Comfrey officinalis. Description, application

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Comfrey officinalis. Description, application
Comfrey officinalis. Description, application
Anonim

Comfrey has long been known for its medicinal properties. It was used by our distant ancestors to treat a huge number of diseases. Today, the plant has not lost its relevance. It is successfully used both in medicine and in cosmetology.

Description

comfrey officinalis
comfrey officinalis

Comfrey is a perennial herb. It has a short black rhizome with thick long branches. The stem is covered with stiff hairs and can reach a height of one meter. The plant branches towards the top. The leaves of comfrey are large, sprawling, oblong-lanceolate in shape, the surface is rough. A freshly crushed leaf smells like cucumber. In the period from May to July, comfrey blooms with small flowers of purple or purple. Fruit ripening occurs from July to September. The finished fruit is a pod with four shiny nuts.

Distribution locations

Comfrey is found in Central Asia, Western Siberia, the Carpathians, Russia, and the Caucasus. The plant thrives best in moist peat soil. Usually these are the banks of reservoirs, water meadows, forest edges.

Composition

Comfrey root, which is especially popular in medicine, contains alkaloids: cynoglossin and lysiocarpine. In addition, the roots contain essential oils, tannins, glycosides, starch, mucus, resins, gums, and so on.

comfrey root application
comfrey root application

Scope of application

The plant is used in medicine for a variety of ailments. They treat indigestion, ailments of the gastrointestinal tract, dysentery, bronchitis, cancer, arthritis, sciatica, infections in the oral cavity, and so on. Recently it has become very popular to use comfrey in cosmetology. It improves and evens out skin color, restores the epithelium. In aromatherapy, oils with comfrey extract are used. They prepare wonderful relaxing baths that quickly fill the body with energy and restore strength.

Plant properties

comfrey officinalis use
comfrey officinalis use

Comfrey is harvested in late autumn. For medicinal purposes, only the roots are used. They become the basis for decoctions and infusions. In this form, comfrey has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, hemostatic, enveloping and regenerating effects. A decoction of the roots is used to increase tone and appetite. Plant-based preparations have proven themselves well for the treatment of digestive disorders, gastrointestinal tract and ulcers. In order to relieve the symptoms of inflammation, comfrey is used in oncological diseases.

Contraindications

Comfrey, whose use in medicine is very extensive, has a number of contraindications. Despite the fact that it has a unique healing effect, it is forbidden to use it in a number of countries. The thing is that the plant is poisonous. In the course of numerous studies, it has been proven that comfrey-based preparations have carcinogenic and mutagenic effects with long-term consumption. In this regard, self-treatment is not recommended. You can take medicines only under the supervision of a doctor. Contraindications for taking are individual intolerance, pregnancy, low blood pressure.

Traditional medicine

The miraculous properties of the plant have been noticed by folk healers for a long time. Therefore, there are a large number of recipes based on comfrey. With its help, alcohol tinctures, infusions, ointments, powders, decoctions are made. The leaves contain allantoin. It promotes the fusion of bones, which means it significantly accelerates recovery from fractures. A slurry of leaves is applied to the sore spot, and a bandage is applied on top. However, this can only be done if a plaster cast is not used. Such compresses are good for bruises and thrombophlebitis.

comfrey officinalis
comfrey officinalis

Infusions

Comfrey infusions are taken orally for diseases of the digestive system, dysentery, bronchitis, tuberculosis. It is not difficult to make it. To do this, you need to take two teaspoons of the roots and pour warm boiled water (1.5 cups). Insist eight hours. After that, drain the liquid into a container. Roots re-fill with boiling water and leave for ten minutes. Mix liquids. Infusion should be drunk in small portions. You should drink about half a liter a day.

Ointment

comfrey officinalis
comfrey officinalis

For the treatment of polyarthritis, osteoarthritis, gout, osteochondrosis of the spine, rheumatoid arthritis, an ointment is used. You can cook it yourself. The roots of comfrey must be crushed to a state of powder. After that, mix with lard in a ratio of 1:4. Ointment should be stored in the refrigerator. It is applied to diseased areas, which are then wrapped with a warm cloth. It is best to do this at night.

Baths and compresses

For the treatment of diseased joints, a decoction of comfrey is made. 100 grams of roots are mixed with a liter of water and boiled for 10 minutes. Then the broth must be filtered. It can be added to the water when taking a bath or applied in the form of compresses. In any case, the effect will be achieved.

External use

Comfrey decoctions are taken for radiculitis, arthritis, in the form of rinses for purulent ulcers, diseases of the oral cavity, trophic ulcers. It is also effective in the treatment of oncological diseases of the prostate, lungs, and breast. The substances contained in the plant slow down the process of the appearance of metastases. Before use, be sure to consult your doctor.

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