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Herbal Wisdom:  Comfrey/plantain salve  |
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shawneefarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
91 Posts
Linda
Missouri
USA
91 Posts |
 Posted - Mar 14 2013 : 1:50:22 PM
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I thought of making a salve from these herbs. While looking up comfrey, it said not to use on broken skin. I thought it was a first aid cream that you could use on cuts, stings, burns & such. Now I am confused. I do know that if it is a puncture type would you should not use this for healing.What then would I use for cuts? Help me out girls!! Thank you all so much!!
I'll tell you the truth, if a man keeps my word, he will never see death." John 8:51 |
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sjmjgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
566 Posts
Stephanie
Mt. Vernon
Iowa
USA
566 Posts |
Posted - Mar 14 2013 : 5:58:21 PM
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I too have seen that comfrey shouldn't be used on broken skin. It would probably be fine for burns and bruises since the skin isn't broken. I would try finding another recipe.
Farmgirl Sister # 3810
Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.
- Dalai Lama
April is Autism Awareness month. Autism affects 1 in 88 children (1 in 54 boys, including my son). Go to http://www.autismspeaks.org/ to learn more and help Light It Up Blue on April 2nd!
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emsmommy5
True Blue Farmgirl
1547 Posts
Angie
Buckley
WA
USA
1547 Posts |
Posted - Mar 15 2013 : 01:03:37 AM
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We use comfrey salve for broken skin, rashes, burns, irritations, etc. Never have had a problem and have been making comfrey salve for over 30 years. I would be interested to see the source that said not to use it on open wounds. Have never heard that one before. Neither have I found it in any of the extensive herb healer library I have. So I am really curious who said it!! =)
The problem I would see, with an open wound, is that it heals so quickly that if you haven't cleaned it out well enough, the skin heals right over the dirt, rocks, glass, etc. Other than that... can't think of why you wouldn't want to use it for healing.
Do what you love, love what you do. |
Edited by - emsmommy5 on Mar 15 2013 01:04:48 AM |
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sjmjgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
566 Posts
Stephanie
Mt. Vernon
Iowa
USA
566 Posts |
Posted - Mar 16 2013 : 5:31:51 PM
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I'm surprised that you've never heard that before, Angie. If you go online, it seems to be the consensus on any site that even mentions comfrey. I found it on WebMD, Mother Earth News, and the Mountain Rose Herbs website, just to name a couple. Seems some of the plants chemicals can be absorbed through the skin and cause liver damage.
Farmgirl Sister # 3810
Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.
- Dalai Lama
April is Autism Awareness month. Autism affects 1 in 88 children (1 in 54 boys, including my son). Go to http://www.autismspeaks.org/ to learn more and help Light It Up Blue on April 2nd!
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shawneefarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
91 Posts
Linda
Missouri
USA
91 Posts |
Posted - Mar 19 2013 : 07:06:50 AM
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Thank you Angie and Stephanie for your input. I found my information about comfrey when looking on Mountain Rose Herbs. I was going to order some comfrey leaves to make an oil tincture to make the salve,and that statement on the comfrey stopped me from ordering it. Thought I would ask the girls here about it, first.
I'll tell you the truth, if a man keeps my word, he will never see death." John 8:51 |
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emsmommy5
True Blue Farmgirl
1547 Posts
Angie
Buckley
WA
USA
1547 Posts |
Posted - Mar 19 2013 : 07:48:48 AM
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The liver cautions I have heard were between the comfrey with "purple flowers" and "white flowers"... it's interesting to see how some things are viewed at different times. Plus, from everything I have researched, it takes alot of comfrey to impact the liver. There are people who also say it should not be taken internally, and those that say it is okay. Bottom line... making informed choices that are best for us individually. If I am uncomfortable with an herb, I don't use it either. =)
Do what you love, love what you do. |
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Hazel
True Blue Farmgirl
82 Posts
Jen
Bridgeport
Pa
USA
82 Posts |
Posted - Mar 19 2013 : 3:10:55 PM
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From what I know of comfrey is that it shouldn't be used on cuts and such bc it heals the top layers of the skin so rapidly that if the inside of the cut has ANYTHING in it, it will be sealed inside and cause an infection. I make comfrey infused coconut oil to make a face cream and had it on hand when I got a small cut on my palm (no idea how I did it and it was on the crease so could have been just from my seriously dry skin).. Anyway, I put some of the coconut oil on it and by the next day it was partially sealed over with new skin but red and irritated! I poured peroxide on it and it fizzed like mad! So obviously this is exactly what happened to me! Even tho I knew the warnings. Ugh!
I did make a nice salve with comfrey in olive oil for my fiancée when he had serious burns on his wrists from his airbags going off... They were healing so slowly and were so sore... Within 2 days his pain was nearly gone and there was a significant improvement in the burns.
I currently have plaintain in olive oil, calendula in grapeseed, chamomile in grape seed, and lemon balm in grapeseed infusing.... Have to strain them this weekend! |
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shawneefarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
91 Posts
Linda
Missouri
USA
91 Posts |
Posted - Mar 22 2013 : 08:36:16 AM
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Thank you so much for straightening me out on comfrey. So what I really wanted to do is make a salve to heal cuts, also. Is there a good herb to use just for cuts?? And Jen, now I do understand about how comfrey is not good for cuts. Thank you for sharing. Could I ask what you use the plantain oil, calendula oil, chamomile oil, and lemon balm oil for? Do you combine them? Or do each one have it's own purpose.
I'll tell you the truth, if a man keeps my word, he will never see death." John 8:51 |
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crittergranny
True Blue Farmgirl
1096 Posts
Laura
Lindrith
NM
USA
1096 Posts |
Posted - Apr 06 2013 : 08:51:23 AM
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Not an herb but neosporin is good for healing cuts pretty quickly. Aloe vera works well and is gentle. I once looked at aloe under a microscope and the cells were so cool to look at. I think it sort of makes a healing bandage over a wound. There is a medical product that works very well made made from honey. I used it on my Dad when he had bed sores. I have also heard that colloidal silver is good for healing wounds but I stay away from it cause it will turn a person blue and it is irreversible. A lady years ago showed me how to make it but the thing that stuck in my memory mostly is her neck was blue. I never used it. I don't want a blue neck.
Laura
Horse poor in the boonies.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/CrittergrannysLair
www.creamofthecroptrailrides.webs.com |
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sjmjgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
566 Posts
Stephanie
Mt. Vernon
Iowa
USA
566 Posts |
Posted - Apr 06 2013 : 10:42:21 AM
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I agree Laura! I once saw an episode of Oprah where she had a man who was COMPLETELY blue! Seems he had been taking colloidal silver for quite some time. Dr. Oz was stunned.
Farmgirl Sister # 3810
Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.
- Dalai Lama
April is Autism Awareness month. Autism affects 1 in 88 children (1 in 54 boys, including my son). Go to http://www.autismspeaks.org/ to learn more and help Light It Up Blue on April 2nd!
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ramonaj
True Blue Farmgirl
118 Posts
rhonda
gibsons
british columbia
Canada
118 Posts |
Posted - Apr 06 2013 : 11:43:04 AM
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I use Comfrey for many things for skin. I also had read the warnings about taking it internally or using it on broken skin. I took a class with Susun Weed and she said that it would be pretty close to impossible to ingest enough comfrey to damage your liver, as it takes huge amounts. Having said that, I use plaintain and comfrey together in slaves because comfrey heals so fast that bacteria can be trapped in the skin. plantain won't "let" something heal until it's clean. and if you put chickweed oil in the salve too, there's not much it won't heal. I use comfrey for so many things that I have it all over my garden. the other thing it'll do is help neutralize garden soil!
anyway that's my 2 cents.
happiness to all sentient beings |
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crittergranny
True Blue Farmgirl
1096 Posts
Laura
Lindrith
NM
USA
1096 Posts |
Posted - Apr 06 2013 : 7:46:56 PM
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Does anyone have a pic they can post of comfrey. I have heard lots of good things about it and would like to get some to grow. Also what are the other names for it? Tylenol is also something that harms the liver. Most pain meds for that matter and people still use it in moderation. Although if someone has a weak liver or something then they need to take that into account.
Laura
Horse poor in the boonies.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/CrittergrannysLair
www.creamofthecroptrailrides.webs.com |
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shawneefarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
91 Posts
Linda
Missouri
USA
91 Posts |
Posted - Apr 11 2013 : 05:52:44 AM
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Rhonda - are you saying that if I use chickweed, plantain and comfrey in a salve I could use it as a first aid crème on cuts, too?? That would be wonderful !!
I'll tell you the truth, if a man keeps my word, he will never see death." John 8:51 |
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TexasJo
True Blue Farmgirl
161 Posts
Jody
Berthoud
CO
USA
161 Posts |
Posted - Apr 13 2013 : 08:18:45 AM
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Hi Ladies - I can't tell you how excited I was to see herbs being discussed here when I joined the Sisterhood just the other day. I am a huge fan of all things herbs! I can't learn enough, use enough or just have enough around me! hahaa.. I wanted to mention that I use comfrey along with calendula and chamomile in my lip balm and lip gloss bases (and have used plantain a few times as well). The combination makes for great healing properties for chapped lips or for daily use. I have taken only a few classes on herbs, and am still a novice to the world of herbs, but I have heard a few times (and read in many places) that comfrey should not be used on an open cut and it sounds like what ya'll are saying here is correct -that it can heal over and trap dirt or bacteria too quickly, causing infection. I didn't know that plantain wouldn't let something heal until it's clean, Rhonda ~ I love that! I also have used comfrey in salves for dry and chapped hands, but care should be taken on open wounds and cuts, so the addition of plantain is something I need to remember!
We can do it! |
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ramonaj
True Blue Farmgirl
118 Posts
rhonda
gibsons
british columbia
Canada
118 Posts |
Posted - Apr 14 2013 : 6:35:40 PM
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Hi Shawnee, I use the chickweed, comfrey plantain salve on just about everything including cuts. another one i make has fresh lavender infused in it. I insist my son keep it in his tool box. he's a plumber and gets burned from time to time. my husband and his friends go fishing and camping all the time and if i send a salve with one, the others pout if they don't get one for their own use. men are so funny that way. A note about chickweed: it's so juicy that when you harvest it you need to infuse it into oil in the oven, very low heat until you can tell all the green is out of it. If you try to infuse it the way you do other herbs it can go moldy really quickly. sorry if i'm repeating info people already know, no idea what info people have. i love making oils and tinctures!
happiness to all sentient beings |
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TexasJo
True Blue Farmgirl
161 Posts
Jody
Berthoud
CO
USA
161 Posts |
Posted - Apr 15 2013 : 07:07:34 AM
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Hi Ronda, I have never used chickweed so this is really good to know. Thanks for sharing your info. I love making oils and tinctures too, so I love hearing about new ideas. Do you make lotion?
We can do it! |
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ramonaj
True Blue Farmgirl
118 Posts
rhonda
gibsons
british columbia
Canada
118 Posts |
Posted - Apr 18 2013 : 9:08:20 PM
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I make lotion using tinctures and oils mixed together. they're thicker like creams but you can just add more oil to make them thinner. My interest in making soap started me on making other types of body products
happiness to all sentient beings |
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TexasJo
True Blue Farmgirl
161 Posts
Jody
Berthoud
CO
USA
161 Posts |
Posted - Apr 19 2013 : 10:48:57 AM
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Hi Rhonda,
Makes total sense. A friend of mine got me hooked on making soap and that also led me to make other products. I started about 6-7 years ago and am still very hooked. I love learing about new stuff in this dept and sharing about it with others. I had to give up some of my gardening some years back now due to back surgery, so I was looking for other ways I can still be involved with plants. I took some clasess at different apothecary shops to learn about using essential oils and to make things on a more natural level. I took a couple of classes in lotion, but found it rather intimidating in the fact that it's hard to make it without preservatives, making it with only a short shelf life. Makes me nervous to think about the products that might start growing yucky stuff in them. So I have stuck to salves and lip balms and soap.
We can do it! |
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shawneefarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
91 Posts
Linda
Missouri
USA
91 Posts |
Posted - Apr 20 2013 : 7:40:04 PM
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Ramonaj: I never did this before, so......can you explain how I infuse in the oven-I'm not quite getting this yet.
I'll tell you the truth, if a man keeps my word, he will never see death." John 8:51 |
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ramonaj
True Blue Farmgirl
118 Posts
rhonda
gibsons
british columbia
Canada
118 Posts |
Posted - Apr 21 2013 : 10:13:45 AM
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To infuse chickweed in the oven, put your oven on the lowest temp possible. Cover the chickweed with a good quality (believe it or not I buy organic olive oil at Costco) Olive oil. then put it in the oven until you can see that the chickweed has lost a lot of its color. take out and let it drain. if you want a really clear oil, don't smash the chickweed, just let it drain. since I usually make salves or balms with it I don't care about the clarity and usually squeeze every last drop of oil i can get out of it. to keep it longer you can add a bit of poplar bud oil to your chickweed oil. Or you can just pop some poplar buds in there with it. I'm lucky in that poplar (or cottonwood depending on where you live) is plentiful here. It's good for aching joints too.
happiness to all sentient beings |
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ramonaj
True Blue Farmgirl
118 Posts
rhonda
gibsons
british columbia
Canada
118 Posts |
Posted - Apr 21 2013 : 10:24:33 AM
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Hi TexasJo, if you use tincture and oils together it tends to keep the bacteria count down as there's alcohol in the tincture. it's fun to experiment with. This is the recipe I use, mostly using lemon balm as I have loads of it. I also use calendula a lot.
Basic Cream
100 ml infused oil
25 gm. beeswax
25 gram palm oil or shea butter (you can use lanolin but many people get itchy so i tend not to)
50 ml. herbal tincture
Warm oils with beeswax. SLOWLY add tincture and whip until cooled. you can also add EO before whipping,if you like. Press into round jars. About 150 ml
happiness to all sentient beings |
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TexasJo
True Blue Farmgirl
161 Posts
Jody
Berthoud
CO
USA
161 Posts |
Posted - Apr 21 2013 : 11:01:58 AM
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Hi Rhonda,
Thanks for sharing your recipe! I will have to give this a try. I have used tinctures, but only for internal medicine and only when a clinical herbalist has created it for me. I have never heard of using tinctures in body products, so I don't know what you mean by an herbal tincture for a cream? Can you tell me more about that part? I have infused oils to use them in salves and lip balms. What kind of tincture would I use in a cream? For the infused oils, I typically use calendula, comfrey, plantain, chamomile, etc. This is so fascinating and I love learning new stuff about herbs! I will need to use a conversion chart as I don't work with ml & grams, I measure in ounces, but this will be fun to learn a different way to measure. Thanks for helping!!
We can do it! |
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shawneefarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
91 Posts
Linda
Missouri
USA
91 Posts |
Posted - Apr 21 2013 : 1:21:26 PM
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Ramonaj: thank you for the full explanation of oven infusing. Now I got it!!! I am so excited to have you knowledgeable girls to help me out with this. I am enjoying this, and so grateful to you all....
I'll tell you the truth, if a man keeps my word, he will never see death." John 8:51 |
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ramonaj
True Blue Farmgirl
118 Posts
rhonda
gibsons
british columbia
Canada
118 Posts |
Posted - Apr 21 2013 : 6:31:14 PM
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Hi TexasJo,
I know, the metric system is a pain to those of us raised with the "normal" system. most liquid measuring cups have mls now I think. my soap scale has a choice of grams or ounces or I'd be hooped. an herbal tincture is when you infuse the herb into alcohol, usually 2:1 alcohol to herb. you chop the herb as fine as you can, weigh it then add alcohol to cover. I use vodka, unless it's something that needs higher alcohol content, like propolis. usually it's 2:1 but not always. I'm not a purist when it comes to tinctures for creams. you let it sit for about 1000 hours, shaking it to give it some love and to be sure it remains covered in the alcohol. if it's not completely covered/soaked in alcohol it can get moldy. then strain and use. i tend to use either lemon balm or calendula as a base for my creams since i have so much and both are good for the skin. added bonus is the lemon balm smells really good. you can make herbal vinegars in the same way. nettle vinegar is really good for you. Hope this helps. any of the herbs you mention can be used for skin creams. I'm happy to share any info I have.
happiness to all sentient beings |
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TexasJo
True Blue Farmgirl
161 Posts
Jody
Berthoud
CO
USA
161 Posts |
Posted - Apr 22 2013 : 09:44:07 AM
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Hi Rhonda,
You are so sweet to share your information! It sounds like you make the herbal tincture in the same fashion as I make infused oils, only with alcohol instead of oil. I don't understand the purpose though? If you infuse oils for the creams, why do you need tincture also? Sorry for all the questions, I just like to understand the process and what it does for the body. Does adding tinctures change the properties in a beneficial way in addition to adding the infused oil? Is this what helps to preserve it? I am totally willing and am exicted about trying this. Yea, metric is different, but my scales to have grams and ounces I believe, so it shouldn't be a problem. I'm not at home at the moment to look. If not, I'm sure I can find a conversion chart. No worries there. I know a lot of recipes are written in grams, I just haven't used them yet. I love learning new stuff! :) Do you have a recipe for skin cream that is good for eczema issues? My mom suffers severely from it and I have made her oils and salves using Evening Primrose and it helps a lot, but a cream would be nice.
Thanks again for sharing -- I love talking about herbs as much as I like growing them and making things with them.
Take care,
Jo
We can do it! |
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ramonaj
True Blue Farmgirl
118 Posts
rhonda
gibsons
british columbia
Canada
118 Posts |
Posted - Apr 22 2013 : 8:13:19 PM
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Hi Jo, there's a couple of reasons to make both. one is that tinctures can be used internally more easily. they also last indefinitely as opposed to oils which can go bad. some herbs tend to infuse better in alcohol or vinegar. some don't work well with oil at all. generally speaking, if you use an oil and tincture together you get the benefit of both as some of the compounds break down a bit differently in oil and alcohol. you can also use glycerin to make tincture if you don't want to use alcohol but that method is way more convoluted. there are lots of creams that don't use tincture at all (Rosemary Gladstar's perfect cream is one) but i like the texture of this recipe. and it tends to last longer because of the alcohol content. I used the comfrey/plantain/ chickweed salve for a friend who has eczema and it worked pretty well. do you live somewhere you can get fresh comfrey? I never heard of it until i moved here but i never studied herbs before I moved here. and then i got hooked! herbs and soap making, i could go on all day...
happiness to all sentient beings |
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Herbal Wisdom: Comfrey/plantain salve |
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Comfrey/plantain salve
