Comfrey ointment is a wonderful natural remedy that can be easily made at home. This healing salve has been used for centuries to help treat minor cuts, burns, bruises, sprains, and muscle aches. With just a few simple ingredients from your kitchen, you can make your own comfrey ointment to keep stocked in your home apothecary.
An Overview of Comfrey
Comfrey is a perennial herb that has been used medicinally for over 2000 years. Its scientific name is Symphytum officinale. Comfrey contains compounds like allantoin rosmarinic acid and tannins that provide soothing, anti-inflammatory benefits when applied topically.
Historically, comfrey was known as “knitbone” because it was thought to help heal broken bones and wounds when applied externally. Traditional folk medicine used comfrey poultices, salves, and teas to aid the body in healing and reduce swelling.
Today modern research has found that comfrey salves and ointments can help
- Relieve pain and inflammation from sprains, strains, arthritis
- Promote faster healing of minor burns, cuts, scrapes
- Soothe dry, irritated skin and moisturize cracked skin
- Reduce bruising and swelling from minor injuries
However comfrey contains toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids and should never be ingested. It also should be avoided by pregnant/nursing women infants, and those with liver disorders.
Benefits of Making Your Own Comfrey Ointment
While comfrey ointments can be purchased, making your own has many benefits:
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You control the quality of ingredients. No mystery additives or chemicals.
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It’s customizable to your needs. Adjust the strength as desired.
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Much more affordable than buying ready-made.
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Fun to DIY natural remedies using plants.
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Less plastic waste from disposable ointment packets.
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Helps build your herbal medicine knowledge.
How to Make Comfrey Ointment at Home
Making comfrey ointment is simple. Here is an easy salve recipe:
Ingredients:
- 1 cup dried comfrey leaves
- 1 cup carrier oil (olive, coconut, almond, etc)
- 1 oz beeswax pastilles or pellets
- 5-10 drops essential oil for scent (optional)
Supplies Needed:
- Small saucepan
- Spoon or whisk
- Glass jar or tin for storage
- Cheesecloth
Instructions:
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Put dried comfrey leaves in a glass jar and cover them with the oil of your choice. Allow to infuse for 4-6 weeks, shaking periodically.
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In four to six weeks, strain the oil that has been mixed with comfrey through cheesecloth into a small saucepan. Squeeze the cheesecloth well to get all the oil out.
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Spread the beeswax out in a saucepan. Melt it over low heat while stirring it all the time. Blend it into the oil completely. Remove from heat.
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If you want to add essential oils, wait until the comfrey salve mixture is a little less hot before adding them. Good choices are lavender, tea tree, or chamomile oil.
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Pour the comfrey ointment into storage jars or tins. Allow to fully set up before use. Label containers and store in a cool, dark place.
Be sure to use dried comfrey leaves rather than fresh plant material. Drying helps concentrate the beneficial medicinal compounds. Finely chop or crush the dried leaves before adding to the oil to release their properties.
Using Your Homemade Comfrey Ointment
Comfrey salve has many uses for natural skin care. Here are some tips:
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For minor cuts, wounds, burns – Apply a thin layer of comfrey ointment daily after cleaning. Helps soothe pain and prevent infection while accelerating healing.
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For bruises and sprains – Gently massage comfrey salve into bruised/swollen areas soon after injury occurs to help reduce pain and discoloration.
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For dry, cracked skin and calluses – Use comfrey salve as an intensive nightly moisturizer on hands, heels, elbows to deeply hydrate parched skin.
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For sore muscles and arthritis – Massage comfrey ointment into affected joints or muscles to relieve aches and pains. Improves circulation as well.
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For skin irritations – Dab on comfrey salve to help soothe and calm red, inflamed skin rashes and minor irritations. Its anti-inflammatory properties help.
Always do a patch test before wider use. Avoid using comfrey salve over large areas of damaged skin or for more than a few weeks. While external use is generally safe for most people, take precautions if pregnant or nursing.
The Benefits of Natural Plant Medicine
Making your own comfrey ointment enables you to access the powerful healing properties of plants in a safe, natural form. Herbal salves like comfrey have been relied upon for centuries to help treat minor injuries and skin conditions without harsh chemicals.
Crafting DIY remedies from your garden is both empowering and sustainable. You can customize comfrey salve to meet your family’s needs, avoid chemicals found in commercial products, and reduce plastic waste. Plus, it connects you more deeply with the cycles of nature.
With a little practice, you’ll be amazed at the simple, effective herbal medicines you can whip up using common garden plants. Keep comfrey salve on hand to help soothe away life’s minor scrapes and aches.
For Knee Pain and Stiffness
Knee pain and stiffness can be a stubborn concern that keeps many from doing activities they enjoy. Two interesting studies found that putting a product on the knees that had comfrey root extract in it helped with pain and stiffness. In one of these studies, people had been having knee pain and stiffness for an average of six and a half years before the study.
- In a randomized, double-blind, multi-clinical trial, 43 people with osteoarthritis were given either a cream with comfrey, tannic acid, and eucalyptus or a cream with a fake ingredient three times a day for six weeks. As an extra way to test how well the herbal cream worked, it was made in two different strengths. The people who used the herbal preparations said they felt a lot less pain and stiffness in their knees, and they didn’t have any serious side effects (Smith et al.
- Two hundred people with knee osteoarthritis took part in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. They were given either a commercial topical comfrey root extract or a sugar pill. The pain levels dropped significantly in the groups that used the comfrey product. As an extra sign of how well the comfrey preparation worked, the groups that were told to use it for the longest time showed the most improvement. (Grube et al. , 2007).
Of course, more research is needed to validate efficacy and safety. However, people with knee pain may be glad to try a topical preparation that could help in addition to any other recommendations made by their physician.
As a Licensed Massage Therapist for fifteen years, I have noticed that back pain can be caused by a variety of reasons and can be very debilitating. Sometimes, massaging on topical ointments can help reduce pain and inflammation.
Three clinical studies have provided evidence that ointments containing comfrey root have helped reduce back pain. While there can be a variety of causes for back pain, these small studies offer hopeful results that comfrey root may offer potential analgesic and anti-inflammatory benefits. More research is needed.
- In a study with 220 patients with severe back pain that was randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled, symptoms got better quickly in the group that used 4 grams of an ointment with 15% comfrey root extract five times a day for five days (Giannetti et al. , 2010).
- A small study with only 30 people found that an ointment with comfrey reduced lower back pain caused by exercise. The cream was put on the lower back four times on the day of the exercise. The first time was before the exercise (Jurcau
- 161 people with severe lower back pain took part in a randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial that was held at multiple centers. An ointment with comfrey in it helped lower back pain (Stam et al. , 2001).
Comfrey has long been used in folk traditions for bruising and abrasions. It used to be used on open wounds, but now it’s not recommended because the toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids can get into the body more easily through an open wound. Additionally, use on a deep cut may encourage healing of the outer skin the preparation comes in direct contact with faster than the deeper tissue, leading to abscess. Comfrey is avoided on cuts or puncture wounds for this reason.
- applying a 2% comfrey cream twice or three times a day for one week or up to two weeks was found to have a strong benefit-to-risk ratio in a study of children with superficial wounds (Kucera et al. , 2018).
- In a randomized, double-blind study of 278 patients with new cuts and scrapes, a topical preparation containing a 2010% comfrey leaf extraction that was applied for 202–3 days shortened the time it took for adults and children to heal their wounds without any side effects (Barna et al. , 2012).
When harvesting comfrey or buying from a non-commercial supplier, note that there is variety within the species. Hybrids and other species may have a similar appearance but could have significantly different amounts of the toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (Kucera et al., 2018). Make sure to always buy comfrey (Symphytum officianale) root and leaf from a trusted source.
Avoid using comfrey extracts on broken skin or open wounds. Also, avoid use for more than two weeks or excessive concentrations containing more than 100 mcg of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (Wichtl, 2004 & Ulbricht, 2010).
Do not use comfrey with very young children or during pregnancy or lactation. Avoid comfrey with certain medical conditions, such as liver disease. Avoid with medications that induce CYP3A4 or are hepatotoxic (Natural Medicines, 2020). Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions before use. Like any new treatment, discontinue use if any irritation occurs. In some cases, ointments with comfrey have caused redness, itching, and a rash (Smith, 2011).
Research on the Topical Use of Comfrey
Topically, comfrey root and leaf extracts have been traditionally used for bruises, sore muscles and joints, sprains, mild wounds, and gout (Natural Medicines, 2020). Some recent human studies have demonstrated that extracts may help with ankle sprains, knee pain and stiffness, backaches, and mild skin abrasions.
An ankle sprain can come out of nowhere and cause a lot of pain, limitations, and regret until it is healed. At least three human studies found that the topical use of a cream containing comfrey root extract may safely help with pain, swelling, and mobility symptoms associated with an ankle sprain.
- For example, Kucera et al. found that a comfrey cream application was well tolerated, decreased swelling and pain, and increased mobility in a randomized, controlled, double-blind study with 20203 patients. , 2004).
- A study with 142 people who had sprained their ankles was randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled. They were given a comfrey root extract four times a day for eight days. It helped with pain, swelling, and mobility without any bad effects (Koll et al. , 2004).
- A study with 164 people who had an ankle sprain found that a comfrey root extract worked better than a diclofenac gel at reducing pain and swelling (Predel et al. , 2005).
While larger and more studies are needed to fully determine safety and effectiveness, short term topical application of comfrey may give you peace of mind, relief, and support while you rest and heal, following any additional advice from your physician.
Comfrey Salve Start to Finish
FAQ
Can you put comfrey leaves directly on skin?
Don’t apply comfrey products to broken skin or use large amounts on the skin, long-term. The poisonous chemicals in comfrey can be absorbed through the skin.
What are the ingredients in comfrey cream?
What Is Comfrey Cream? Comfrey cream is used to treat injuries like back pain, knee osteoarthritis, sprains, bruises, and more. It combines ingredients like oils or water and glyceryl stearate with Symphytum officinale (comfrey) extracts. Comfrey is an herb in the Boraginaceae family and has small purple flowers.
What did the Native Americans use comfrey for?
Native Americans considered comfrey a sacred healing plant and drank it as a tea as well as using it topically. Apr 7, 2021.
What is the best carrier oil for comfrey 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. You can use a single carrier oil or a combination of oils. My favorite combination for making salves is equal parts of olive, coconut, and sweet almond oils.