), January 28, 2000.

There's something called BM&C ointment (bone, muscle, cartiledge) with comfrey, white oak, mullien, Queen of the meadow, and other stuff for swelling and pain. You can get it through Enrich International (www.enrich.com) for about $20. and it works. I had a horse fall on me and sprained my foot bad. I was back to carrying the mail in less than 6 weeks. It also comes in capsules for internal use. You can e-mail me for wholesale prices. Patrice

-- Patrice Bertke (herbalgroup@skybest.com), January 29, 2000.

Keep in mind that comfrey is not to be used internally for long periods of time. You can make an herbal infusion (steep a handful of dried herb in a quart of boiling water overnight) and drink for up to a month to heal internal wounds, ulcers, "leaky gut", fractured bones, damaged joints, etc. The herb is extremely high in vitamins and minerals that are easily absorbed into the body. The problem is the pyrrolixidine alkaloids which have been known to cause liver toxicity in high doses over extended periods of time when taken internally. It is an excellent external wound healer, especially when used with Calendula and St. John's Wort. Do not use the ointment or salve on deep, open wounds because Comfrey can heal the wound so fast that it will heal over an infection and cause abcesses. If you are interested in a simple home recipe to make your own salve, please e-mail me!

-- Jasper Snyder (mtnmagicherbs@uswest.net), February 03, 2000.

While comfrey is excellent fresh, or dried or powdered it is not always available or within a reach, but there is a plant with almost identical properties growing wild everywhere, it is called BONESET, I do not know latin name off hand, but we have used it on wounds, bruises, smashed thumbs and such with almost immediate result. It is always best to use fresh, but dried up and reconstituted with boiling water is just as good. My hubby's mother 88 years old fell down and had both of her legs black and blue from the fall, so we have made a concotion from reconstituted BONESET ( dried with hot water poured over it ) and cooked some oatmeal to make a thick paste, to which we mixed reconstituted BONESET, this cocotion was then spread on my mother in law's legs (after it cooled off, of course) and wraped with plastic (Saran Wrap), left overnite, and could not believe results, the very next morning there was no black or blue marks anywhere, I am not sure whether it can be ingested but I would not recomend it for it tasted awful. Hope it helps. God bless you. Louise

-- Louise Durjak (tata@dellsnet.com), March 26, 2000.