Comphrey, the wonder plant

That is interesting, that it is used as a fertiliser. I have never heard of it. Yesterday when I googled translator I must have been drowsy and clicked it wrongly, as I didn´t get the answer what is comfrey. Today I found it and I realise it is the same plant my parents used to treat my broken leg. They used bruised root for several months and the injury healed without operation which was declared inevitable by doctors. I remember that the old lady who was specialist in herbs, recommende 2-year old root, which has the highest content of medical substances. It is very good for all kind of joint problems and injuries of the soft tissues too. I would like to grow it too in my garden, the problem is, my garden is very sunny and dry and Comfrey likes some shade and wet soil.
But interesting, thank you. Will wait for what happens next year, :))

P.S. What is "bobs your uncle"? :)

thats a useful blog stevie, i put it in my favourites ~ loadsa info thanks!!!!

would you use the same method for nettles? [ie putting the leaves and stalks in water and then watering down to feed to the plants?

:)) Steve left, no answers :)

Lol sorry Kat, ''bobs your uncle'' means "And there you have it" meaning job done : )

Not so sure about nettles Sticki, however when out there with the scythe I must have put tons of it on the compost. However fermented comphrey juice is top notch as a fertilizer, I guess the same treatment for nettles would be ok but maybe wouldn't have the same constituents.

I Think comphrey is rich in K,N & P, potash (potassium or K – great for flowering), high levels of Nitrogen (N) for leaves and Phosphorous (P) for roots. Whilst nettles are more just nitrogen (well so says a quick google ; )

One of the links Kat talks about it being used for healing, bones etc. I suspect that as this plant is so tough (like Hemp) it must be very healhty for you. I might research how you can take it as a possible nutrient.

Lol, Steve, I am not experimental rabbit :)))

Definitely going to try it next year. End of August is the last time we should feed plants. But how about my houseplants? Might give it a try. Is there anything left Stevie?
And a question - what is this funny (sorry for an expression) white watering can like thingy?

It is recycled pot from the liquid used for washing front windows on a car.

oh, really? I thought it was Stevie's prototype of watering can, lol...

Very imformative blog Stevie, also added to favs for future reference, I used to collect nettles and various rubbish in a can to make liquid feed, it was very good actually, I think I`ll have to give it another go, I only stopped because of the smell, wasn`t bothered for myself but a bit concerned in case the neighbours complained, lol....

Am adding to faves as will never remember it all otherwise. Comfrey used to be called 'Knitbone' for its healing properties - wonderful plant. Gnuts - wonderful cat - love him.

And Bob's your Uncle. Lol!!
Great, information blog Stevie. It reminds me that I still have a very rank tub of nettles which I forgot to use. Will it be extra potent next year?!

Great info Stevie, didnt know that comfrey was good for the garden. Have you got rid of all your nettles because they are good for butterflies/caterpillars etc.? I like the flower on the comfrey too very pretty.

Thanks you GM, I've only discovered it over the last couple of years. In a word, no lol, over on where the veg patch is used to be penned off with pigs when the place was a farm so thought the soil is rich its perfect for nettles and they have rooted everywhere. However I have won the battle for a corner and so have gone along the back where the nettles have controlled.

Lulu , you'll have to water it down a bit I suspect

and yes i suspected it had some good nutritional value TB as I have just leaned its good for bones etc, will research how you can apply/ingest that

If this link works, take a look at what it says!
http://herbsarespecial.com.au/free-herb-information/comfrey.html :)

WHAT AN INFORMATIVE BLOG:-))))))))

Stevie old dear. I think you will have to dig out every bit of those yellow Nettle roots, and burn them. Only way to get rid of Nettles. The tops may be alright, but not the roots.

Wow Gm thats a great link, hmm bad for the liver then ah not so bad after all. I will certainly look into it more and definately be making a cream and maybe more : ) thanks.

Db its only the one part thats is choker block so will see if my comphrey experiment works first, they can be scythed anyway. For other areas hope to get a mower and stick some bigger wheels on it : )

Just out mowing my lawn and remembered an account I read many years ago. A farmer had a lamb with an infected leg. The vet had been in for weeks, trying to cure this infection, without success. He said he would have to destroy this lamb. The farmer didnt want to lose it.

The farmer's wife was there, she said " Could it have one more week ?" Her husband agreed.

She went out into the garden, and picked a bunch of Comfrey leaves, presumably Comfrey Vulgaris as thats the common one. Took them into the house, and wrapped them round the lamb's leg, covering them tightly with an old crepe bandage so they wouldnt fall off.

She put the lamb outside again with the flock. Then forgot about it. Three weeks later she remembered.
Fetched the lamb in again. Removed the crepe bandage and the Comfrey leaves. The leg was completely cured.

perhaps we should all be growing comfrey!

Definitely Stikki. I tried a leaf on a cut once, it was too rough. Made my skin itch. The ones used as 'Wound Heal' must have been a different variety, maybe Comfrey officionalis, the white flower.

In Europe there grows only one variety -Symphytum officinalis and only roots are used for medical purposes. I never heard about white flowers on Comphrey. Must have been something else, Dbulley.

Katarina i grow comfrey here, it is just as unstoppable as in the slightly damper uk, lol. it is the pink variety

:)

Will get back to you all on how it goes. definately going to have a go at comphrey fritters : )

This recipe was in the link I posted above :

Comfrey Cream

To make an ointment to use externally, take 1 cup of finely cut comfrey root and simmer in 1 cup of olive oil until it starts to soften. Cool and strain. Add 50g of beeswax (usually available from supermarkets). Jasmine or orange blossoms may be added to the simmering mixture, to give the cream a pleasant smell. The cream is used to relieve pain and aid healing of cuts, bites, sprains, arthritis, inflammation and neuralgia.

I took out one remedy usage as it was a personal one!!
Think where some folk have been going wrong using the leaves rather than the root!!

I like the sound of those fritters!

I wonder if a comfrey poultice would help Davids still sore and unmovable arm?

Give it a go Lulu, why not : )

Lou, have you seen the above recipe?? Go on give it a try.

it surely cant hurt can it? nothing to lose and you might find a fantastic cure ~ hope so!

stevie will be selling it along with the plants

Great idea Sticki, can you get hold of 'beeswax' easily?

im not sure 'beeswax' products seem to be very expensive!! there is a house up the road from here selling honey ~ i wonder if they have any wax to sell?

hhmmm. worth a try Sticki, do you think chemists stock it?

dont know ~ but also worth a try!

there is beeswax polish of course!!??

a place that sells home made candles probably has some ~ not cheap though?

i wonder if that manuka honey would do instead ~ or the honeycomb????

Sticki, they sell it on Amazon!!!! Just found it. If you google 'purchase beeswax' up pops a few options!! Think the polish would not be pure enough! and yes candle places should have some, also Manuka would not be pure enough either as they all have different properties in the products.

i dont like the smell of the polish!!!

well done GM ~ what would we do without amazon!

No need to even move off our chairs Sticki. Lol I love the smell of real polish especially on church pews!

:-)

I have some beeswax but have no comphrey!

Could do a swop ; ) I'll bring you some root stems

a comfrey cream making workshop???

Great idea! 3 heads, better than one!

we need mosaic pots to put it in too!!!

LoL. Am sure that can be arranged!

Going to have a go at something tomorrow, stay tuned ; )

Excellent! I think David needs some if you can make a magic potion for his shoulder?

:) =? @ !!

Cream Lulu ;)

I've now lost my bees wax!

Where can it be?

I might just remember!!
Dear David found my hidden jewellery case....I'd hidden it and then forgot...for a year! We at last found it last night!

going to make something tomorrow and will put a pic on then or Monday ok.
''lost my bees wax''! I'm too not always firing on all cylinders ; )

Hmtph, or something like that...I don't seem to be firing at all!! Must be the high altitude with those shoes!

if you click their heels together will you go to kansas?

Probably explode Sticki!

oh no!

Now see here yous, special offer!!!!!!!!
http://www.growsonyou.com/photo/slideshow/257808

just wondered if you could update the progress and success of the comphey project

Hi SS, had a look over on the patch yesterday, all delayed due to the weather but there a few small shoots appearing but the nettles dont seem to have gotten a head start yet. Will have to wait n see if they over come the nettles.

I plan to be alot more proactive this year to pull nettles out when they come but am also planning to eat alot of the nettle leaves as they have good nutritional value, needs must. Will also compost and make some comfrey/nettle combo feed this year.
Will update as I go