Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) is plant found to grow in a lot of places, possibly even your own backyard. It has been given a bad wrap for being banned in some countries due to its pyrrolizidine alkaloid content. This is unfortunate, and to quote my teacher, “You would have to drink about a bathtub of comfrey tea every day for months or a year to experience its toxic effects.” People should remember, herbs are not drugs.
So, now that you’ve been warned, here is a comfrey paste to apply to acne infected skin:
- Pick comfrey leaves (take only as much as you need)
- Boil for 3-5 minutes
- Food process the boiled leaves into a paste
- Apply to the affected area (once the paste is no longer hot)
- Leave for 20-30min before washing off
As always, it is best to speak with your ND to see this is the right treatment for you. Also, an ND can prescribe an herbal tincture or tea to enhance the efficacy of the comfrey paste.
Stony Plain Naturopathic Clinic 