Help,

As an enthusiastic newcomer, battling with an even more enthusiastic Comfrey plant in my garden, I tried to make some Comfrey oil for use on external wounds.

I cannot remember where I got the idea, but I stuffed cut leaves into a dark jar, and put the jar into a dark hole and left it there for a year. I ended up with a dark brown fluid that i didn't know what to do with, and didn't like the look of.

Has anyone made a successful Comfrey oil and how did you do it? Would an infusion on a sunny window, using an oil base be the answer?

Regards,
Sheila T

Dear Sheila

Try cutting up some Comfrey and put into a large clear jar containing sunflower oil or Olive oil (organic if possible) and leave outside in sun for 2 weeks. To make it stronger strain and add some more comfrey and leave for a further 2 weeks.Strain and bottle in dark sterilised bottles.

Janet

Sounds as though what you ended up with is Comfrey liquid, which makes a wonderful plant food. Put it on your pot-plants...they will love it!

Love Lynne

Dear Janet,

Thanks for your help, I will let you know how i get on.

Regards,
sheila t

Dear Lynne,

Thanks i will put the original liquid on my tomatoes and peppers, and try again for the wound healer.

Regards,
Sheila T

Having moved to South Bedfordshire, where for some reason there's an abundance of comfrey, I set about mashing up stems and leaves for a poultice. My partner had tripped and for two years has sufferered an unhealed wound on the shin, until this summer. Over a couple of weeks and two or three applications, the broken skin closed. I was impressed, but have since read that only Symphytum officinale should be used on wounds and now the plants have died down I'm not sure what I used. Can anyone comment on the properties of the different species?

I stuffed finely cut up comfrey (no stems) into a jar as already mentioned. After two years (when I found it at the back of a shelf), it was indeed an oily but very dark green liquid. I used it diluted half and half with a vegaetable oil as it was required and used it externally in this form with good results. I also added it to melted solid vegetable oil and made an ointment. Yes, used dropwise for plants in pots and watered in, it makes a good feed.

Ooops, yes! I forgot to mention that you should dilute the stuff as a plant feed Sheila!

Love Lynne