Symphytum officinale

Symphytum officinale [Image]. [2014]. Retrieved from: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Symphytum_officinale_1a.JPG

Common name: 
Comfrey 
(Hoffman, 1983, p. 186).  

Latin binomial:
Symphytum officinale
(Hoffman, 1983, p. 186). 

Family: 
Boraginaceae 
(Hoffman, 1983, p. 186). 

Parts used:
Root, Rhizome and leaf
(Hoffman, 1983, p. 186).

Active constituents:

• Mucilage
• Gum
• Allantion
• Tannins
• Alkaloids
• Resin
• Volatile oil 

(Hoffman, 1983, 186).

Actions:

• Vulnerary
• Demulcent
• Astringent
• Expectorant 

(Hoffman, 1983, 186).

Indications:

• Wound healing inside and out
• Haemorrhages
• Irritable cough
• Bronchitis
• Stops formation of scare tissue
•  Ulcers
• Wounds and fractures as a compress or poultice
• Chronic varicose ulcers 

(Hoffman, 1983, 186). 

Dosage:

• Decoction: put 1-3 teaspoons full of the dried herb in a cup of water, bring to the boil and simmer for 10-15 minutes, this should be drunk three times a day

• Take 2-4 ml of the tincture three times a day (Hoffman, 1983, 186). 

Combinations: 
To aid in gastric ulcers, Marshmallow and meadowsweet combine well with comfrey, coltsfoot, white horehound and elecampane all work well in combination to aid in bronchitis (Hoffman, 1983, 186).

References:

Hoffman, D. (1983) The holistic herbal. Element books: Dorset.