Leg

We had a young woman call on us early one spring to buy a dozen comfrey plants. As it was early in spring we just found a dozen. Comfrey usually goes underground for our mild winters. A week later the woman rang asking us to freight her another dozen, as quickly as possible. She came the following week for twenty more plants. As comfrey is the fastest growing plant and one plant is usually adequate for most people, our curiosity was aroused. It turned out that her mother had had a leg ulcer for many years. Finally, it had become so bad that her doctor had recommended she have her leg amputated. At this, her daughter had contacted an old herbalist who told her to make comfrey root poultices for the ulcer. This she was doing every day, and was therefore using an incredible number of comfrey plants. This is an old remedy little used today because it is unaesthetic, time consuming to prepare and messy. It involves harvesting, cleaning and mashing the root, applying it to the ulcer and tying it on with bandages. We sent the woman off to an organic farming friend who had comfrey taking over her garden and was only too happy to have someone ‘weed’ it for her.

Herbal BeautyA few months later she wandered into the nursery and told us that her mother’s leg was completely cured.

Comfrey ointment can be used in place of poultices, although a fresh plant poultice always heals more quickly. Apply the ointment liberally once or twice a day to the edges of the ulcer, working from the good skin to the bad. Comfrey promotes the growth of healthy tissue.

Stomach

Liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is excellent for peptic and gastric ulcers. Don’t eat the lolly as most liquorice lollies are made with synthetic anise flavour. You can buy a solid extract imported from Italy. Eat about 1/4 teaspoon of this before meals. Liquorice should not be taken to excess by people with high blood pressure, kidney disease or those taking heart medicine. If in doubt, discuss with your naturopath. Both olive oil and raw cabbage juice have been used for ulcers, so include some in your diet. Wherever possible, olive oil should be taken uncooked. Extra virgin olive oil is perhaps the best and has a wonderful flavour.

Fenugreek (Tri gonella foenum-graecum) seed tea is a Chinese folk remedy for peptic ulcers which modern research has shown to be effective.

Mouth

Myrrh tincture used as a mouthwash is an effective antiseptic. It tastes terrible, but it works!

Wrinkles

Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been.

Comfrey and Aloe vera both contain the chemical allantoin—found in only the best and dearest anti-wrinkle creams! You can grow your own fresh aloe and buy comfrey cream or ointment at any health food shop. A good quality comfrey cream regularly applied is great for wrinkles and skin generally.

If you have oily skin use fresh aloe gel straight from the plant. If your skin is on the dry side, use some moisturiser with it as aloe is astringent and can be drying.

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Healing Plants: comfrey