Magical and Medicinal Properties of Comfrey

Gender: Feminine
Planet: Saturn
Element: Water
Powers: Divination, Healing, Luck, Meditation, Prosperity, Protection, Travel
Magical Uses and History: Comfrey, whose scientific derives from the Greek symphytum which means "grow together," is native to Europe and Asia where it was historically used to treat a number of ailments, including bruises, sprains, broken bones wounds, inflammation, and stomach ulcers. The Greeks and Romans commonly used it to treat wounds, stop bleeding, and mend broken bones, giving rise to it being referred to as boneset (not to be confused with Eupatorium perfoliatum which is also referred to as boneset) and knitbone. It was commonly brought along with troops during battle for such purposes. During the Middle Ages, Nicholas Culpeper said that comfrey was able to bind wounds and sores as the boiled remains created a glue-like substance. He prescribed the plant to treat everything from cuts and abrasions to hemorrhoids and gout. Its ability to heal and mend wounds was so prominent that during World War II, comfrey was added to First Aid packs. As such, comfrey is deeply associated with healing and binding and therefore can be used in spells and rituals to mend a broken heart, heal spiritual wounds, and even bind people together to ensure fidelity.

Because of its binding nature and its use in first aid, comfrey has also been used to bring luck and prosperity, as well as protection, especially when it comes to traveling and gambling. Comfrey can be placed in your wallet or purse, kept in a cash register, or rubbed on money to ensure it comes back to you. Some people even store their gambling money with comfrey leaves prior to gambling to ensure luck and high returns. For traveling, comfrey was often carried to ensure safe travels and avoid blisters. As such, place comfrey in your luggage, create a sachet with comfrey to hang in your car, carry on your person, or place in your shoes when traveling to ensure you arrive safely at your destination and ward off unwanted negative entities. You can also include comfrey in a protection sachet while hedge riding or otherwise engaging in astral travel to ensure your safe return. Comfrey can also be planted near your doors and windows to ward off thieves. 

Finally, some sources suggest using comfrey alongside mugwort during divination to open your mind, increase focus, and aid in spirit communication. This appears to be a more modern correspondence as I cannot find any folklore suggesting this as a historical use.

Comfrey can be used in a number of spells including:

    Healing Spells
    Protection Magic

    Luck and Gambling Spells

    Prosperity Spells

    Divination

Medicinal Uses: Comfrey's impressive healing abilities are largely due to its high concentration of allantoin which stimulates cell division and growth, thus promoting healing inside and out. It's also a natural astringent, reducing bleeding and hemorrhaging and aiding in cellular repair. Furthermore, comfrey is a demulcent, meaning it creates a protective film over a mucous membrane, which makes it great for treating ulcers, hernias, and ulcerative colitis. Comfrey should not, however, be used to treat deep wounds, especially deep puncture wounds, as it can cause the surface to heal faster than the deep tissue which can result in the formation of an abscess. Furthermore, comfrey should not be used internally unless guided by a doctor, because it contains high concentrations of pyrrolizidine alkaloids that damage the liver and can lead to death. In fact, comfrey has been deemed so dangerous that the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and Germany have all banned oral products containing comfrey. While you can still purchase the herb, be mindful of consuming it, especially if you are pregnant, expecting to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.

Preparation and Dosage: Under the supervision of a licensed herbalist or doctor, comfrey can be taken internally for a short period of time as a decoction or tincture. To create a decoction, add 1-3 teaspoons of dried roots and leaves in a cup of water and bring to a boil. Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Consume no more than 3 times a day. As a tincture, take 2-4 milliliters up to three times a day. Again, do not consume comfrey internally unless under the supervision of a licensed herbalist or doctor. Externally, comfrey can be used as a salve or poultice. To create a salve, combine 1 1/2 cups of fresh comfrey leaves  (or 1 cup of dried leaves or roots) with enough olive oil to cover in a jar. Store the comfrey oil mixture in a well-lit window for 2-6 weeks, shaking daily. Strain and combine the infused oil with 1-ounce beeswax in a pot. Stir until well combined and pour into tins. Allow to cool completely before use. Apply directly to minor wounds, bites, bruises, and achy joints. The infused oil can also be used as a hair treatment to promote growth or applied to minor wounds, bites, and bruises for the same results as a salve. To create a poultice, crush fresh leaves with a small amount of water until a mash forms. Place directly onto the minor cut, bite, bruise, or mild burn.

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