why permaculture folks love comfrey

[@greatismygod]

My Grandmother had a HUGE comfrey plant in her backyard. She made tea and a few other things out it. I never understood why people thought it was unfit for humans.

[@JakJarsha]

man, gardeners are my favorite people, they're all on such a chilled out, observant, plant vibration. :) much love my brothers and sisters.

[@alwaysbeenatreehuggr]

Literally laughing out loud at @PaulWheaton commentary. "you know, from knife fights." :D

[@SharolTilgner]

I love comfrey too, however I would warn you it is not limited to growing by root division. Some varieties have seeds and some do not. Comfrey’s demulcent and anti-inflammatory effects are used as an internal agent for soothing mucous membrane irritation in the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract and urinary tract. It acts as an anti-inflammatory when there is damage to the periosteum, promotes callus formation in fractures and decreases inflammation of tendon sheaths. It has been used for arthritis, dislocations, contusions, hematomas, thrombophlebitis, phlebitis, parotitis, and glandular swellings. Comfrey can also be used as a gargle in periodontitis and pharyngitis. But internal use is no longer advised long term due to the possibility of pyrrolizidine alkaloid poisoning inducing veno-hepato-occlusive disease. Although there is some argument still about this, most herbalists are cautious with its use since the evidence is clear that pyrrolizidines do cause hepto-veno-occulive disease and comfrey does contain pyrrolizidines. The amount it contains depends on the variety, part of the plant, time of year and other environmental factors. If you want to see a good article on it, a friend of mine wrote a good review. Google Paul Bergner and comfrey. (By the way it is illegal to sell comfrey for internal use or for use on open wounds in the United States.) Same for other herbs with pyrrolizidines. I use comfrey externally all the time. Both it and aloe contain allantoin which enhances cell division and decreases the healing time for skin wounds and irritations. One of the best healing agents around. Like Michael said in the video, don't ever use it on a dirty wound or you will heal over the debris and it will be a source of infection. Personally, I use it on cleaned open wounds on myself all the time but don't usually use it internally. I read every research article available on pyrrolizidines years ago and decided the safety issue is real. I am guessing there are some people who have single nucleotide polymorphisms that do not allow them to process the pyrrolizidines well and other folks are probably ok with it. However, I don't know who those folks are, so I don't use it internally for myself or others usually. Too many other choices, which means I am not limited to using it. Might be different if I did not have other choices. Read Paul Bergners article if you are confused about the pyrrolizidines. Yes, I have comfrey around some of my fruit trees also. Can't say I notice a difference from those with and those without, but I like having it there.

[@psychobunny32]

wow. that was very informative. I am a big believer in herbal medicine. I would love to study with someone who knows what they are doing. I have met some people who make this/that tea with no regard to when plants are harvested, or they overdo it thinking that if it is 'natural', then no harm. (like being able to eat twice as much diet or low calorie food).

[@believeit3203]

Missy Rabbit If you can find them online, there is a set of hardback books ( I received them for x-mas in 1977) One is called Free For the Eating and the second is called More Free For the Eating.....excellent source of info on wild herbs for food, medicine, etc as well as when to harvest and how to use them exactly. It's a real treasure trove.

[@psychobunny32]

believe it I will look for them. Thank you!

[@sharonx1840]

+Sharol Tilgner HI YOU SEEM TO KNOW A LOT ABOUT THE PLANT.i have only started looking into it today.I heard that u can do a mouth wash with it combined with crush egg shell to help repair teeth.Have u heard that before?I would like to try it but not sure if its safe?Its not to swallow just to gargle with for about 15mins thankyou sharon

[@SharolTilgner]

I use comfrey externally all the time but I am careful about internal use. You might want to take a look at some data a friend of mine wrote up on comfrey and pyrrolizidine alkaloids that it contains. Here is the link. medherb.com/Materia_Medica/Symphytum_-_Hepatotoxicity_of_pyrrolizidine_alkaloids_.htm This is also a good review article of research on Comfrey: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21170807

[@1stBumbleBeeMaster]

This is really cool! Watch my video on why Bumble Bees Need Ants. We have filmed Ants entering Bumble Bee Nests and coming out with parasites in their jaws. So not all interactions between the two species is bad. Infact they really are essential to Bumbles and Honey Bees. Nature always knows best.

[@d.w.stratton4078]

I wonder if native bee species benefit too or of it's just surpass import species that have this relationship.

[@TheScientist40]

To get rid of unwanted comfrey plants I always just build a fire on top of the plant.. It's great for small scale, and I get biochar and ash out of the process. Although soil microbes and worms probably don't like that!

[@NewDaysOldWays1]

I'm another big fan of Comfrey. There have been many times I've brewed a strong tea and poured it into a bath and soaked in it. It's always helped relieve sore muscles. Love it!

[@marybwest4360]

I was told use the leaves summer spring, winter autumn use the roots.

[@tomfisher3117]

I bought some Bocking 14 about 10 years ago and planted it in different places at the edge of my garden and lawn. I just dug up 2 plants, replanted a piece in the original spaces and then planted 33 other pieces of those original plants at the edge of my gardens and the side of my house. I want it to stop the encroachment but I also will use it for chop and drop and Jadam fertilizer tea. The new planted areas will keep me from having to chop it and put it in a wheel barrow to spread it in my garden. I make Jadam (Korean) comfrey tea by chopping up a bunch of comfrey and stuffing it into a 32 gallon black garbage can. I pack the comfrey tight up to about 3/4 of the garbage can. I throw in some leaf mold and sea salt, wait about three months and mix the solution 1 part tea to 10 parts water. You can keep adding the comfrey and water. It's freeze proof over the winter. It works and you will never run out of the stuff. The Russian Bocking 14's NPK is 1.8 - 0.5 - 7. Buying it was one of the smartest things I've ever done for my garden and my back.

[@MarkGardiner1976]

I love comfrey. I grow hundreds and hundreds of new plants every year. It really is one of the greatest plants on this earth in terms of nourishing the soil.

[@MyWittsend3]

I am going to try and make a body cream to heal muscle, ligaments, and bones. My family are farmers I'm going to see if they can give me a little piece of land to grow some :) ThxSoMuch again. I am not comfortable eating it yet due to everything I have read about it except for here but I will keep looking and researching. Great video thank you

[@leadlacedinkeater6539]

thank you for saying the truth I remember the incedent and the irronious tests were conducted that isolated compounds rather then using the whole plant. aso anyone with a basic understanding of chemistry knows if you comsume an acid like pinapple juice or vinager with an alkloid it nutralizes the dangerous componants. And compare the side effects of any appoved drug they are far worce.

[@BoondocksBotanicals]

I love comfrey, too. It was what first sparked my interest in herbalism many years ago. I had a painful injury and a poultice with ground comfrey root, a bit of oil and hot water was the only thing that gave me relief and I could actually FEEL it working. I have it in my yard now and don't even mind that it took over our rhubarb patch; nobody was that big a rhubarb fan anyway. Love the way it draws the bees and provides so much greenery for my compost.

[@hoonbirdpersonpilot5356]

i have been putting it through the jucer and experimentaly spraying it watered down on brassica leaves and potatoe leaves to encourage growth. seems to work without fermenting.

[@joes3984]

be careful I planted a few plants about 10 years ago and now it is everywhere on my property. bumble bees honeybees and hummingbirds love it. I make comfrey tea by soaking about a bushel of leaves in a large garbage can for about a month use on every thing in my garden plants love comfrey tea smells just like fresh cow manure.

[@mellonlord4616]

When I was a kid I used to eat the flowers but I didn't know what it was. Comfrey. Something new every day.

[@heartlandranchtv4943]

You used to eat random flowers from plants you didn't know?! It's amazing you survived your childhood being that foolish.

[@3tapsnu0ut87]

I have heard Comfrey called Knitbone. It sets like plaster of paris. I've tried it.

[@hejdukova2]

And I have never heal little tiny sore, it does not hurt, but it peels off and comes back again. It is not cancer. My mother lived with one like that too. Now, I am going to try to heal it, close it so it would not keep coming back. I have an comfrey ointment and I am going to see what it does on it. Wish me luck!

[@peggyramsey2594]

I have been drinking comfrey for years. Love it and there is nothing wrong with my liver.

[@paulwheaton]

Try watching the video again - this time keep an eye out for the part of the video that talks about that.

[@donna4843]

Not sure if you are still answering questions but my family has long tradition of scientist and on the side,herbalists. My mom actually had a tea herb cure for vD..amazingly..now we used some very dangerous plants one would have to know the use like belladonna,sculcap,etc..but I learned grew older and rebelled embracing science/medicine over the old ways. I am now growing and learning again but have a problem. Foxglove vs Comfery. I should know comfery it's past saved my face from 1st/2d degree sunburn out on the Utah salt flats as a child..but I am afraid. The fear of using the wrong or misidentifying plants has gotten me Normally I am a visual person but training young included explicit written description and visual ID.. I need help on Foxglow which I believe from description I have and comfery. Mullen vs Dock,so simple but some video's have confused me. Ie being so soft. Let me know if you have any good vids or help. I love my special dandelions,dock,Mullen,(gigantic root on my special one this year)horseradish(another tap root I grew) Dona here in Oregon

[@cathyanderson8197]

so does yarrow, and that's so funny about getting rid of rhubarb, we cut it out, and a tree grew there all by itself. it's growing sideways, with the roots in our neighbors' yard, he doesn't care, and it shades the little house back there. pretty cool

[@vornoff1958]

Wow. Michael Pilarski must be a serious bad-ass if he has to have a regular and reliable treatment for all those stab wounds he gets. Those permaculture courses must get pretty hairy;

[@jksatte]

Lol, he looks it!

[@deltadaze6836]

If people get whacked for truffles, not surprised a more involved natural discipline might be wroth with knife-wielding perma-crazies.

[@MikeV1961]

I just ordered some Bocking #4 from Coe's which is the best overall cultivar I believe.

[@paulwheaton]

we just now started our rocket ovens kickstarter www.kickstarter.com/projects/paulwheaton/rocket-ovens-feature-length-documentary?ref=265vn9

[@jycfrnkl]

Paul, your comments on your video are hilarious. Just what I needed this morning with my coffee!

[@paulwheaton]

thanks to my patreon peeps for getting my youtube engine running again www.patreon.com/pwvids

[@miks976]

I eat comfrey and borage flowers they are nice and sweet and i try to pick in the morning before the bees get the nice sweet ones and so i dont have to fight the bees. i started with one borage and comfrey plant and they have multied into hundreds. I might have to start eating the seedlings as well. I use them as a complete ground cover for my vegie garden and pull the big plants out as they grow so and leave 1 or 2 to flower and drop seeds again.

[@boudreaumay3040]

The same reason you see them on peony. The syrup produced by the the plants the ants help the blooms open and the ants get a meal and the plant gets help maturing. Also get on their bodies to clean each other when they return to their colonies. Sadly a lot of people will dust or spray thinking their killing the ants one to get rid of them and two they think the ants are harming the plants and "you"wind up harming both. Leave them be !

[@Automedon2]

I'm thinking there must be a law someplace that says if you're into natural gardening, you have to use the word 'abundant' at least 10 times a day.

[@johnlambert5307]

first of all..just want to thank permies.com and all for these videos! i have learned so much.. and still have alot to learn..and people such as you guys really r the best..thank you..john lambert

[@paulwheaton]

I think you need to watch the video again. This is addressed.

[@LadybugGirlShow]

Exciting! I need to get comfrey. Was actually thinking of planting comfrey under our fruit trees. Recently planted twenty fruit trees :D

[@janiceb4679]

I feel the same about comfrey. So beneficial. And, the delicate flowers are precious.

[@gardenfarmer]

chickens need early education with some plants such as comfrey, tagasaste, barley then they like it for a lifetime

[@quinto190]

Hey Paul, thanks for making these great videos! They are very informative.

[@SethHesio]

Makes excellent plant feed doesn't it? If you take comfrey and put it in water for a few weeks you end up with a beautiful potassium rich feed.. great for fruiting/ flowering plants :)

[@flee4170]

The more I watch and learn about Toby Hemenway and the whole of what he has done and stands for the more I idolize him. He's truly a badass.

[@sharonx1840]

I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT U CAN USE THE PLANT AS A MOUTH WASH COMBINED WITH EATING CRUSHED EGG SHELL TO HELP REPAIR TEETH IS THIS RIGHT?

[@Gesundheit888]

what is he saying? 6:00 A wound must heals from the inside out. A wound can harbor tetanus spores which will grow in such an anaerobic environment. A few drops of blood generally insure that the wound is cleaned out.

[@deltadaze6836]

What you said is what he said. He was saying not to use it on a dirty wound because any bacteria would be trapped by rapid cell growth. Others have used them on clean wounds and been great.

[@bealtainecottage]

Comfrey is brilliant...one of my favourite plants and so giving!

[@MarkGardiner1976]

Lots of comfrey plants don`t produce seeds that will grow. To grow comfrey from a plant just cut the root into 2 centimetre sections and plant them within a couple of weeks you will have new plants. If you look on my channel you will see a video I made of how to do this.

[@iPatacake]

it's also the reason many will starve when artificial fertilizers aren't so easily produced in the future as natural gas eventually runs out. a significant amount of the world population is only here because of inorganic nitrogen fertilizer. not to mention the toll the regular farming system takes on the soil it's performed on, and the natural environment as those fertilizers run off into rivers and oceans.

[@iPatacake]

because of incorrectly conducted scientific research.

[@caveatemp]

I love our comfrey. I'm gonna spread it out under my fruit trees!

[@piersplowman3327]

Thanks for sharing this video. Urtica dioica and Symphytium off are my most favorite plants in our forest garden. We use them as fertilizer (tea), ground cover and rabbits, pigs love it too : the comfrey fresh and the nettles dried.

[@MajorGRecording]

Do all types of comfrey look the same? Which type Bocking was shown at the beginning of the video? Thanks!

[@Elementaldomain]

Not all comfrey is the same. For some really great information, check Coe's Comfrey on the net.

[@RedSpiralHandTV]

comfrey is amazing...use the roots topically but the leaves can be used for mineral-rich infusions and as a pot herb. I love the beneficial weeds!!!

[@MountainGardenGirl]

paul wheaton do you or any of your viewers know if comfrey naturally displaces cogon grass? We are highly organic and see possibilities to that horrible invasive but feel overrun with it on our 5.5 acres. Some things like Jerusalem artichoke and milk weed seem to hold their very nicely amidst the invasion. Not so much our food garden :( Thanks much for any help here.

[@irisvanleeuwaarde4267]

for years i,m looking for seeds of this plant,in my younger years i play with this plant,but i can,t find it anymore....can i get it from somebody...i live in Surinam...South America...please

[@TheCommono]

My observation these two last years was: comfrey just grows and grows, and once the stems get too heavy, they fall over, and new leaves start to grow from the base of the plant, and stems of course, and the whole thing repeats. The more it rains, the more cycles you get. At the end of the season, there are several layers of growth, which already not only have started to decompose, but have piled up so heavily, that in a certain radius nothing else grows until the next season. So basically, if the plant is on the right spot, there is even no need for cutting: this plant is a mulching machine. This way, the leaves that have fallen over, continue with photosynthesis, contributing to even more growth/energy for soil life etc. etc. Just don't plant it too close to whatever you want to mulch...

[@billnolastname5860]

Be very careful about where you plant this! We have thousands of plants on our farm and they continue to spread. Impossible to dig them out. Some are in a neighbor's corn field which gets sprayed each year yet they persist and increase.

[@bhargavichinnapati6316]

I got borage seeds for bees. Does anyone used it as nitrozen fertilizer for green leaf vegetables?

[@Jefferdaughter]

I've heard that too, but comfrey is a traditional food eaten by countless generations with no ill effects. Can we say that about 85%+ of the foods eaten in the USA today? With synthetic additives, known toxic additives & residues, GMO ingredients, dowsed in chemicals, wrapped in shrink-wrap leaving, like other plastics, harmful residues, including endocrine disruptors? I'll take the comfrey, please.

[@leetomlee7265]

which of the comfrey plant good for bone healing? Can i just buy it on line or from you? I have a broken wrist that healing very slowly. Thanks for any advise.

[@terencefalzano887]

Where can I get a few pounds of comfrey seeds, the pure kind, not the russian hybrid. Thank you

[@iPatacake]

industrial food also causes tumors and other health risks. pesticides and herbicides going into your system certainly isn't helping anything at all. and no, you can't just wash it all off. there is always a residue on the plant from it.

[@ladysmithrose]

I have both kinds of comfrey in my garden and not sure which is which ,Does it matter which one I use for a poultice? How exactly do you make your poultice? Awesome information on comfrey thank you so much for sharing :) :) :) God bless you all :)

[@kensimmons9960]

'Chop and drop' always seems to cause slug/snail problems in my garden. I'm going to start some Russian comfrey this year, the excess (unused) foliage will be used to help out compost production. Thank you for the info!

[@lopertinsthegreen8244]

"...from knife fights" lol!

[@farnorthhomested844]

my mom planted comfrey years ago. now its rampant. it does have a nice flower and it attracts a lot of pollinators. my favorite is the humming bird moth. how do you make comfrey tea?

[@mallymatchu]

Great vid, did laugh at the "Knife fight" comment :D

[@asteroceras]

Comfrey would have the same chemicals and wrapping if it were commercially farmed. Therefore, not everyone can eat comfrey, as not everyone has a garden or the climate to grow it.

[@Barskor1]

For King plant I would say Hemp Food clothing rope oil fuel plastics building materials paper easy growth on substandard soil needs little water or fertilizer on and on the list go's.

[@miks976]

Yes i did that and put the root in a pot and it has done very well but wilts very quickly, i think they need a deep pot for the root system and consistant moisture.

[@JakJarsha]

I think burdock is considered a soil robbing plant, at least according to Louise Riotte. and it's easy for a gardener to spread it's seeds, making it undesirable.

[@TokenDrone]

is your advice regarding getting rid of comfrey with pigs also applicable to trying to get rid of roses with pigs?

[@terriodle1]

The man in the video said he eats the comfrey in his salad. Can you tell me which kind to plant that I can eat. Thanks Terri

[@Lfreebird]

Mark Shepard out here in WI is teaching folks that comfrey is also a good habitat for predatory wasps. Maybe why you didn't see aphids?

[@MikeV1961]

I would not recommend any Comfrey that is not sterile as this plant is extremely invasive!

[@pestanah]

Hi there. Is there a comfrey equivalent for hot and humid tropical climate? Looking forward to the episode on bamboo :P

[@RonRay]

It's interesting that Toby categorized bamboo as a "male" plant... 0.o

[@Oakheart]

I could probably give you some I will look in the yard and see if it is spreading.

[@Bigelowbrook]

"Knife Fights" LOL

[@q695]

Can you share the video of how to plant a field of comfrey with pigs?

[@1stBumbleBeeMaster]

Nice Video! Please read comment below. I have small Meadow Ants Nests near all of my Bee Hives, Ants are top class when it comes to eating all the parasites from Bee Hives and Bumble Bee nests. I think the Ants in the video are either eating Mites that wait on flowers for bees, or eating Nectar. Thanks for posting!

[@gnuPirate]

I have heard it is bad to consume comfrey internally. Are you sure about it being good for sore throats?

[@AngiesPantry58]

Hello I love how huge your Comfrey plant is.. I did Sub ya. :)

[@rzfbgjy]

Careful under that belladonna:) beautifully dangerous plant

[@nerdmom920]

I'm having a hard time acquiring comfrey. I'm in Missouri, is there anyone nearby who sells it?

[@Lawiah0]

Hemp is the Queen of Plants, and I'd recommend NOT smoking it for recreation.

[@dannykeat]

If it were that easy, there'd be no need for the scientific method at all. I'm not saying it doesn't work or that anyone should stop using it. I'll be using it in the future for compost and mulch myself. I'm just the skeptical type, especially when it comes to claims about medicinal stuff.

[@jrc5912]

I have yet to really work with this plant. I totally want to try blending loads of it up and pouring it around plants that way.

[@gopackgo2235]

Comfrey is welcome in my yard, yes, chickens love it and layers will yield more eggs.

[@ashleywest6116]

Omg i love her this is the second video I have randomly found with her in it! She's SO smart.

[@bimalashrestha2563]

Great video Paul, Is comfrey found in Nepal ?

[@justgivemethetruth]

I think your lifestyle contibutes a lot to your health. How could a comfrey compress contribute to healing a sprained ankle, doctor? ;-)

[@sun_raven]

"You know, for knife fights" 🔪🤣

[@rosemacaskie]

Why does Toby Henemway sit in front of such a barish of vegetation type of place?

[@rickschulte8594]

Hello, i have watched your video before, thank you, can you advise me, i live in Battleground Washington, is there a way to have some control over this plant, not evenn sure where to buy this plant. I try to do all organic gardening. Thank you. Rick

[@dieseldiverx4319]

Rick Schulte control not been an issue for me. cut it several times a year for established plants, divide and spread or give away when large enough. for purchase check Craigslist or Amazon I think. have a great day

[@LilyyyoftheRose]

just got some comfrey seeds, looking forward to growing oodles of these lovelies

[@richardmang2558]

I have been looking for comfrey seeds. I have not found them yet. Does it grow in warm dry climates like in San Diego, California?

[@ClutchingPearlz]

Can we have more videos of Alexia Allen of Hawthorn Farm, she always has such informational stuff to share, loved the chicken video with her.

[@davecoulson5692]

Thanks for your comment good heart lady

[@ClutchingPearlz]

@@davecoulson5692 wow, nice to see someone commenting on a post I made 8 years ago 😀

[@hazrahmoothoo100]

great video... how can you tell between common comfrey and russian comfrey?

[@jvangeld]

It sounds like I need to get some comfrey.

[@buckstarchaser]

I had the same problem and ended up ordering the live plants from a place called Richters in Canada. I had ordered seeds on Amazon but I think that seller was selling seeds from the sterile variety because none sprouted. The ones that came in the mail are already taking off and I haven't even gotten them outside yet.

[@bza069]

7:30 wow...Michael Palin from Monty Python!

[@DarkSparkCannabis]

subscribed. you guys are awesome. your husband is a lucky man, women like you are few and far between

[@irishprepper7199]

Can you tell me what the difference in Comfrey and Borage is? I have Borage but now I'm thinking it is invasive and I probably shouldn't have planted it. Can I get rid of it when I want to?

[@iPatacake]

although I agree about GMOs. there's not much reason to believe that they are toxic. BUT some GMOs are poisonous to pollinators, which is a serious issue.

[@richardmang2558]

@ 9:15 Toe-shoes! What are those called?