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Root | Comfrey
  • Root | Comfrey
Root | Comfrey

Root | Comfrey

$8.25 CAD

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Comfrey root is ideal for enriching your soil and promoting plant growth. Known for its natural fertilizing properties, it stimulates crop vitality while improving soil structure.
A LITTLE HISTORY

Availability of comfrey:

Comfrey is available exclusively in Canada between May and the end of September, subject to availability.

 

Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) is a perennial herb belonging to the Boraginaceae family. It is widely recognized for its medicinal properties and has been used throughout history for its healing properties. Here's a detailed look at the history of comfrey.

  • Antiquity
    Ancient Greece and Rome:
    Comfrey was used by the Greeks and Romans for its healing properties. The term “Symphytum” comes from the Greek “symphyo,” meaning “to make grow together,” referring to the plant’s ability to promote the healing of broken bones and wounds. Pliny the Elder and Dioscorides, two great naturalists of the time, described the medicinal uses of comfrey in their writings.
  • Middle Ages
    Monasteries and herbalists:
    During the Middle Ages, comfrey was grown in monastery gardens and used by herbalist monks to treat various ailments. It was an integral part of medicinal herbs cultivated for the preparation of remedies and potions. Comfrey poultices were commonly applied to wounds to promote healing.
  • Renaissance
    Renaissance and herbal medicine:
    Comfrey continued to be an important herb in Renaissance pharmacopoeia. Physicians and herbalists of this era, such as Paracelsus and Nicholas Culpeper, documented its uses. Culpeper, in his “Complete Herbal,” recommends comfrey for treating wounds, ulcers, and inflammation.
  • Traditional and Modern Uses

External applications:
Today, comfrey is primarily used externally due to concerns about its toxic effects. It is valued for its wound healing, anti-inflammatory, and emollient properties. It is found in creams, ointments, and poultices to treat wounds, burns, bruises, and joint pain.

  • Horticultural applications:
    Comfrey is also used as a companion plant in organic farming. It is known to enrich the soil with potassium and other essential nutrients, and its leaves are used to make liquid manure and natural fertilizers.
PROPERTIES

Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) is renowned for its many medicinal properties, particularly when used externally. Here is a detailed description of its main therapeutic properties:

Medicinal Properties

  • Healing:

Comfrey is known to promote the healing of wounds, cuts, scrapes, and minor burns. Allantoin, a compound found in comfrey, stimulates cell proliferation and accelerates the healing of damaged tissue.
Anti-inflammatory:

  • Comfrey poultices and creams are often used to reduce inflammation and relieve pain associated with conditions such as sprains, bruises, and joint inflammation. Tannins and other compounds in the plant contribute to its anti-inflammatory effects.
  • Analgesic:

Comfrey has analgesic properties that help relieve pain. Topical preparations can be applied to soothe muscle and joint pain.
Emollient:

  • Comfrey extracts are used in cosmetic products for their moisturizing and softening properties. They help soothe and moisturize dry and irritated skin.
  • Astringent:

The tannins in comfrey have astringent properties that help contract and tighten tissues, promoting the healing of wounds and ulcers.

Traditional and Current Uses

  • Skin Care:

Comfrey is commonly used in creams and ointments to treat various skin problems, such as eczema, dermatitis, skin ulcers, and burns.

  • Joint and Muscle Care:

In herbal medicine, comfrey poultices are applied to painful areas to relieve joint pain, sprains, and bruises. It is also used to treat symptoms of gout and rheumatism.

  • Wound Care:

Comfrey infusions or compresses soaked in the decoction are used to clean and disinfect wounds, thus accelerating their healing.
HOW TO COOK?

Comfrey is a valuable plant not only for its medicinal properties but also for its gardening applications. It is particularly useful as a natural fertilizer due to its richness in nutrients, especially potassium. Here's how to make comfrey fertilizer, often called "comfrey manure."

  • Comfrey Fertilizer Recipe
    Ingredients :

Fresh comfrey leaves (about 1 kg)
Water (about 10 liters)
A container or bucket (preferably with a lid)
A stick or rod for stirring
Instructions :

Harvesting the leaves:

Harvest about 1 kg of fresh comfrey leaves. Choose healthy, undamaged leaves.
Container preparation:

Place the comfrey leaves in a container or bucket large enough to hold both the leaves and water. A plastic or wooden container is best to avoid reaction with metallic materials.
Adding water:

Add about 10 liters of water to the container, enough to completely cover the comfrey leaves.
Maceration:

Cover the container to reduce odors and let the comfrey leaves steep for about 2 to 4 weeks. Stir the mixture every few days to aid decomposition.
Filtering:

After 2 to 4 weeks, the comfrey leaves will have decomposed, and the liquid will have taken on a dark color and a strong odor. Strain the liquid through a sieve or an old cloth to separate the solid residue from the liquid manure.
Use :

Dilute comfrey manure in water before using it as a fertilizer. A dilution of 1:10 (1 part manure to 10 parts water) is generally recommended.
Use the diluted manure to water your plants, especially those that need potassium such as tomatoes, peppers and flowering plants.
Tips and Tricks:

  • Variations: You can also combine comfrey with other nutrient-rich plants like nettle to create a mixed manure.
    Storage: Comfrey manure can be stored for several months in an airtight container, but it is best to use it quickly to avoid unpleasant odors.
  • Benefits of Comfrey Manure:
  • Rich in Nutrients: Comfrey is particularly rich in potassium, an essential element for flowering and fruiting plants.
    Plant Strengthening: Regular use of comfrey manure can help strengthen plants, improve their resistance to disease, and promote healthy growth.

By using this simple and natural recipe, you can improve the health of your garden while recycling plant materials. It's an eco-friendly and economical solution for feeding your plants.
HOW TO GROW?

Instructions for Growing Comfrey

Storing Cuttings:

  • Keep comfrey cuttings refrigerated until planting, and keep them moist.
    Planting the Roots:

Plant the roots by laying them down, by sowing in April, or directly in the garden between mid-April and the end of May. You have until autumn, that is to say the end of September, to put your roots in the ground.

Harvest :

  • It is better to wait until the second year of cultivation to start harvesting, then between September and May. Root Characteristics:

Our splints or roots are vigorous, open-pollinated and adapted to the Quebec climate.

  • Species: Symphytum officinale
  • Sowing: Early April to early May outdoors, either in spring before the last frost in your area, or towards the end of September.
  • Planting the Splints or Roots: Directly in the garden.
  • Root Depth: 7-10 cm.
  • Germination time: 7 to 13 days.
  • Soil Type: Poor, humus-rich, loose and well-drained.
  • Location: Likes shade, sun and tolerates cold.
  • Spacing between plants: 60-75 cm.
  • Height at Maturity: 100-150 cm.
  • Maturity: 2 years | Perennial.
  • Number of Sides or Roots per Envelope: 5

Our Splints or Roots are guaranteed for the year of purchase.

Delivery to Canada only

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