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An Interesting Herb Fact
Lemon Balm and Rejuvenating Herbal Remedies
Lemon balm is one of the most beloved of the healing herbs. The scientific name of this herb-Melissa officinalis-reveals much of its history. It is thought that bees and lemon balm have been inextricably linked since ancient times. The name scientific name Melissa is derived from the Greek term for "honey bee." Moreover, many herbalists agree that lemon balm has much of the same healing and tonic properties that royal jelly and honey has. Lemon balm has traditionally been honored as an herb...
The Bone Healing History of Comfrey
Comfrey is an old herb
that has been used for centuries to heal fractures. An old folk name
for comfrey is knit bone, which is a reminder of how the plant was once
thought of as a potent healer that could help heal those with broken
bones. There is modern evidence that comfrey indeed has strong healing
properitis. It was found that comfrey contains allantoin, a chemical
that helps encourage the growth of muscle, cartilage, and bone growth.
The most common way to get allantoin to the muscle is by crushing the
herb into a powder that is then applied topically over an injured limb.
It is believed that the allantoin is then absorbed through the skin and
encourages the speedy healing of broken bones. Once upon a time, it was
not uncommon to hear of comfrey baths that were popular during the
Middle Ages. These comfrey baths were especially popular with women who
took them before marriage in order to repair the hymen and then restore
virginity.
Comfrey itself is slightly sweet, moist, and cool. Its chemical
constitution includes inulin, vitamin B 12, proteins, mucilage,
tannins, steroidal saponins, allantoin (this is mainly found in the
plants flowering tops), tannins, and pyrrolizidine. The aerial parts
and the root of the comfrey plant are most commonly used for healing
purposes. The aerial plants of the comfrey plant are often used to
create herbal remedies. The leaves of the comfrey plant are especially
rich in allantoin. The leaves and flowering tops of the plant are
mostly used for external purposes. These parts of the comfrey plant are
often used to create ointments and infused oils that are used to treat
arthritic pain, sprained joints, and other physical injuries. The
flowering tops of the comfrey plant should be harvested in the early
summer. The root of the comfrey plant is also widely used by
herbalists. The root of the plant has many of the same properties as
the leaves, but the root tends to be colder and nourishing in its
actions. Herbal remedies created from the root of the comfrey plant are
often used to treat varicose ulcers. The root should be harvested in
the spring or fall because this is when the allantoin levels in the
root are at its highest.
There are many common ways to prepare comfrey. The plant can be made
into a poultice. Traditional herbalists will puree fresh comfrey leaves
and apply the mixture to minor fractures. These are fractures that
would not need to be set in plaster. These types of injuries include
broken toes, ribs, or a hairline crack. Comfrey is often used in cream
form. This makes it easy to spread over pained areas. Comfrey-based
creams are often used to treat the symptoms of arthritis and any other
form of muscle damage. The aerial parts of the comfrey plant can also
be made into an infused oil that is used to treat bruises, arthritic
joints and pain, sprains, inflamed bunions and any other sort of
traumatic injury. |
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