Symphytum – Comfrey

The mother tincture is prepared from the fresh root, gathered before flowering, of the plant Symphytum officinale L., which is found in damp meadows and in ditches in Europe and Siberia. N.O. Boraginaceae.

The tincture prepared from Symphytum contains essential oil and alkaloids, allan- toin, choline, the glycoside consolidin, tannins and resins.

Symphytum is very much a folk-remedy; there has not been a proving, and it has been used for many years in injuries and fractures of the bones, and also when there is involvement of the periosteum, whether from pressure, blows, falls, or bruising; it is also used in injury to the tendons and ligaments, and in irritability of the stump following amputation (Fellenberg-Ziegler).

Symphytum promotes callus-formation, as does Calcium Phosphoricum. Symphytum is used with success not only in irritable stumps after amputation,

(causalgia), but also in sensitivity of the bones at the site of a fracture.

Occipital headaches, which move about, possibly extending over the vertex to the forehead (cf. Cimicifuga), and also extend down the nasal bone, react to Symphytum. Inflammation of the mandible with hard infiltration and redness is likewise an in- dication for Symphytum (Boericke). It is especially recommended in pains of the eyes which occur after a blow with a blunt object, and generally in eye injuries, for

which Symphytum may be regarded as specific.

There may be ulceration of the eyeball, or at least the sensation of an ulcer, with spasmodic closing of the eyelids.

Heinigke mentions as an indication psoas abscess, following tubercular disease of the spine. In addition to inflammations of the lower jaw, inflammations of the pe- riosteum generally, following injury, are an indication for Symphytum. (Otherwise Ruta.) Symphytum is also said to act in backache following sexual excesses, and in the treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcers it is likewise useful.

Symphytum is generally used internally in low potencies, and externally in the tincture, or in compresses of diluted tincture. (1 part of tincture, made from the fresh plant in flower, to 5 parts of lukewarm water).

The essential symptoms and areas of indication for Symphytum are as follows:

1. Fractures of all kinds, especially of the long bones (legs), particularly indicated when the sites of the fractures are very painful (including pain which persists after the fracture has healed). Irritable stumps after amputation (causalgia).
2. Psoas abscess following tubercular disease of the spine. Inflammation of the mandible. Periosteal inflammations after injury.
3. Eye injury after contusion or blow.
4. Occipital headaches, changing position and extending forward, along and down the nasal bone.

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Symphytum officinale e radice,

published the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Fed- eral Gazette) for symphytum: injuries suffered to the bones and the periosteum.