Herb of the Week: Comfrey (Symphytum officinale)

Herb of the Week: Comfrey (Symphytum officinale)

Comfrey is often called “knitbone,” and for good reason. This resilient, nutrient-dense herb has long been used to support healing of bones, tissues, and skin. It carries the energy of regeneration... a reminder that the body has an incredible capacity to repair itself when nourished and supported.

Known for its soothing, cell-regenerating properties, comfrey works as both a topical healer and an internal tonic (when used with care). It invites us to slow down, tend to what’s broken, and trust the natural pace of recovery.

Botanical Snapshot

  • Latin Name: Symphytum officinale
  • Family: Boraginaceae
  • Common Names: Comfrey, Knitbone, Boneset, Bruisewort
  • Parts Used: Root and leaves
  • Native Range: Europe and temperate regions of Asia; naturalized worldwide

According to Plants of the World Online (Kew), Symphytum officinale is the accepted botanical name for comfrey, a perennial herb recognized for its rich mucilage content and traditional role in wound and bone healing.

Energetics & Herbal Actions

Comfrey is cooling, moistening, and grounding. It brings calm to inflammation, hydration to dryness, and strength to weakened tissues.

Herbal Actions

  • Demulcent (soothes and hydrates tissues)
  • Vulnerary (heals wounds and tissues)
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Cell proliferant (promotes tissue regeneration)
  • Astringent
  • Mild expectorant

Therapeutic Uses

Tissue & Bone Healing
Comfrey root contains allantoin, a compound known to stimulate cell regeneration. It’s often used in poultices, salves, and compresses for bruises, sprains, broken bones, and wounds — helping tissues knit back together more quickly.

Skin Health
Its demulcent and astringent properties make it ideal for soothing burns, rashes, and irritated skin. Comfrey-infused oils and salves are staples in herbal first aid kits.

Respiratory & Digestive Support
When used internally (traditionally, though now with caution), comfrey soothes mucous membranes of the lungs and digestive tract. Herbalists historically used comfrey leaf tea for coughs, ulcers, and intestinal irritation.

Muscle & Joint Care
Comfrey’s cooling and anti-inflammatory nature helps ease soreness, arthritis, and strained muscles when used externally.

Contraindications & Safety

  • Internal use: Modern safety guidelines recommend avoiding internal use of comfrey due to the presence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), which may be toxic to the liver in large or prolonged doses.
  • External use: Considered safe for topical application on intact skin. Avoid applying to deep or open wounds until they are clean — comfrey can close tissue too quickly before infection is cleared.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding: Avoid internal use. Topical use may be considered safe with professional guidance.

Folklore & History

  • Comfrey’s name comes from the Latin “confervere,” meaning “to grow together.”
  • In traditional European herbalism, comfrey was a symbol of healing, unity, and recovery.
  • Folk healers carried comfrey root to promote resilience and safe travel.
  • It was historically brewed into teas and used in salves for wounds, bruises, and broken bones - earning its enduring nickname, knitbone.

Practical Ways to Work with Comfrey

  • Salve or Balm: Use comfrey-infused oil for bruises, sprains, and sore muscles.
  • Poultice: Apply mashed fresh leaves or a paste of dried root to the skin for external healing.
  • Infused Oil: Blend dried comfrey leaves or root into carrier oil for several weeks, then strain for use in healing blends.
  • Bath: Add comfrey infusion to bathwater to soothe muscles and nourish skin.

✨ My favorite way: using comfrey-infused oil in my Moonbeam Medicine healing salves... it brings an earthy, nurturing energy to every blend.


Comfrey is the medicine of renewal. It reminds us that healing takes time, and that restoration is a process of gentle persistence. As we mend physically, emotionally, or spiritually, comfrey whispers, “You are capable of growing whole again.”

References & Further Reading

Back to blog