How to Make Comfrey Salve
I first started learning about comfrey many years ago. When I first started experimenting with it, I did not really know what to make of comfrey because every herbalist who wrote about it or spoke about it would preface whatever they said with a safety disclaimer. Was this herb safe or was it not?
Because comfrey contains constituents called pyrrolizidine alkaloids, most people (including the FDA in the United States) caution against internal use of comfrey, especially its root. There is research (see the resources list at the end of this page for specific citations) that suggests that comfrey - specifically the PA’s it contains - is hepatotoxic when ingested.
Topical use of comfrey leaf, though, is generally considered safe. The herb has traditionally been worked with in remedies formulated to aid repair of damaged skin. In this recipe, I have paired it with calendula, which is another herb that is fantastic for supporting skin health.
Ingredients:
3 parts comfrey leaf-infused carrier oil
2 parts calendula-infused carrier oil
1 part beeswax
Organic essential oils of:
lavender (angustifolia) – 8 drops per ounce of carrier
helichrysum (italicum) – 8 drops per ounce of carrier (this is a pricier oil, but is unparalleled when it comes to skin-repairing properties; if you don’t have any on hand, use extra lavender instead)
Instructions:
Melt the beeswax over low heat using a double boiler, then stir in your carrier oils. Once everything is thoroughly incorporated, remove the blend from the heat and stir in the essential oils until everything is fully mixed.
If you want your finished recipe to have a lighter texture, use a fork or stirring rod to mix the blend after it cools about halfway. Pour into sanitized tins or jars, add your label and enjoy!
Comfrey-containing products should not be used on puncture wounds, deep, open wounds or infected skin.
About the Author
Hi there, I’m Erin! I am the main instructor here at Floranella. I am a clinical herbalist, aromatherapist, artisan distiller and organic gardener based in the Pacific Northwest. Here at Floranella, I teach people how to work with plants safely and effectively from the garden to the apothecary. Thanks for being here! I’m glad you stopped by.
Resources
Ridker, P. M., Ohkuma, S., McDermott, W. V., Trey, C., & Huxtable, R. J. (1985). Hepatic venocclusive disease associated with the consumption of pyrrolizidine-containing dietary supplements. Gastroenterology, 88(4), 1050–1054. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0016-5085(85)80027-5
Mei, N., Guo, L., Fu, P. P., Heflich, R. H., & Chen, T. (2005). Mutagenicity of comfrey (Symphytum Officinale) in rat liver. British journal of cancer, 92(5), 873–875. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bjc.6602420
Mei, N., Guo, L., Zhang, L., Shi, L., Sun, Y. A., Fung, C., Moland, C. L., Dial, S. L., Fuscoe, J. C., & Chen, T. (2006). Analysis of gene expression changes in relation to toxicity and tumorigenesis in the livers of Big Blue transgenic rats fed comfrey (Symphytum officinale). BMC bioinformatics, 7 Suppl 2(Suppl 2), S16. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2105-7-S2-S16
Yeong, M. L., Clark, S. P., Waring, J. M., Wilson, R. D., & Wakefield, S. J. (1991). The effects of comfrey derived pyrrolizidine alkaloids on rat liver. Pathology, 23(1), 35–38. https://doi.org/10.3109/00313029109061438
Yeong, M. L., Swinburn, B., Kennedy, M., & Nicholson, G. (1990). Hepatic veno-occlusive disease associated with comfrey ingestion. Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology, 5(2), 211–214. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1746.1990.tb01827.x
Weston, C. F., Cooper, B. T., Davies, J. D., & Levine, D. F. (1987). Veno-occlusive disease of the liver secondary to ingestion of comfrey. British medical journal (Clinical research ed.), 295(6591), 183. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.295.6591.183
Yeong, M. L., Wakefield, S. J., & Ford, H. C. (1993). Hepatocyte membrane injury and bleb formation following low dose comfrey toxicity in rats. International journal of experimental pathology, 74(2), 211–217.
Wang, Z., Han, H., Wang, C., Zheng, Q., Chen, H., Zhang, X., & Hou, R. (2021). Hepatotoxicity of Pyrrolizidine Alkaloid Compound Intermedine: Comparison with Other Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids and Its Toxicological Mechanism. Toxins, 13(12), 849. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins13120849