Good morning Usha Di and thank you for updating me with Boraginaceae members. I know only one, হাতিসুর ..... :)
Regards, surajit On Thu, Jun 7, 2012 at 7:32 AM, ushadi Micromini <[email protected]>wrote: > *Boraginaceae Week :: UD003 COMFREY or **Symphytum officinale **Herbal > medicine* > > * > * > > > ** > > *Comfrey is a perennial herb of wonderful herbal properties... healing > not only humans, animals but also mother earth.. grows to be 2-3 feet tall > with flower spikes that bear white , pink flowers... there is a wild > variety with blue flowers also ... > * > > > ** > > *Its the knitbone of yore... for centuries past ... used as poultice, > cream oil and in few cases as infusion to heal bruises, fractures, > inflammations such as osteoarthritis... stomach ulcers, irritable bowel > syndrome and bronchitis... acne, psoriasis and even scars. > * > > ** > > > ** > > *Its reported to have allantoin which speeds epitheilal healing, inulin, > saponins and and one herbal book even mentions Vit b12 along with Vit A > and C*, *proteins* *and tannins... and rosemarininc acid.* > > > *BUT the roots have the high levels of pyrroziline alkaloids that lead to > hepatic cellular damage and veno-ooclusive disease which may result in > death... > * > > *so in the last century it was recommended not to use without supervision > * > > *NOW HOW DOES IT HELP MOTHER EARTH? * its a rich source of > micronutrients esp potassium, iodine and silicon (in useful forms) and > its leaf juice (fermented), is used as an organic fertilizer esp for > potatoes, vegetables , does wonders in soils depleted of these nutrients, > for flowering plants and fruiting trees... its leaves make a good > manure-pile starter/base... > > > since this plant grows abundantly in wet low lying soils and riverbanks... > and high heat, i personally thin its use can be adapted in INDIA .... only > problem is some varieties may become widespread weeds... ecologically a > problem may develop... so careful study is needed... but this is a plant > worth investigating, our soil in India is badly being depleted by > indiscriminate farming and uncontrolled chemical fertilizer and insecticide > use and hormone injections into vegetables!!!!! > The leaves decompose on their own an dissolve and feed the growing plants > , I have seen farmers put down a couple of inches of Comfrey leaves around > fruit trees an mulch... > and use leaf decomposition liquid for vegetables, green beans that thrive > in proper k and other mineral containing soils and are thus good for us .... > > I could not locate my digital era photos… What I am submitting is digital > in-camera scans of old color prints from several years ago…. So the > color reproduction of the flowers which were a very pleasing pink with some > white is not reproducing as such, even though I tried darkening it in > the scanner… > > > The last print is a recent digital pic of top surface the leaves only from > a large leaf variety. > > -- > Usha di > =========== > >
