Healing Comfrey for Summer's Bumps and Bruises
Submitted by Terry Naturally

Comfrey has long been known for its ability to promote boneknitting in fractures, soothe and heal burns, and reduce the pain and edema of sprains, dislocations, and other trauma. By increasing the speed of wound healing, fewer complications such as infections occur, and scarring is lessened. But the power of comfrey was diminished by the presence of liver toxins in the plant (pyrrolizidine alkaloids, or PA), so its oral use was banned in the United States. Some doctors were even concerned with creams and soaks, for fear these compounds would absorb.

Fortunately, there is a new comfrey topical cream that is great for open wounds, so any cuts and other normal consequences of an active life can be healed quickly. The other good news is that this comfrey cream is safe for children as young as four years old, so it's an option even for kids who get into enough of their own scrapes.

Thanks to a wonderful blend of age-old wisdom and modern plant science, there is a type of comfrey that by-passes the problem of liver toxicity. This variety of comfrey, known as Symphytum x uplandicum NYMAN, has been designated as "Trauma Comfrey" by the German Health Authorities, a specialized species, much like a patent.

This special form of comfrey has been specifically cultivated to be low in PA content. Plus, only the aerial parts – leaves, stems, and flowers – that are naturally PA-free (rather than the roots that typically have a higher PA content) are used.

Three of the major players in comfrey's team of winning compound are allantoin, choline, and rosmarinic acid.

• Allantoin quickly stimulates the rebuilding of cells and regenerates damaged tissue. It can actually travel through the skin all the way to tendons, cartilage, and bone.

• Choline helps injured blood vessels and nerve endings recover faster, and improves the pumping of healing blood through inflamed tissues.

• Rosmarinic acid fights inflammation, stops fluid loss as a result of injury, and slows down cell damage.