Can a comfrey (Symphytum officianale) root extraction help ease aching joints and muscles? Many of those following the folk use of comfrey up to present-day think so. Additionally, there is scientific research demonstrating comfrey’s effectiveness at soothing muscle and joint pain, some of which are highlighted in this post.
The warm weather has a way of encouraging us to get outside and move our bodies more. Whether you’ve been hiking, biking, playing, or enjoying water sports, comfrey cream can be a wonderful ally in supporting achy muscles that result from physical, summertime activities. For that reason, I’ve also included my go-to comfrey cream recipe for achy joints and muscles!
The comfrey plant, Symphytum officinale, gets its name from the Latin confervere, meaning to grow together. When the root is boiled in water, it forms a sticky, glue-like paste. This is memorable if you have worked with it, and some use this quality to remember comfrey’s centuries-long use—applying comfrey over bones, bruises, sprains, and minor wounds with the intention to support mending!
A member of the borage family, comfrey root, leaves, and stems have an obvious coat of bristly hair. This perennial can grow up to 4-feet tall. Its long, lance-shaped leaves can be up to 1 foot in length closer to the bottom of the stem and are shorter higher up the stem. Comfrey flowers are bell-shaped and purple, pink, or pale yellow in color, and it has a dark taproot.
The leaves and stems of comfrey contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids that can cause toxic damage if ingested in excess (Ulbricht, 2010). Thus, it is not advised to ingest herbal preparations of comfrey unless guided by an expert pharmacologist and physician. Learn more in The Comfrey Controversy: Can and Should One Use Comfrey Internally?
Topical preparations of comfrey are generally safe provided they are not applied excessively or to an open wound. This is because only a small amount of the pyrrolizidine alkaloids are absorbed through the skin (Jedlinszki et al., 2017). When buying commercial brands, seek those that have had the pyrrolizidine alkaloids removed, if possible.
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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Add dried comfrey leaves to a glass jar and cover with your choice of carrier oil. Allow to infuse for 4-6 weeks, shaking periodically.
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After 4-6 weeks, strain the comfrey infused oil through a cheesecloth into a small saucepan. Squeeze the cheesecloth well to get all the oil out.
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Add the beeswax to the saucepan and warm over low heat, stirring constantly, until the beeswax is fully melted and incorporated into the oil. Remove from heat.
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Allow the comfrey salve mixture to cool slightly before adding any essential oils if desired. 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 a topical application of a product containing comfrey root extract helped with knee pain and stiffness. For one of these studies, the average time participants had experienced knee pain and stiffness leading up to the study was six and a half years!
- In a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, multi-clinical trial, 43 volunteers with osteoarthritis used either a topical cream containing comfrey, tannic acid, and eucalyptus or a placebo cream 3x/ day for 6 weeks. The herbal topical cream was prepared at two different strengths, as an additional measure of efficacy. The groups using the herbal preparations reported a significantly greater reduction in pain and stiffness associated with osteoarthritis of the knee without serious adverse reactions (Smith & Jacobson, 2011).
- In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 220 patients with knee osteoarthritis used either a commercial topical comfrey root extract or a placebo. A significant reduction in pain was observed in the groups using the comfrey product. As an additional measure of efficacy, groups instructed to use the comfrey preparation for the longest period of time experienced 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 double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study involving 120 patients with acute back pain, symptoms were quickly reduced in the group using 4 grams of an ointment containing 35% comfrey root extract 3x/day for 5 days (Giannetti et al., 2010).
- In a small study with 30 subjects, lower back pain from exercise was reduced with an ointment containing comfrey. The cream was applied to the local lumbar area 4x during the day of the exercise, with the first application being pre-exercise (Jurcau & Jurcau, 2013).
- A multi-center, randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial was conducted with 161 patients having acute lower back pain. An ointment containing comfrey helped reduce lower back pain (Stam et al., 2001).
Comfrey has long been used in folk traditions for bruising and abrasions. Although it has historically been used on open wounds, it is now not advised related to the toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids that can absorb more readily into the body 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.
- In a study of 712 children with superficial wounds, applying a 25% comfrey cream for one week or up to two weeks (2-4x day) offered a strong benefit to risk ratio (Kucera et al., 2018).
- In a randomized double-blind study of 278 patients with fresh abrasions, a topical preparation containing a 10% comfrey leaf extraction applied for 2-3 days reduced wound healing time of adults and children without 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.
- In a randomized, controlled, double-blind study with 203 patients, applications of a 10% comfrey cream were well tolerated, reduced swelling and pain, and improved mobility (Kucera et al., 2004).
- In a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study with 142 ankle sprain participants, a comfrey root extract applied 4x/day for 8 days improved pain, swelling, and mobility without any adverse reactions (Koll et al., 2004).
- In a randomized multicenter study with 164 ankle sprain patients, swelling and pain were improved more successfully using a comfrey root extract compared to a diclofenac gel (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 back pain, knee osteoarthritis, ankle sprains, bruises, and other injuries. 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.