Comfrey’s official name is Symphytom officinalis. Some of its common names are: Comfrey, knitbone, healing herb, bruisewort, consound, blackwort, wallwort, gum plant, black root, slippery root, nipbone, knitback, yalluc.

The therapeutic actions of comfrey are: Demulcent (soothing; relieves inflammation), cell proliferant (promotes granulation and formation of epithelial cells responsible for mending and healing the body), pectoral (remedy for chest infections), astringent (causes contraction and arrests discharges), nutritive, tonic, expectorant (facilitates coughing), alterative (purifies the blood), vulnerary (medieval term for a plant used to heal battle wounds),  mucilage (polysaccharides that have a slippery, mild taste and swell in water), and styptic (arrests bleeding).

These therapeutic properties are the reasons why comfrey has been used both traditionally and presently for a broad spectrum of ailments. It has long been used for coughs because of its expectorant and mucilage properties. Comfrey is also used for ulcerated and inflamed lung conditions, bronchitis, hemorrhage, asthma (excessive expectoration), tuberculosis, pleurisy, pneumonia, inflamed stomach or bowels, ulcerated kidneys, soothes gravel in bloody urine, diarrhea, dysentery, bruises, sprains, swellings, fractures cancers, torn ligaments, ruptures, broken bones, cuts, gout, gangrene, heart problems, ulcerous wounds, hemoptysis, catarrh, scrofula, anemia, leukorrhea, female debility, boils, gum boils, sinusitis, burns, and insect bites. Throughout the centuries, many herbalists have written about this great herb’s many medicinal qualities.

Dr. Shook commented on the efficacy of comfrey: "It does not seem to matter much which part of the body is broken, either internally or externally; comfrey will heal it quickly. It is a great cell proliferant, or new cell grower, it grows new flesh and bone alike, stops hemorrhage, and is wonderful for coughs, soothing and healing the inflamed tissues in a most remarkable manner." (School of Natural Healing by Dr. John R. Christopher 337)

Dr John R. Christopher had a very special place in his heart for comfrey. He writes in The School of Natural Healing:

Comfrey is one of the finest healers for the respiratory system, especially where there is hemorrhage of the lungs; it has saved thousands of lives. The root has been used reputably as both a tonic and a vulnerary from very ancient times up to the present. The root and leaves are most beneficial as a poultice in healing any obstinate or ulcerous wound. Comfrey forms an ingredient in a large number of herbal preparations, and it may be given wherever a mucilaginous or demulcent medicine is required. (School of Natural Healing by Dr. John R. Christopher 337)

Culpepper observed that comfrey was capable of many things and made this comment about his experience with comfrey: “The roots taken fresh, beaten small and spread upon leather and laid upon any place troubled with the gout presently gives ease: and applied in the same manner it eases pained joints and tends to heal running ulcers, gangrenes, mortifications, for which it hath by often experience been found helpful.” (A Modern Herbal by Mrs. M. Grieve 218)