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Comfrey has been used medicinally for thousands of years to reduce pain and promote healing. Modern peer-reviewed studies are finding that topical comfrey preparations, such as comfrey salve and comfrey cream, are incredibly effective herbal pain relievers.
Common comfrey (Symphytum officianale) and Russian Comfrey (S. uplandicum) are fast-growing leafy plants that are considered invasive in some areas. They spread rapidly, and are incredibly difficult to control because new plants can sprout from even tiny sections of root left in the soil.
They’re popular in permaculture gardening circles because of their ability to pull micro-nutrients from deep in the soil, and the tops are cut and applied in a number of ways as soil amendments.
Whether or not it’s a good idea to plant comfrey in your garden is up for debate, and you’ll need to cut it several times a season to keep it under control. That just means you’ll have plenty of potent medicine to harvest (and a great source of nutrient-rich mulch).
If you don’t have comfrey growing nearby, you can still make comfrey salve with either dried comfrey leaf or comfrey root, both of which can be purchased online. If you’re just hoping to find a ready-made salve and skip the DIY portion, I’d suggest checking on Etsy for small-scale cottage industry salve producers.
Comfrey’s medicinal benefits are well known, and even if you choose not to grow it for practical reasons, it’s easy enough to purchase dried comfrey leaves or dried roots for herbal remedies (either can be used to make comfrey salve).
I use comfrey salve to treat my chronic low back pain, brought long summer days in the garden and winters hauling a heavy chainsaw around our woodland homestead cutting firewood.
While historically comfrey was taken internally for all manner of issues (including broken bones), it’s now known to be potentially damaging to the liver when consumed, and it’s best avoided. Topically though, comfrey is still in common use for pain relief and minor wounds.
(Always consult your doctor or a clinical herbalist before trying any new herbal remedy, as there’s always the possibility of unintended consequences, allergic reaction, or interactions with other medication. If you’re harvesting wild plant material, make sure you’re 100% confident in your identification and consult multiple sources for your ID. The following is based on my research and experience, but I don’t claim to have any certifications that would qualify me to advise you on your health. Please do your own research and always verify with multiple reputable sources.)
Benefits of Comfrey
Comfrey has been shown to reduce inflammation, reduce pain, and speed skin healing. It contains allantoin, a substance believed to promote healing by stimulating the growth of new cells.
Since it’s potentially toxic taken internally, these days comfrey is only used topically as a herbal salve or cream. Salves are easy to make and require minimal ingredients and equipment.
They’re also simple to use and can store for extended periods (1-2 years) without spoiling or losing potency. Comfrey cream and comfrey ointments also work well, and I’ll cover those later on.
Herbalists commonly recommend comfrey salves for sprains, strains, muscle pain, arthritis, bruises, and fractures.
But what does the science say?
Back Pain
The British Journal of Sports Medicine found that topical comfrey creams were incredibly effective at treating acute back pain. The study found that pain intensity decreased by 95.2% in the comfrey treated group, as opposed to 37.8% in the placebo group.
Most notably, the study found that comfrey is fast-acting, with relief experienced in about an hour!
The study concluded that “comfrey root extract showed a remarkably potent and clinically relevant effect in reducing acute back pain.”
Osteoarthritis
Multiple studies have shown that comfrey salves reduced pain and increased mobility in patients with osteoarthritis.
A study on osteoarthritis of the knee found that pain was reduced by more than 50% with comfrey creams, as opposed to 10-15% with placebo during a 3 week study period. Another similar study confirms these results (but also noted a few cases of a topical skin reaction to comfrey.)
While pain is reduced and mobility increased, yet another study went further and found that though the symptoms are reversed, the actual measurable inflammation and cartilage breakdown within the knee are not improved.
It seems that comfrey may reduce osteoarthritis pain and symptoms, but it’s not actually healing the underlying condition.
Sprains
Comfrey’s pain-relieving effects are helpful in treating the pain associated with joint sprains, and one study found that topical applications of comfrey are as effective as synthetic prescription pain-relieving gels. The study only addressed pain symptoms, however, and didn’t investigate whether comfrey creams helped to heal sprains.
Precautions for Use
Do not ingest comfrey! Comfrey isn’t for internal use and you should never ingest comfrey in any form. Older herbals recommended consuming comfrey to help with bone healing, but that’s no longer recommended due to the risk of liver poisoning (and death in high enough doses).
Comfrey varies in constituents based on the strain, and it’s possible that the strains of comfrey consumed in medieval Europe were kept specifically for internal use. Those strains are no longer kept (or if they are, their ID and use aren’t certain). These days it’s impossible to know if some strains are safer than others without individual chemical analysis, and even then it’s not worth the risk.
Skin reactions have been reported in a small number of people in the clinical trials I mention, and there’s always the possibility of an allergy. I’d suggest doing a small patch test before using too much for the first time, just to be sure that you don’t have a reaction. That goes for any topical herbal remedy, not just comfrey salve.
Comfrey is for external use only, which is why a comfrey salve is an excellent way to use it.
Making Comfrey Salve
Making a homemade comfrey salve follows the same process as making any other herbal salve. It all starts with making a herbal infused oil.
The infused oil is then thickened with melted beeswax before pouring into containers to harden.
Making an Infused Oil
Infused oils are best made with dried herbs and a bit of patience. The dried herb material won’t cause the oil to go rancid while infusing, as opposed to wet herb material.
Fill a jar about 2/3rds full with dried comfrey leaves or dried comfrey root. Cover with a neutral oil, such as olive oil, and allow the herbs to infuse into the oil for about 4-6 weeks before straining.
If you’re using fresh herbs, or trying to make comfrey salve in less than 4-6 weeks, try the heat infusion method. Start by chopping the fresh herbs to expose more surface area.
Place the fresh or dried herbs in a jar, cover with oil and then place the jar into a double boiler. Gently heat the water in a double boiler, warming the oil, but keeping it under 140 degrees. It’s important that the herbs infuse (not deep fry).
A crockpot set to “keep warm” works well for this, but a small pot of water on very low heat also works.
Allow the fresh or dried herbs to infuse in the double boiler for about 24 hours before straining and continuing with the process.
(Note: If using fresh herbs, make sure the jar is open during the infusion process so that moisture can evaporate from the herb material)
Making a Herbal Salve
Once you have a comfrey infused oil, it’s simple to thicken it into a herbal salve.
Salve recipes vary, but I like the consistency when I use a 1 to 8 ratio of oil to beeswax (by weight). I weigh out 8 ounces of herb-infused oil, which is about what you end up with if you pack a wide-mouth pint mason jar with comfrey and cover it with oil.
Once it’s strained out, you should have about 8 ounces of oil. Next, weigh out 1 ounce of beeswax. Using easy melting beeswax pistils makes this process easy, but you can also chop some off a large block of beeswax.
Put the oil and beeswax in a heat-safe bowl or double boiler bowl, and gently melt it over a pot of simmering water (basically, in a double boiler). Once melted, pour the salves into jars or salve tins.
I’m using 2-ounce salve tins, which hold ever so slightly more than 2 ounces. I’m able to get 4 tins of comfrey salve from a single batch.
Allow the salves to cool and firm up for a few hours before using them.
Where to Buy Comfrey Salve
Homemade comfrey salve has its benefits…you know what’s in it, how the comfrey was grown (if you grew it) and it can save money compared to buying prepared comfrey salves. That said, the downside is that the dosage can be variable.
Different strains of comfrey have different medicinal potencies. There are a few named varieties that are grown for their high concentrations of healing compounds, and it’s hard to know the potency of comfrey harvested from your yard.
Most studies using topical comfrey applications used a standardized comfrey salve with 35% comfrey extract, while the dosage of homemade comfrey salve is unknown. I looked for comfrey cream and salves with a standardized dosage and I actually couldn’t find any, not a single one! (If you find one, please let me know in the comments).
I did, however, find two commercially available comfrey preparations, one cream, and one salve. I’ll warn you though, they’re expensive, about $10 an ounce…
- Traumaplant Comfrey Cream ~ Made into an easy-to-apply cream in a tube.
- Herb Pharm Salve ~ Not strictly comfrey, but also contains St. John’s Wort, Calendula, Chickweed, Mullein, Plantain, and Rosemary.
For me, I’m less concerned with standardized dosage than I am with results. If my homemade comfrey salve gets the job done, the dosage is just another number.
Comfrey Salve
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup fresh comfrey leaves
- or 1 cup dried comfrey leaves
- or 1 cup dried comfrey roots
- Olive Oil to Fill, about 10 ounces
- 1- ounce beeswax
Instructions
- Place comfrey in a pint mason jar and cover with a carrier oil (like olive oil). Be sure to cover the herb material by at least an inch, and stir to remove air bubbles.
- For the fast infusion method, which is required for fresh herbs, place the jar in a double boiler or crockpot with water. Turn it on very low, and gently heat the mixture keeping it under 140 degrees. Allow the herbs to infuse in the warm oil for 24 hours before straining. (Can be used with fresh or dried herbs.)
- For the slower infusion method (only with dried herbs), allow the herbs to infuse at room temperature for 2-6 weeks before straining.
- Measure the strained herb-infused oil. You should have roughly 8 ounces of oil. For every 8 ounces of oil, add 1-ounce beeswax (by weight).
- Place the herb-infused oil and beeswax into a heatproof bowl and warm gently over a double boiler. Stir to combine and once melted, remove from heat.
- Pour the comfrey salve into salve tins or small jars and allow the mixture to cool for a few hours before using.
Notes
More Homemade Herbal Remedies
Looking to stock your home apothecary with more than just comfrey salve? Here are a few more of my favorite homemade herbal remedies:
- Arnica Oil and Salve
- Homemade Herbal Shampoo
- Winter Immune Support Tea Blend
- Reishi Tincture
- Echinacea Tincture
- Elderberry Oxymel
- Willow Bark Aspirin
Disclaimer on Homemade Herbal Remedies
I’ve been foraging wild medicines and treating my family with herbal remedies for the past 20 years, but I’m self-taught. Be aware that I am not a clinical herbalist, and this is based on my own research and personal experience using medicinal plants. I do not claim to have the experience that’d qualify me to advise you on your health, and I’m only providing this as a reference to encourage a broader interest in medicinal plants.
Please use this as a jumping-off point, but always do your own research and verify anything you read with multiple sources.
It’s always possible to have an adverse reaction to any medicinal herb, and plenty of people are allergic to even gentle herbs like chamomile. Always consult your doctor or a certified herbalist before trying any new medicinal plant. Often, they can have unintended reactions in combination with other herbs and supplements, and many herbs have side effects even when they are effective for their intended purpose.
If you are seriously interested in herbal medicine, I’d suggest investing in a course in herbal medicine, and I’d recommend any of the online courses put out by the Herbal Academy of New England. Specifically, the introduction to herbal medicine course and the family herbalist group of courses.
They also have a mushroom course, covering both medicinal and edible mushrooms, and a Botany and Wildcrafting Course. I’ve taken both and they’re informative, inspiring, and artfully presented.
So if I infuse my powdered comfrey that will still work? What would be the ratio of powder to the oil? Thankyou!!
Yes, you can definitely use a powder. The powder is just a little more difficult to strain out of the oil but it can be done. I would try 1 to 2 tablespoons of powder for about 1/2 cup of oil.
I dried my comfrey leaves and powerderized them in my blender and don’t know how to use them this way. I added some to lotion and was wondering if that will work or if there’s a better way to use the powder for back pain and arthritis. Thankyou!
I would infuse the comfrey into an oil just like the directions show in this post. You can use the oil as is or make it into a salve.
When would you use comfrey salve vs plantain salve? Is it merely availability? Any other differences would be aporeciated
Comfrey has been shown to reduce inflammation, reduce pain and speed skin healing. It is commonly used for sprains, strains, muscle pain, arthritis, bruises and fractures. Plantain is often used for things like bites, stings, cuts, scrapes and abrasions. It may also help with pain and swelling as well as kill bacteria and fungi. They do have some similar properties but the difference is more in the types of issues that they address.
Hello,
I am loving all the information and experience you have in creating this healing salve. I would like to make this for a elderly friend who developed intermittent back pain over the winter that is still troubling him. As he could use it sooner than later I’d like to make it using fresh comfrey. Do you think it would be a stronger concoction if I grated up some of the root with the leaves then did the 24hr warm bath? Is there a way to know if too much moisture has leached into the oil? And last question…how many times a day do you apply it to get relief?
Thank you so kindly for your advice.
As long as you have it on the heat, the excess moisture should evaporate out of the oil just fine. Some relief should happen very quickly. There is a study mentioned in the post that states relief was felt within an hour.
Thanks for sharing! Does it keep long?
The biggest issue that you will have in the shelf life of a salve is the oil going rancid. As long as you are using fresh oils then your salve should last a long time.
It might help to blend a little Vitamin E into the finished salve, and to store it in a small-as-possible glass jar (minimal air space), with a metal lid (or a plastic lid with a metal/foil lining).
Yes, vitamin E is a great antioxidant that can help oils from going rancid too quickly but I personally haven’t seen the need to use it in my salves.
This is a general commen/question. I have been making the comfrey salve for over a year and I find it works on arthritis and bruises. My question is why is it not considered dangerous because of the transdermal route used for delivery. I was a nurse for close to 37 years and we used to (and they probably still ) use transdermal pain med patches with Morphine, and Fentanyl among others. They need to be processed by the liver, so how does the comfrey avoid the liver thus making it safer because of the transdermal route?
I honestly don’t know the answer to this question. I only know that the FDA recommended that all oral comfrey products be removed from the market because of the potential for toxicity on the liver. As far as I am aware this is not an issue with topical application. I don’t know why or how this works differently but there are many herbs that can be used topically that you wouldn’t want to take internally. If you find more information on the process we would love for you to come back and share.
I would wonder if the FDA states liver potential to protect big pharma, not kidding
This looks so good! I didn’t know there was so many benefits! What a great thing to make after a hike!
So glad you enjoyed the post.
Thank you for publishing articles about comfrey online. . . . .
— For how many weeks or months can you continue to use comfrey poultices / tincture/ salve on a daily basis, without any negative consequences? . . . . .
— If you recommend “taking a break” from the use of comfrey after a certain period of time, for how many days or weeks should you stop using it? . . . . .
Thanks
It looks like there is differing views on this. I have seen where it is recommended for use for up to 3 weeks. Another source says to not use it for more than 10 days in a row and for no more than 4 to 6 weeks total in a calendar year. I would just recommend that you do some research on it and figure out what you’re most comfortable with.
Do you have a recipe for comfrey cream rather than salve?
Comfrey cream involves the addition of water to the recipe which then requires a preservative of some kind. Jan Berry at The Nerdy Farm Wife has some great information on making creams and lotions.
My husband and I are planning to make the comfrey salve using our crockpot. We assume that the lid stays off of the crockpot during the 24 hour period of time, is this correct? Using the “keep warm” temperature, will we need to keep track of the temperature using a thermometer? And will it be necessary to add water to the crockpot in the 24 hour period of time? Thank You.
Yes, especially if you are using fresh herbs with an open jar. You want any excess moisture to evaporate. It should be ok especially on the keep warm setting but I would definitely check on it occasionally to be sure.
I came across your site while looking up recipes for a “healing salve”. I’m using calendula, comfrey and plantain. It’s been tough trying to find the actual measurements for the dry herbs as I’m not using the cold infusion method. I’m taking the shortcut. I like that you stated that it doesn’t matter the measurements as long as it gets the job done. That gives me hope that I can not be so rigid with amount of dry herbs and JUST PRACTICE making my salves. Thanks for all that you do…