newbie question: comfrey

[evjolin]

what form?? people said to have it on hand and that it is wonderful....but it comes in so many forms!!

ointment?
leaf?
oil?
extract?
cream?
powder?
root?
tea?

seriously???? what should i get and how should i use during/after labor. totally new to me! thanks!

[Kidzaplenty]

[dannic]

Hmm...what are you using it for? I thought comfrey is contraindicated (internally) during pregnancy and lactation? Or am I mistaken?

[babycatcher12]

My midwife suggests soaking pads in comfrey tea and freezing them for the postpartum period. I'm having trouble finding it though. Where did you find it?

[Theoretica]

Subbing

[Chamomile Girl]

It depends on what you are using it for. Most forms of comfrey are used externally as there are alkaloids in the tea that may be harmful if ingested for long periods.

To heal flesh wounds its most common is to use a comfrey root salve. The tea PP suggested is probably a tea made of the leaves as they are astringent. If you have a comfrey plant in your yard (beware...its rather invasive) then you can chew the leaves and use them as a poultice for flesh wounds as well as for broken bones.

Comfrey oil is usually the root infused in olive oil, and its used the same way as a salve. In fact the salve is just comfrey oil thickened with beeswax (and sometimes containing other healing ingredients).

[evjolin]

i think it is supposed to be used postpartum to help with healing. frankly, i'm not sure if it is better than arnica. again, i am new and don't know much....soaking pads is one thing i read about. i guess i was wondering about just using the gel/oil/salve directly on the peri area. also, apparently the leaves make a great sitz bath.

found lots of it on amazon.com!!