Golden Age Wellness

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Stiff Joints? Try this Herb for Relief

I was delighted to find an herb that not only relieves pain, but actually repairs tissues.

Comfrey is well-known in folk medicine as “knitbone”.  Now scientific studies have verified that comfrey, when applied topically, penetrates so deep into the tissues that it can even heal bone fractures.

Comfrey owes its healing powers to allantoin, a compound that stimulates the regeneration of connective tissue, and rosmarinic acid, which reduces inflammation at the cellular level.  As a result, comfrey heals bruises, pulled muscles, and torn ligaments in addition to relieving the pain of those conditions.

Comfrey also has many applications for rejuvenating and protecting skin. In addition to its tissue-regenerating powers, comfrey contains collagen-stimulating vitamin C and anti-aging antioxidants. It  heals scars, hydrates skin, reduces fine lines, and protects skin from irritants.

Comfrey can be dangerous if taken internally.  It is banned in the U.S. and many other countries for internal use due to alkaloids that can cause liver damage.  It also should not be applied to broken skin. Comfrey can heal so quickly that it can seal an infection into a wound.

At Golden Age Wellness, we use comfrey in our Joint Repair Warming Salve. It contains essential oils that warm up stiff joints and shea butter to moisturize skin.