Botany
Hardy, leafy perennial. Thick rhizomes, black outside and white inside, containing a mucilaginous juice. Leaves are entire, lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, up to 10 inches long, deep green and hairy. Flowers are variable in color, blue, yellow or white, borne on short curved racemes, with five-lobed calyx and five stamens. Fruits are nutlets.

Distribution
Introduced in the Philippines in the late 60s; cultivated; propagated by seed.

General info
· An ancient herb known since 400 B.C., used by the Greeks to treat bronchial problems, wound healing and mending of broken bones.
· The healing constituent is allantoin. Ingredients may be steeped or dissolved in hot water; boiling should be avoided as this may cause the breakdown of allantoin.
· Caution: Since the late 70's, subject of persisting concerns and debate on certain alkaloid contents that may cause liver damage. Advice is given against use of comfrey as salad green or tea.

Parts utilized
Leaves , flowers and roots.

Uses
Nutrition
Confirmed source of vitamin B12, although in negligible amounts that would require consumption of 4 pounds of comfrey daily for minimum daily requirement.
Folkloric
· Decoction of leaves used for a variety of illnesses: Asthma, cough, ulcers, constipation, hypertension.
· Poultice of fresh leaves used for sprains and fractures, inflammatory swelling, external wounds, sores, athlete's foot, burns, insect bites, and abscesses.
· Used for excessive menstrual flow, cancer, angina, gums disease
· Juice of leaves used for a variety of skin ailments and wounds healing; apply three times daily.
· Decoction of tea as a sleep-aid.

Safety studies
· Probably safe when used topically on unbroken skin. Use should be limited to 4 to 6 weeks per year at less than 100 mcg of unsaturated pyrrolizidine alkaloids.
· Probably not safe when taken orally. Potential for liver toxicity.
· Contraindicated in pregnancy and lactation.

Availability
Wildcrafted
Ointments