Medicinal Uses*
Comfrey is best known for its external healing properties. Rich in allantoin, it helps stimulate cell growth and tissue repair, making it highly valued for bruises, sprains, strains, cuts, wounds, and broken bones. Traditionally, it has been used in poultices, salves, and compresses to speed healing and reduce inflammation.
It is also soothing to dry, irritated, or damaged skin and can support the healing of minor burns, ulcers, and skin irritations.
Due to the presence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids, Comfrey is generally recommended for external use only and should not be used on deep puncture wounds or infected wounds without professional guidance.
Growing Instructions
Comfrey is an extremely hardy perennial that grows well in full sun to partial shade. It thrives in rich, moisture-retentive soil but is highly adaptable once established. Its deep roots make it drought tolerant and resilient in a wide range of conditions.
When your plant arrives, transplant into the garden in a spot where it can stay. Space plants at least 60 cm apart, as they grow large and vigorous.
Choose its permanent position carefully, as Comfrey develops deep roots and can be difficult to remove once established. It is an excellent companion plant for fruit trees and food forests, where its leaves can be chopped and dropped as nutrient-rich mulch.
This type of comfrey is the true, wild comfrey, best suited for medicinal purposes. It can spread by seeds, so removing the flower stalk on a regular basis is advised. We have grown it for 3 years now and it has not spread since we cut off the flower stalk before it sets seeds.
Comfrey dies back in winter and returns strongly in spring. Apply compost or mulch annually to encourage abundant growth. It is frost hardy and well suited to most regions of New Zealand.
Harvesting
Harvest Comfrey leaves when they are large, healthy, and vibrant, usually from late spring through summer. For medicinal use, the leaves are most commonly used, though roots can also be harvested from mature plants.
Cut leaves at the base using secateurs or a harvesting knife, leaving the crown intact so the plant can regrow. Multiple harvests are possible throughout the growing season, often 3–5 cuts in a good year.
For garden use, leaves can be harvested regularly for mulch, compost, or liquid feed.
Processing and Drying
For medicinal use, Comfrey leaves can be dried by laying them in a single layer on drying racks in a warm, shaded, well-ventilated place. Due to their high moisture content, they may take longer to dry than many herbs.
Dry at temperatures below 35°C until the leaves are fully crisp. Store in airtight containers away from light and moisture. Fresh leaves are often preferred for poultices, oils, and salves, as they retain their mucilage and active compounds well.
Herbal Preparations*
Comfrey is commonly prepared as an infused oil, salve, poultice, or compress for external application. Fresh leaves can be bruised and applied directly to minor injuries, while infused oils are often used in balms for muscles, joints, and skin repair. We use it in our Injury Healing Salve.
It is one of the classic herbs for bone healing, bruising, and tissue repair, often combined with other soothing and anti-inflammatory herbs in topical formulas.
In the garden, Comfrey leaves can also be fermented into a mineral-rich liquid fertiliser or used fresh as mulch around heavy-feeding plants.
*This information is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Always consult a qualified and registered herbal practitioner before using medicinal herbs therapeutically.
