3 Benefits of Comfrey

At Goat Milk Stuff, we're dedicated to sharing the countless benefits of using natural products in your daily routine. We love the benefits of goat milk for skin health but we also believe in the power of natural botanicals to enhance our lives.

One of our favorite plant ingredients is none other than comfrey. This powerful herb has been used for centuries for its healing properties, and we're excited to share three of our favorite benefits with you today.

"I have a number of skin problems and the Comfrey Salve seems to be helping with them all. I have used on various parts of my body and even my face and eyebrows." - Janice H.

With its many benefits, comfrey is an herb worth exploring for anyone looking to support their health and well-being naturally.

What is Comfrey?

Comfrey is an herbaceous perennial plant that belongs to the plant family Boraginaceae. Native to Europe, it was later introduced to North America and there are at least five comfrey species known.

Comfrey is a hardy shrub that can grow up to five feet tall and produces clusters of purple, pink, blue, and white bell-shaped flowers. Its leaves are long and slender while its roots have a black exterior. It has a long history of use in traditional medicine, primarily for the treatment of musculoskeletal ailments such as sprains, bruises, burns, and joint inflammation.

The active ingredient found in comfrey is allantoin; this component is derived from the leaves and roots of the plant. The allantoin promotes cell growth and may help to heal minor surface wounds and abrasions. Comfrey also contains other substances that could reduce inflammation, keeping the skin healthy.

"I ordered Comfrey for wounds for the first time. It arrived last week, and the day it arrived, my husband was outside talking to a neighbor, when he was stung by a bee. His arm turned nasty red and traveled up his entire forearm. I grabbed the Comfrey and told him to try it. By the next day, the redness had faded considerably. In two days, it had disappeared and the itching had stopped." - Sylvia I.

However, comfrey does come with risks that should be taken seriously. The plant contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, toxic substances that can damage the liver. Because of this, it should never be taken internally. It is also important to note that any product containing comfrey should not be used for prolonged periods of time because overuse could lead to liver damage.

Does Comfrey Speed Up Healing?

Comfrey is known to be an effective and speedy wound-healing remedy. As we mentioned earlier, allantoin is the key component in speeding up healing. This is because allantoin stimulates fibroblasts, the cells responsible for producing collagen and elastin.

These proteins are essential components of the extracellular matrix that gives skin structure and elasticity. Collagen provides tensile strength to the skin, while elastin allows it to stretch and bounce back. This process speeds up the healing process, reducing the time it takes for the skin to regenerate.

"I love the Comfrey Salve. My 10 month old came down with "scalded skin syndrome". He was hospitalized for 3 days. I used the salve on him when he came home from the hospital. It made the redness go away and helped with the flaking and dryness." - Katrina K.

While it is an excellent natural remedy, it should not be used on deep wounds or lacerations. Comfrey has been known to heal the top layer of the skin faster than the bottom layer, which could potentially result in an abscess. Therefore, it is best to avoid using comfrey for major skin wounds and stick to using it only for small injuries like cuts, scrapes, minor burns, and bites.

Since we have been making Comfrey Salve for years, we've discovered three benefits of using our salve.

Benefit #1: Comfrey May Help With Skin Regrowth

Our Comfrey Salve may aid in skin regeneration due to its natural healing properties. Whether you're struggling with cuts or abrasions, scrapes or stings, or even bug bites, applying comfrey topically could help soothe discomfort and promote healing.

"Your Comfrey Salve is by far, one of the most impressive products I have found...We have used your salve on cuts, burns and just about anything we can think of. I have rounds of psoriasis and sometimes it will crack and bleed. A little comfrey on a bandaid and overnight, the crack is closed over." - Katrina M.

The use of our Comfrey Salve may additionally help reduce scarring when restoring damaged skin to its former healthy state. We recommend limiting your use of our salve to no more than three times per day.

Benefit #2: Comfrey May Reduce Inflammation

Comfrey contains several bioactive compounds that have potent anti-inflammatory properties, including allantoin and rosmarinic acid.

Allantoin enhances cell proliferation and tissue regeneration, thereby accelerating wound healing and reducing inflammation. Rosmarinic acid helps to fight inflammation by inhibiting the production of prostaglandins, which are involved in pain and inflammation.

Comfrey also contains significant amounts of tannins, which possess astringent and antiseptic properties, helping to prevent and treat bacterial infections. These bioactive compounds work together to reduce inflammation, swelling, and pain, thus providing a natural and effective treatment for various ailments.

"I purchased the Comfrey Salve in the hope it would help heal my inflamed skin. I’ve never experienced eczema like this before … I used the salve on my arms and back - wasn’t sure at first but I’m seeing a lot of improvement!" - Cheryl L.

Benefit #3: Comfrey may help relieve sunburn

The third benefit is comfrey's ability to soothe the symptoms of sunburned skin. The plant's high allantoin content makes it an ideal ingredient in a natural sunburn remedy.

When you put comfrey lotion on your sunburned skin, the anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidants present in the herb could help to reduce inflammation and protect skin cells from harm.

"The Comfrey Salve healed an awful sunburn! I'm normally super vigilant about sunburns but got distracted and was bright red at the end of the day. 3 applications of the Comfrey Salve and, less than 12 hours later, there was no red left. No one believed that I'd been massively sunburned the day before!" - BJ

Furthermore, our salve can provide a protective barrier that could regulate skin moisture levels, potentially preventing the peeling and flakiness that often accompany sunburn. Applying comfrey-infused creams or ointments to sunburnt skin could also help prevent premature aging caused by sun exposure.

So, next time you find you need sunburn relief, comfrey may provide a natural and reliable solution for aiding the recovery of your skin that is not only safe, but also for many has been extremely effective.

Does Comfrey Really Heal the Skin?

Comfrey is a plant that has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries. But the question remains, does comfrey really heal the skin?

We definitely believe so! Comfrey has been used for over 2000 years as a traditional herbal remedy to help heal and regenerate skin cells. The name 'comfrey' itself comes from Latin and means 'to join together, to mend or to heal', which signifies its widespread use for centuries in aiding the healing of broken bones and wounds.

The plants' regenerative compounds such as allantoin, tannins, and rosmarinic acid have also been proven in studies to speed up the natural replacement of cells and encourage new tissue growth.

In fact, we found a recent study that shows that the application of comfrey cream led to a quicker regeneration of skin cells and an earlier differentiation of the cells towards a normal fine structure within 4-7 days. This visible distinction of epidermal strata, keratin, and corneocyte formation further highlights the potential of comfrey in healing skin.

"I had a recurring skin issue around my ankles. I’ve been to three doctors with it. Each had a different theory about it- and a different treatment. I finally ordered the Comfrey Salve. With the first application, the rash was gone in 24 hours." - Jackie M.

When it comes to rashes, insect bites, and bee stings, comfrey could work wonders, too. This is thanks to the anti-inflammatory properties of the rosmarinic acid it contains which is like a superhero for swollen bites and stings. Applying Comfrey Salve may soothe itchy insect bites and reduce pain from pesky bee stings. Comfrey could also be helpful for treating rashes. Basically, if you've got any kind of rash, bite, or sting, comfrey could be the answer. We think it's a must-have in any medicine cabinet.

In general, comfrey can be a wonderful skin healer in certain situations. But remember, comfrey contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, so those with liver problems should not use it without consulting their doctor first.

With that being said, many have tried using comfrey and found success without any adverse side effects. If you're interested in trying out this herb, it's best to start slow. Take note of how your skin reacts before utilizing this plant more regularly.

We believe that natural ingredients like comfrey can have incredible benefits for the skin. That's why we have included this powerful herb in our range of products. Whether you're dealing with skin irritation, damage, or a surface wound, comfrey could be just the natural solution you've been searching for. Try it out and see how it works for you!