Herbal Skin Relief: Comfrey
Chamomile and witch hazel are to herbal skin remedies most of us have heard of, but what about comfrey? Comfrey has been has been used as a healing herb, stopping heavy bleeding, healing wounds and bones, and aiding internal ailments, since the times of ancient Greece and Rome.
Info: The comfrey plant, especially the root, contains allantoin, which is also found in the milk of nursing mothers, and helps calm inflammation and speeds up new cell growth. Comfrey also contains Vitamins C and E and Beta-Carotene, which the body converts into Vitamin A, making it a good addition to lotions to keep your skin soft and youthful.
Note: Comfrey was originally used internally to treat internal ailments, coughing, diarrhea, etc., but more recent studies have shown that it should no longer be used in this manner. Comfrey contains hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which can cause severe liver damage. At least one death was the result of ingesting comfrey in extreme amounts.
Comfrey Bonus!: It can be made into a liquid fertilizer for organic gardening.
