Dria El
October 10th, 2001, 10:35 AM
Comfrey
(Symphytum officinale)
by David Dalton
Comfrey is one of the most well known and widely used herbs today. It is known around the world, in many cultures for its ability to heal tissue damage to the skin, bones, intestines, heart and arteries, lungs. There is literally no part of the body that this herb has not been used to repair tissue damage from wounds, from stress or from daily living. Its preparations include teas, salves, fresh leaves or roots for poultices, tinctures, sprays and mouthwashes. It was one of the plants used by the ancient bonesetters to heal fractures.
Comfrey is an herb, which has a strong presence. The large leaves which turn downward at the tips and the strong root which reproduces prolifically if split are both signatures of the plant's connection to the earth element. Herbs with strong earth signatures like comfrey, often have a strong ability to nurture and repair physical damage to the body. The tubular, bell-like flowers, which attract bees, express the plant's relationship to the air element. Comfrey's air signature is seen more in the use of the flower essence, which works, on the nervous system, the body's communication (air element) system.
Just as the herb, Comfrey works to repair tissue and bone damage, Comfrey flower essence provides the same type of repair action on the nervous system. This can have several beneficial effects on memory, coordination, reflex response, biofeedback and restoration of organ function, which may be shut down due to repression.
When memories have been suppressed by the unconscious mind to protect the psyche from the shattering pain of the event - as in the case of trauma or physical abuse - the nervous system can close down or atrophy around this memory. Comfrey flower essence heals neural pathways that are shutdown, assisting one in gaining access to these memories. With the release of memories, feelings and information to the conscious mind, the individual is able to process and release trauma.
The nervous system is the junction between the physical and the energetic. Strengthening the nervous system with Comfrey can increase one's ability to bring information from other levels into conscious awareness. This includes strengthening the ability to recall dreams, deepening meditation and journeying experiences or the developing of channeling abilities. It is also possible for Comfrey to re-activate of any sluggish or dormant functions in the physical.
For animals as well as humans, healing from bone fractures and surgery is assisted by comfrey, as the knitting of the tissues begins with the repair of the nervous system. I have noted the healing time for bone and ligament damage to reduce by 25-40% when Comfrey flower essence is taken during convalescence.
I also prescribe Comfrey flower essence for students studying for tests; for athletes seeking better performance in sports, especially where reflex and coordination are key factors in success; for those learning to control autonomic functions such are heart rate and blood pressure; for stressful work and busy schedules when many details must be worked with simultaneously.
I gave Comfrey flower essence to a 28-year-old client who was unable to access feelings and memories in her psychotherapy work. Very shortly afterward, her psychotherapeutic work jumped to another level as she began unraveling many old and previously buried feelings and memories around early traumas. We were able to modulate the dosage so that the memories were not disruptive to her professional life. Along with the retrieval of memories came the relief of some facial pains that had bothered her for most of her adult life and the her return to a normal menstrual cycle which had stopped for 7 years.
(Symphytum officinale)
by David Dalton
Comfrey is one of the most well known and widely used herbs today. It is known around the world, in many cultures for its ability to heal tissue damage to the skin, bones, intestines, heart and arteries, lungs. There is literally no part of the body that this herb has not been used to repair tissue damage from wounds, from stress or from daily living. Its preparations include teas, salves, fresh leaves or roots for poultices, tinctures, sprays and mouthwashes. It was one of the plants used by the ancient bonesetters to heal fractures.
Comfrey is an herb, which has a strong presence. The large leaves which turn downward at the tips and the strong root which reproduces prolifically if split are both signatures of the plant's connection to the earth element. Herbs with strong earth signatures like comfrey, often have a strong ability to nurture and repair physical damage to the body. The tubular, bell-like flowers, which attract bees, express the plant's relationship to the air element. Comfrey's air signature is seen more in the use of the flower essence, which works, on the nervous system, the body's communication (air element) system.
Just as the herb, Comfrey works to repair tissue and bone damage, Comfrey flower essence provides the same type of repair action on the nervous system. This can have several beneficial effects on memory, coordination, reflex response, biofeedback and restoration of organ function, which may be shut down due to repression.
When memories have been suppressed by the unconscious mind to protect the psyche from the shattering pain of the event - as in the case of trauma or physical abuse - the nervous system can close down or atrophy around this memory. Comfrey flower essence heals neural pathways that are shutdown, assisting one in gaining access to these memories. With the release of memories, feelings and information to the conscious mind, the individual is able to process and release trauma.
The nervous system is the junction between the physical and the energetic. Strengthening the nervous system with Comfrey can increase one's ability to bring information from other levels into conscious awareness. This includes strengthening the ability to recall dreams, deepening meditation and journeying experiences or the developing of channeling abilities. It is also possible for Comfrey to re-activate of any sluggish or dormant functions in the physical.
For animals as well as humans, healing from bone fractures and surgery is assisted by comfrey, as the knitting of the tissues begins with the repair of the nervous system. I have noted the healing time for bone and ligament damage to reduce by 25-40% when Comfrey flower essence is taken during convalescence.
I also prescribe Comfrey flower essence for students studying for tests; for athletes seeking better performance in sports, especially where reflex and coordination are key factors in success; for those learning to control autonomic functions such are heart rate and blood pressure; for stressful work and busy schedules when many details must be worked with simultaneously.
I gave Comfrey flower essence to a 28-year-old client who was unable to access feelings and memories in her psychotherapy work. Very shortly afterward, her psychotherapeutic work jumped to another level as she began unraveling many old and previously buried feelings and memories around early traumas. We were able to modulate the dosage so that the memories were not disruptive to her professional life. Along with the retrieval of memories came the relief of some facial pains that had bothered her for most of her adult life and the her return to a normal menstrual cycle which had stopped for 7 years.