by Henry N. Guernsey — Key-Notes to the Materia Medica
Where there is excessive pain from broken or injured bones; when they do not heal readily.
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Symphytum officinale appears in 8 of the 21 classic books on Similia. Each was written to do a different job — here is what each adds on this remedy, with the opening of its entry.
“Comfrey (Borraginaceae) Facilitates union of fractured bone (Cal. p.); lessens peculiar pricking pain; favors production of callous; when trouble is of nervous origin. Irritability at point of fracture; periosteal pain after wounds have healed. Mechanical injuries; blows, bruises, thrusts on the globe of the eye. Pain…”
“Comfrey-Knitbone (SYMPHYTUM) The root contains a crystalline solid, that stimulates the growth of epithelium on ulcerated surfaces. It may be administered internally in the treatment of gastric and duodenal juries to sinews, tendons and the periosteum. Acts on joints generally. Neuralgia of knee. Of great use in…”
“CARTILAGE. PERIOSTEUM. Flat bones. INJURIES. Blows from blunt instruments. FRACTURES. Excessively painful (old) injuries; to periosteum or cartilage. Comminuted fractures. Prickling, stitching pains. Eye and face injuries. Non-union. Deficient callus. Coldness. Related: Calc-p. SYPHILINUM (See Luesinum)”
“officinale. Bone-set. Healing Herb. Comfrey. N. O. Boraginaceæ. Tincture of fresh root-stock collected before flowering and in autumn. Tincture of fresh plant. Abscess / Backache, from sexual excess / Bone, cancer of; injuries of / Breasts, sore / Eyes, pains in; injuries of / Fractures / non-union of; nervous /…”
“Comfrey ; Healing Herb. Borraginaceæ. A native of Europe, where it grows on banks of streams and in meadows ; also found in United States. The tincture is prepared from the fresh root. Introduced by Jeanes. Fragmentary proving by Macfarlan. CLINICAL AUTHORITIES. Injury to eye , Gross, Rück. Kl. Erf., vol. 1, p. 317 …”
“Mechanical injuries, bad effects from blows, bruises, thrusts on the eye. Pain from fractured bones.”
“Common name: comfrey. Comminuted fractures (B.). Is an excellent remedy for broken bones where the bones refuse to knit (Calc-P.) (N.). It facilitates union of fractured bones, lessens peculiar pricking pain, and favours production of callus (Calc., Calc-P.) (A.). Irritability at the point of fracture (Hyper.) (A.)…”
Kent's Repertory lists Symphytum officinale in 17 rubrics. These are the ones where it carries the highest grade — the symptoms Kent treated as most characteristic. Most of them sit in EYE (4), GENERALITIES (4), FACE (2), ABDOMEN (1), BACK (1).
