Use comfrey to fix a broken toe – Photo Tutorial. Herbal Tip #1

Hi friends,

First a big thanks to everyone for helping our book 2, Deadly Escape get a fancy #1 New Release banner in the Infectious Disease category.

And special thanks to the eight people who gave us the crucial reviews a brand-new book needs, like:

Scott: “The intensity is ramped up in this entry, as the non-stop action makes for one exciting story. All while building up the suspense as the plots continue to unfold. With the authors doing a great job on the characters (both good and bad) as well. I can’t wait for the finale to hit.”

Deadly Escape: Book 2 in Escaping the Virus

But what about my broken toe? And how am I fixing it?

I gotta say that comfrey is one of my top ten favorite herbs. Nicknamed ‘Knitbone’ for it’s ability to heal broken bones, it contains allantoin, a substance that supercharges the healing process so injuries can heal much faster – and it can even help minimize scarring.

It grows via root propagation and if you can get a start, it’s hardy enough to come back year after year.

The root is medicinally stronger than the leaf, but either works. Both fresh and dried can be used.

So, how do you use it for an injury?

Simple: Make tea. Soak the owie. 😀

Here are a few pics and a bit more explanation:

Step 1: Broken Toe (hint – the purple one next to the pinkie)

Step 2: Chop up a bunch of prickly comfrey leaves (root works well, too):

Step 3: Cover with water, bring to a boil, cover and turn down to simmer for 10-20 mins or just leave to steep and cool on its own if you’re not in a hurry.

Step 4: Strain off the ‘tea’ or extract. Keep refrigerated and heat a portion when it’s time to soak

Step 5: Soak the injury 2 – 4 times a day and watch how fast you heal. It’s amazing! For hard to soak injuries like a rib or shoulder, warm the extract, dip a cloth or paper towel and drape over the injury. You can reuse the clothes by bagging them and refrigerating them for next time.

This is my foot right now as I’m sitting at my desk typing this up. 😀

Note: Comfrey has been painted as dangerous for internal use (still fine for external) because of a substance that can damage the liver. But the data is questionable, ie. isolating the dangerous substance instead of using the whole herb, rat studies, using excessive quantities, etc. Check out the studies and decide for yourself. (Or compare the number of deaths due to liver damage by correctly prescribed Tylenol vs comfrey.)

Have any of you ever used comfrey? I’d love to hear your experiences.

And thanks for the well wishes for my trip – we’re driving cross country and will be visiting family and friends for the next few weeks. Road Trip!! 😀

Thanks again for all your support!

______________________ 

Misty’s Writing Update:

Here’s a sample of what I’ve been doing this week:

• Changing the oil and rotating tires on the van
• mountains of laundry
• buying lots of snacks – healthy and not-so-healthy
• loading phones and tablets with audiobooks, ebooks and movies
• buying new shoes for a teen boy who insisted just 2 weeks ago that his were “perfectly fine!”
• buying shorts for a different teen boy who found only one pair when it came time to pack.
• repacking the suitcase the 6-year-old girl packed 2 months ago when she found out about the road trip. It was full of clothes that didn’t fit and others she didn’t like. LOL. But, hey, at least she tried.

Yep, we’re going on a big road trip. Two days of driving out West to visit family and friends and then the same drive back two weeks later.

So, not much writing going on here, I know (except for this newsletter). But this is the last big trip of the summer, and then my son (the third child) will be leaving to serve a two-year mission for our church. With him leaving the nest, only three will still be living at home when fall comes.

Such a happy and sad moment. When they’re adults stepping out on their own with confidence, but you still miss them.

Wish us luck on our two-day drive out West! The middle teen will be helping with some of the driving to get hours before he tests for his license in the fall. Eeek!!

If you don’t hear from me after this, it was nice knowing all of you! 😀

Happy reading this week!

— Misty 🙂