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| Common Comfrey; Symphytum Officinale | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Feb 14 2011, 12:36 PM (1,450 Views) | |
| yass | Feb 14 2011, 12:36 PM Post #1 |
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note - I had all but forgotten about this old post. I had thought and wondered which post it was I had mustard seeds in but couldn't remember. Where this begins, and is primarily about Common Comfrey, it also features other herbs. I pretty much think in terms of the event in which people might have to rebuild their lives with the power structure gone-obsolete. I know, it's far fetched, but the idea is what would we want to carry with us should we end up living a life from scratch? Would we want to know how to make yellow mustard or Chinese hot mustard, or cheese rennet, or how to treat scabies? Well, that's where I was coming from and wanted to pass the information on for that reason. Many things we take for granted, like prepared mustard. It might be nice if we knew how to grow the things that make the products we enjoy. A Native American once expressed something along the lines that the only thing he needed to take with him for survival were his seeds. I first posted this in 2009. I'm pretty much going to post it as-is. I should note that I discovered Comfrey growing in the back yard where I live since posting this. This is sold out and out of stock everywhere... except B and T World Seeds, at which it appears to be in stock. These are excerpts from different sites about Common Comfrey. Comfrey Common Perennial Symphytum Officinale Zone 5 to 8 The peeled roots of common Comfrey are cut up and added to soups. A tea is made from the dried leaves and roots, the roasted roots are used with dandelion and chicory roots for making coffee. It can be cut several times per year and used as a valuable addition to the compost heap, a liquid feed containing potassium can be obtained by soaking the leaves for a week in a small amount of water, ideal for tomatoes. A magical herb with powers of money and safe travel. Flowers Pinkish, Purplish or White. This is an herb of Saturn, and I suppose under the sign Capricorn, cold, dry, and earthy in quality... the root boiled in water or wine, and the decoction drunk, helpeth all inward hurts, bruises, and wounds, and the ulcers of the lungs, causing the phlegm that oppresseth them to be easily spit forth Nicholas Culpeper In the late 1970s experimental data showed lab rats fed comfrey 3 to 4 times their body weight over a long period of time developed liver damage. It would take a human drinking 3 to 4 cups of comfrey tea for 140 years to acheive the same effect, still it must always be considered that what is safe for the majority can cause allergic reactions in a few. Herbalists are divided on the use of this age old herb, some say it should only be applied externally, others point to the fact that a cup of comfrey contains less cancer causing potential than a can of beer. This medicinal plant belongs to our most indispensable and valued herbs, which nature has in store for us. It grows in moist meadows, ditches and near streams, is found also near fences and in gravel pits, flowering all summer. The leaves are rough and pointed at the end.The several year old root, dark brown to black on the outside, white to yellowish within, is of the thickness of a thumb and, cut open, is sticky, almost slimy.The root is dug out in spring or autumn. The fresh plant is gathered before and during the time of flowering. The tincture of Comfrey, easily prepared, contains wonderful power. People, who suffer from rheumatism and swelling of joints and have been treated with other remedies without success, have found relief with Comfrey tincture. A woman could hardly use her right arm (the socket joint was almost unusable) and the doctor had already diagnosed paralysis. Following my advice, she rubbed the tincture into the joint of the right arm daily. From day to day she felt how her complaint eased. Today she can use her arm normally and can look after her household. The leaves of Comfrey, scalded and used as a poultice and applied to paralyzed limbs caused by over exertion, dislocation, sprain or shock, help overnight. My husband's aunt was hit by a motorcycle. She was taken to the hospital with a fracture of the hip joint; a pin was inserted and after she was cured, she left the hospital. After a year the pin should have been removed but since she had no pain and could walk soundly, she refrained from going to the arranged check-up. Everything seemed in good order, until one day she felt unbearable pain. The pin had to be removed and it was found that the bone was infected. Injections dulled the pain for short periods, but the infections did not heal. In this state she came to visit us, a picture of misery. I can state without exaggeration that warm poultices of Comfrey helped overnight. Next day the woman was able to sit and lie without pain. Since only small pieces of Comfrey roots were available in herbal shops, the clever aunt dried them a little more in the oven and ground them with a coffee grinder (a poppyseed grinder does it as well). She applied these poultices (see "directions") until she had no more complaints. Knobs on the joints of hands and feet are made to disappear with these poultices. I would like to point out that the Comfrey rneal itself, applied as a poultice, gives ease in paraplegia. Warm poultices are helpful in varicose ulcers, muscular rheumatism, gout stones, ulcers, neck pains, painful amputation stumps, and periostitis itself. A tea can be prepared from the roots and used internally for bronchitis, disorders of the digestive system, bleeding in the stomach and pleurisy. 2 to 4 cups are sipped during the day. For stomach ulcers a tea of 100 gm. Comfrey, 50 gm. Calendula and 50 gm. Knot grass (Polygnom aviculare) is recommended (see "directions"). Once again I would like to mention the Comfrey tincture. As a compress it is used most successfully for external and internal wounds, all sorts of injuries, bruises, contusions, ecchymosis and bone fractures. The leaves of Comfrey are not only used as poultices but also as additions to baths for rheumatic complaints, gout, painful bones, slipped discs and defective circulation. For defective circulation in the legs, varicose veins and as supplementary treatment of bone fractures. Comfrey sitz baths are taken. In an old German recipe Comfrey leaves are dipped into a light batter and fried in oil.There is goodness there for the whole family. |
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| yass | Feb 14 2011, 12:36 PM Post #2 |
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Common Comfrey Symphytum Officinale   |
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| yass | Feb 14 2011, 12:37 PM Post #3 |
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I was originally shopping and looking around at Nicky's Nursery which I found through a search for Black mustard seeds, Brassica nigra, which is what is used to make Chinese hot mustard. After reading descriptions and preparing an order at Nicky's Nursery, I saw that they don't ship to the USA........bummer! Especially after all the time, thought, and effort I put into it. But one thing I can say, Nicky's is a great site to read about some very interesting plants, and the plant names can be taken elsewhere to locate the seeds if desired, or to find more information. Here's Nicky's Nursery and B and T World Seeds addies: http://www.nickys-nursery.co.uk/seeds/pages/wild.htm http://b-and-t-world-seeds.com/homepage.htm A little more on mustard seeds, the yellow prepared mustard you buy from the grocery store is made with white mustard seeds, Brassica alba, Sinapis alba, it is ground, colored with turmeric, and made into a paste using white wine, or vinegar, and sugar. White mustard seeds are available at Chiltern Seeds and B and T World Seeds carries both white and black mustard seeds, Brassica nigra, and Brassica alba, also called Sinapis alba. http://www.chilternseeds.co.uk/chilternseeds/211/index/ I wouldn't mind at all continuing to post about plants and growing here. |
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| yass | Feb 14 2011, 12:38 PM Post #4 |
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      Black mustard     White mustard Some references Buy yellow mustard seeds for pickling mixtures, black mustard seeds for Indian cooking, or mustard powder to make English- or Chinese-style prepared hot mustard. http://www.chow.com/ingredients/310 Chinese hot mustard is made with dry mustard - mustard that has been dried sufficiently so that when crushed it forms a powder. http://chinesefood.about.com/library/blchineseing8.htm |
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| yass | Feb 14 2011, 12:39 PM Post #5 |
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  Ladies bedstraw   Cardoon Ladies Bedstraw Galium verum - Yellow Bedstraw, Cheese Rennet. Heads of four tiny petalled flowers borne on stems bearing rings of needle type leaves. When dried the plant has a smell of new-mown hay and was formerly used for making bedding, legend has it that Mary gave birth to Jesus on a bed of Lady's Bedstraw. A food plant for caterpillars. The plant is used as a household remedy for relief from kidney and bladder complaints, the roots were once used for red dye and the stem and leaves for a yellow dye. Grow in ordinary well drained soil in a sunny position. This is a different variety of Ladies Bedstraw than the Ladies Bedstraw which grows in America and which we offer in the Green Hope collection. This cousin to the new world Ladies Bedstraw is a kindred spirit with some common areas of service as well as its own unique gifts. Unlike the American version with its tiny white Flowers, this variety of Ladies Bedstraw is a rich golden yellow. Growing abundantly on Omey, its tiny Flowers created a golden haze of blossoms sitting just above the low growing magenta Thyme blossoms which also covered the island. During the middle ages, Ladies Bedstraw was used to fasciltate easier childbirth. With its lovely perfume, it was also used as a fragrant stuffing for mattresses. Coumarin is part of its chemistry. Then and now this is a known anti coagulant. However, in all my conversations with this Flower, it stressed that its great gifts as a Flower Essence concern the mental body NOT the physical body. "I AM a great untangler of mental knots, anxieties, worries and other concerns that can fill the night hours when restful sleep would serve a better purpose. Consider me when your nighttime thoughts go in anxious, unsettled, agitated, or restless directions and sleep eludes you. I smooth and calm your mental field by helping you untangling and release habitual mental tangles. I AM a great help to chronic worriers. I help you unburden yourself from these worry habits. Yes, I get things untangled, released and flowing in the mental body which of course makes physical clots and blockages that much more unlikely. This is because the underlying mental tangles which can lead to physical blockages have been released." I AM the complete untangling and full release of mental tangles. http://www.greenhopeessences.com/Ireland/L...esbedstraw.html Ladies Bedstraw (galium verum) is abundant on dry banks, chiefly near the sea. Its small, bright yellow flowers are closely clustered together in dense panicles at the tops of the wiry, square, upright stems, which are 1 to 3 feet high, and bear numerous very narrow, almost thread-like leaves, placed six to eight together in whorls. The flowers are in bloom in July and August. It is variously known as Our Lady's Bedstraw. Yellow Bedstraw. Maid's Hair. Petty Mugget. Cheese Renning. Cheese Rennet. It is still used to but to a limited extent, as a popular remedy in gravel, stone and urinary diseases but it was highly esteemed as a remedy for epilepsy and hysteria in the past, and was applied externally in cutaneous eruptions, in the form either of the recently expressed juice, or of a decoction from the fresh plant. It has little or no odour but has an astringent, acidulous and bitterish taste. The plant has the property of curdling milk, hence another of its popular names ' Cheese Rennet.' It was called ' Cheese Renning' in the sixteenth century, and Gerard says (quoting from Matthiolus, a famous commentator of Dioscorides), the people of Thuscane do use it to turne their milks and the cheese, which they make of sheepes and goates milke, might be the sweeter and more pleasant to taste. Cheshire especially around Nantwich, where the best cheese is made, do use it in their rennet, esteeming greatly of that cheese above other made without it. The rich colour of this cheese was probably originally derived from this plant, though it is now obtained from annatto. The Highlanders also made special use of Yellow Bedstraw to curdle milk and colour their cheese, and it has been used in Gloucestershire for the same purpose, either alone or with the juice of the stinging-nettle. It can be used to furnish a yellow dye from the fresh leaves and tips whilst the root makes a red dye. http://www.luminescents.co.uk/catalog/prod...roducts_id=1139 Rennet, or Runnet, properly denotes the coagulated milky substance which is found in the stomachs of calves, that have received no other nourishment than the maternal milk. It is, however, generally applied to signify the stomach itself, which possesses equal properties. The rennet commonly employed, consists of the inner membrane of a calf's stomach, which is cleaned, salted, and suspended in paper bags.. Previously to its use, the salt is extracted by washing the rennet, which is soaked in a little water during the night; and, in the morning, the infusion is poured into the milk, with a view to coagulate this fluid. As the preparation now stated, greatly contributes to the superior quality of English cheese, the proper ma-nagement of it ought to be con-ducted with the strictest attention to cleanliness: the reader will, therefore, find a receipt for making an excellent, rennet, in the article CHEESE, vol.i. p. 497.. It sometimes happens, however, that no rennet, sufficiently good for curdling milk, can be procured: hence various plants have been ad-vantageously substituted, and found to answer the same purpose. The principal.of these are the flowers of the Cheese-rennet, or Yellow Ladies Bed-straw (Galium, verum L.) used in England ; and the Car-doon (Cynara cardunculus L.) in Spain. A strong infusion is made of the down of the latter vegetable in the evening ; and, on the succeeding morning, half a pint is poured among fourteen gallons of new milk, which is thus effectually coagulated, and in consequence produces a delicious cheese. http://chestofbooks.com/reference/The-Dome...ol3/Rennet.html seed sources ladies bedstraw Galium verum http://www.nickys-nursery.co.uk/seeds/pages/wild.htm image source http://www.pbase.com/grahamcheckley/image/63867197 Cardoon Cynara cardunculus http://www.chilternseeds.co.uk/chilternsee...on/pid/31500099 |
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| yass | Feb 14 2011, 12:39 PM Post #6 |
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excerpted from: A FARM PROJECT: COMFREY LEAF AND ROOT Market - Change in politics and belief systems CULTURAL PROBLEMS - Grass control first two years MARKETING PROBLEMS - New market for cattle feedlots Description: This hard perennial is native to Eurasia, and naturalized in North America. The erect growing herb can reach the height of one meter. Characteristically covered with a prickly pubescence, the plant develops flowers colored from white to purple, a thick, externally black root, and relatively large leaves. Perennial, 30 to 120 cm tall, on thick brownish-black rootstock. Leaves and stems erect, with stiff hairs. Lower leaves to 25 cm long, petiole, lanceolate, hairy beneath. Upper leaves narrower. Flowers purplish, pinkish, or yellow-white, in crowded terminal cymes; appearing early Summer to early Autumn. History: Since certain strains of the Leaf contain almost 35% protein, vitamin B12, and the cell-proliferate allantoin, attempts have been made to extract it for human consumption. Comfrey is, however, an important feed in some parts of the world. It is also grown as an organic compost and mulch. It reached the top of it’s fame in 1974, when Celestial Seasonings used it in many of their herbal tea blends. That year they imported some Comfrey from Brazil which was infested with Woody Nightshade. A number of people were poisoned, so Celestial Seasonings, in a vane attempt at damage control, immediately removed it from their blends. What happened next was that Oregon State University and Washington State University conducted some studies to determine the content of oxalic acid and pyrillozine alkaloids present, thinking this is what poisoned Celestial Seasoning’s consumers. Their studies showed that there were toxic levels in both the leaf and root. The two studies were flawed however, as the plant sources they used were over six years old, with no previous harvests of the leaf. Further studies would eventually show that there was essential not toxic value of alkaloids in leaf that had been cut from the plant prior to 10% flowering (much like Alfalfa). Canada, then, without even studying the Leaf correctly, made Comfrey illegal for human consumption, just on the flawed studies from the two Universities. This severely limited the future use of Comfrey at that time. If Comfrey is not cut at this stage of growth, then the Leaf tends to become more root-like in both alkaloid content and texture. In some private studies conducted with Honda Corp. in Osaka, their feedlots were three 60-story buildings. Not being outside, the cattle were rampant with disease. When fed a 605-Comfrey/40% Alfalfa pellet, however, virtually all diseases were eliminated. Chemistry: Both Leaf and Root have been used medicinally. The plant root has a large content of mucilage, allantoin, symphytine, echimidine, isobauerenol, beta-sitoosterol, tannins, and lasicarpine. The tannins are responsible for the astringent properties of the plants parts, and the allantoin mucilage accounts for a demulcent activity. The pyrrolozidine alkaloids are potentially toxic, but not harmful in the small amounts ingested by humans. Usage: Comfrey Leaf is used as an external remedy as a poultice. In dehydrated and/or pellet form it makes a useful cattle fodder. It is also used as an adulterant of digitalis leaf. Rich in vitamin B12, amino acids, and proteins. Comfrey Root is a demulcent used in cough mixtures in the form of a decoction. Cam be combined with Dandelion and Chicory for use in a non-caffinated “coffee” substitute. Comfrey is also used in cosmetic products, such as Nexus Hair Conditioner. Field Production: Raising Seedlings: Usually always grown from rootstock, not seed. Cultivation: Comfrey is cultivated from rootstock. Roots from an older field are quartered and cut into 3 to 5 inch lengths, by hand. They are planted 1.5 to 2.0 inches deep and one foot apart in rows (some recommended planting 4 inches deep, but this can lead to rotting before emergence); 17 to 20 inch furrows. Some 6 to 10 inches of rootstock can be taken from an established field every fourth year, with one acre reseeding five. Fertilization: Likes nitrogen to encourage the lush leaf growth. Manure adds too many weeds. The taproot can grow to six feet within three years. Irrigation: Comfrey likes a heavy irrigation which it sets up its root system the first year, probably as much as a five-day rotation on well drained soils. Weed Control: Weed control is done by cultivation, however, when the field begins to mature somewhat an “umbrella effect” markedly discourages weed growth. The broad Comfrey leaves compete successfully with many weeds. Insects & Diseases: None cited. Harvesting: Comfrey should be cut before 10% of the crop goes to flower. It cannot be dried in the sun because of high mucilage. Even pellet milled Comfrey will rot from the center. The best form of harvest is to cut at 6 inches from the ground with a side-bar cutter, attempting not to bruise the Leaf as this darkens it. Root harvest can be done with potato digging equipment, taking care to pile and cover the Roots with tarps, or at least keep them from exposure to the drying effects of the sun. Yields: Yields in dry weight for a field established for four year or more can be five ton per acre on four cuttings. With heavy irrigation, up to six cuttings are available in some regions. Tabin, S. , Berbeck, S., and Bobrzynski, T. The yields of sever ecotypes of Symphytum officinale [in Polish}. Hodowls Rosl. Aklim. Nassienn. 17: 505-511. Drying: Let the cut Leaf come to a 50% sun-cure wilt, and then pick it up with a flail-chop to be taken to a drying facility (i.e. Hop Kiln, Corn Dryer, etc.]. Tobacco dryers and plywood kilns are other alternatives for dryers. Comfrey is easy to grow, but the key to success with this crop lies in proper dehydration and handling. Processing: Besides processing the Leaf for the greenish powder, and harvesting the underground Root for drying, there is an opportunity to produce cattle feed alternatives as a 60% Comfrey/40% Alfalfa pellet. This constitutes a “whole food” for cattle. Storage: Both Leaf and dried Root should be kept in average room temperature and humidity for long-term storage. Store to eliminate the potential for insects, rodent contamination, and yeast and molds. http://www.nwbotanicals.org/oak/altagri/farmproject.htm |
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| yass | Feb 14 2011, 12:40 PM Post #7 |
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What interested me about Common Comfrey, primarily, is that it makes good plant food, especially for tomatoes. You're supposed to soak the leaves in cold water for a few days until it smells real bad and that's when you use it to fertilize. It has such a bad smell, I read in one article, that people who have smelled it can't imagine ever making Comfrey into a tea and drinking it. It's really cool that the seed has been out of stock just about everywhere for one reason; all I've learned in the process of looking for it. It's invaluable. |
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| yass | Feb 14 2011, 12:41 PM Post #8 |
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For Reference: If you want to take the mystery out of when the last frost date is for your area, you can check it here. This contains station freeze/frost probability tables for each state. http://cdo.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/climateno...LIM2001&subrnum Seems to me my grandma used to use a Farmers Almanac. She used the outdoor planting table which identifies the best days and Moon phases for planting vegetables. Only thing, times have changed... that is, there are a lot of choices now... hard back, soft back, calendars, Almanacs for kids, digital Almanacs, and some really cool vintage reprints of the Farmers Almanac's of 1909 and 1809. The Gardening Calender is a best seller, probably because it contains the planting guides which is the primary tool gardeners like to use for planting. So, if you can make up your mind and keep your budget too... http://www.almanac.com/ Mother Earth News is having a sale right now it is $10 for 6 months/6 issues. That's for USA only. I really like the information at the website but I don't care for the constant pop ups at all. http://www.motherearthnews.com/ I ran across just a few seed sites that had seeds I was searching for... but they had old dates posted, like 2008, 2007, 2005... but no 2009 date listed. You could order, and they had a hook up to Paypal, but I was very leery and opted to back right on out. Any company that I'm not familiar with goes right into search and what I discovered through this process is a valuable resource called Daves Garden Watchdog. You'll get valuable feedback on this site. "The Garden Watchdog is a free directory of 6,811 mail order gardening companies. Here gardeners share their opinions on which companies really deliver on quality, price and service." http://davesgarden.com/products/gwd/ |
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| yass | Feb 14 2011, 12:41 PM Post #9 |
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What Ralph, at B and T World Seeds shared with me: Yes, Comfrey is wonderful stuff - many years ago I came off my motorbike onto a gravelled surface and skidded several yards on the palms of my hands. Steamed poultices of comfrey ointment grew the skin back in about three weeks - my doctor couldn't believe his eyes, and didn't want to believe how I'd done it either. And it makes the most enriching compost, too.  |
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| yass | Feb 14 2011, 12:42 PM Post #10 |
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Scabious Field - Knautia arvensis A biennial plant or short lived perennial. Flowers Bluish lilac. Old herbal remedy to treat scabies. Habitat grassland, open woods and hedge-banks.  |
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| yass | Feb 14 2011, 12:43 PM Post #11 |
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If you lived in the UK, you could probably get one of these nifty things to grow your potatoes in. Unfortunately, though I sincerely sought after it, I found no way of getting one of these in or to the USA. Spud bag |
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| yass | May 3 2013, 11:30 PM Post #12 |
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Sorry for this mixed up thread  , it's one of my first and came the way it got put together. Back to comfrey  I am reading in a thread at DI now... Regrow your teeth. It's interesting. Will bring over the comfrey portions. First, from Natural News: http://www.naturalnews.com/029112_teeth_regeneration.html
The above two quotes are from beldazar's post the second of which actually contradicts what I'd read before (about taking comfrey internally): http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/learn/comfrey_root.php |
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| yass | May 3 2013, 11:33 PM Post #13 |
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Excerpt from a 3 page article:
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