Comfrey Salve Topical and Transdermal Medicine
How to make Comfrey Salve from “Be Your Own Doctor” by Rachel Weaver. You will need about a quart of the chopped leaf with 6″ of chopped root added in. Pack loosely in a quart jar and cover with olive oil. Place in 100° oven for an hour. Remove from oven, cover with a towel, and let it sit on your counter at room temp for 2 weeks. Strain off the oil for use in making the salve. Discard the root and leaf.
To make the salve: In a heavy pot, place 2 cups of the comfrey oil and one oz grated beeswax. Heat slowly and gently on low until wax melts. Remove from heat. When it cools a bit, add one tablespoon vitamin E oil (preservative) and 15 drops lavender essential oil (optional.) Stir well. While yet warm, pour all into small jars. Cap and place in cold storage until use. Store excess jars in the freezer.
Comfrey leaf and root
Olive oil
where do you find comfry leaf and root?
It’s very easy to grow, considered a weed. It’s a dynamic accumulator plant which means it sucks up nutrients from deep in the soil, and brings them up to the surface, which is why it’s good to plant comfrey near the bowl of a fruit tree. If you can’t/don’t grow comfrey, and can’t get any from a local friend, you can mail order comfrey root and comfrey leaf (you’ll need both) from herb sellers like Frontier Coop, Pacific Botanicals, and Oregon Wild Harvest.
Brian if you are local to the DM area, I have some growing and could give you some root to plant.
Is there a particular time of year that is best to harvest it? I thought I remembered reading that somewhere. We have it but I admit I haven’t used it much.
Right before it blooms! Good question!