Last week I got a little fracture on my pinkie toe. I was cutting wood and one log landed on my foot full blast (I was wearing my crocks…I know…shssss). Comfrey has been used since antiquity to join bones, and treat swollen joints and muscles so I made a poultice with some fresh leaves. The inflammation and the blackness have almost gone; I am still in pain though so I still apply the poultice twice daily.
You can use this same poultice with other plants to treat other conditions: for example with Prunella Vulgaris to treat boils and cankers and with Calendula to aid circulation and reduce the swelling of varicose veins. When using Comfrey remember to scald the leaves before making the poultice. Comfrey leaves produce a rush with small boils similar to nettles when used without scalding.
How to make a non-dripping poultice
Most people are discouraged to use poultices as they add too much water to the mix and the paste becomes runny. Yet it is the most effective way to benefit from the plants healing properties to treat certain conditions. To solve the problem I add agar-agar and flour to the mix to absorb excess water so you can wear the poultice under your clothes.
To make the poultice paste you will need:
- Some plant (remember to scald Comfrey)
- A bit of water
- A mortar and pestle
- A pot and wooden spoon
- 1 sp of agar-agar
- 1 sp of any flour
- Cut your plant in small bits, cover it with a bit of water and place in the fire for a few minutes. Do not let it go over 40ºC.
- Place the warm plant bits and water in a mortar and pestle, start working it. Add a spoon of agar-agar and a spoon of flour and keep working it.
- Bring back to the fire so that agar- agar and the flour absorb the water and work it until it has a paste consistency.
To apply to your damaged area you will need:
- The plant paste
- some cotton bandage
- some elastic bandage
Place a spoonful of the plant paste over the damaged area, cover with the cotton bandage and wrap it up with the elastic bandage so that it stays together..et Voila! Wear if for 12 hours and change twice daily.
Buy your Comfrey plant from The Green Witch Harvest
https://thegreenwitchharvest.etsy.com/listing/1703253531