Dear Bimal da: yes, that's the russian comfrey...
Dr Duke wrote about it at length: http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/duke_energy/Symphytum_peregrinum.html hope you enjoy the review and Thank you for your kind words Usha == On Thu, Jun 7, 2012 at 8:19 AM, Bimal Sar kar <[email protected]> wrote: > Thank you Ushadi for educating me on the subject.I have not seen this > plant.I find reference of Symphytum asperum and Symphytum peregrinum in The > Useful Plants of India a CSIR publication.Both the species are > introduced.This is what the book says about the second plant, > " One of the most nutritious forage plants,introduced in India for > trial. > Bimal > ============================= usha di > > 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 >> =========== >> >> > -- Usha di ===========
