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Home » Herbalism » Herbal Bath and Skincare Recipes » Salves and Creams » Comfrey Salve: Healing Herbal Recipe

Comfrey Salve: Healing Herbal Recipe

May contain affiliate links or sponsored content. Please see my privacy policy and affiliate disclosure.

Originally published on September 5, 2018. Last updated on September 1, 2023

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A flowering comfrey plant, and a tin of comfrey salve.

Learn how to make your own homemade comfrey salve. Comfrey has many medicinal benefits and is excellent for helping to heal minor wounds. This homemade comfrey salve helps to heal minor wounds fast!

A tin of healing comfrey salve surrounded by comfrey leaves and flowers.

Medicinal Benefits of Comfrey

I’m always amazed by the power of herbal medicine!

Comfrey is one of those herbs that truly has healing properties and is excellent when used in a salve. It is a plant that I will always have growing in my medicinal herb garden, even if it does have a tendency to spread.

Comfrey is a potent anti-inflammatory wound healer and both the root and leaves can be used. Also known as knitbone, comfrey is commonly used externally as a poultice for wounds, sores, burns, and fractures.

It makes an excellent salve, either on its own or combined with other healing herbs like calendula, plantain, yarrow, or lavender.

Comfrey speeds healing and promotes the growth of new skin cells. It should not be used on deep or infected wounds as it will heal the surface first and could potentially seal in an infection.

There is conflicting evidence on the safety of using comfrey internally, so please do your own research and proceed with caution.

Using it externally, like in this salve or as a poultice, is perfectly safe!

Besides being medicinal, comfrey is also great for the garden and makes an excellent natural compost tea.

a comfrey plant in flower

How to Make Comfrey Infused Oil

Before making this salve, you will need to make a comfrey infused oil.

I use dried comfrey leaf that I harvest from my garden and dry on homemade drying screens.

You can also purchase organic dried comfrey leaf from Mountain Rose Herbs.

Fill a pint jar about ½  to â…”rds full of dried comfrey leaf, then cover the plant material with your carrier oil of choice.

You can use a single carrier oil or a combination of oils. My favorite combination for making salves is equal parts of olive, coconut, and sweet almond oils.

Let the oil infuse in a cool and dark place for 4-6 weeks (or longer) before making this salve. Strain out the comfrey leaf before using in this recipe.

Comfrey Salve Recipe

To make the salve, first create a makeshift double boiler by putting a small bowl or a glass Pyrex measuring cup over a pot with about an inch of simmering water.

Put the comfrey oil and beeswax into the small bowl or Pyrex, and heat until the beeswax completely dissolves into the oil, stirring occasionally.

Add the shea butter and stir until it completely dissolves.

Carefully pour the mixture into small jars or tins and let sit until the salve sets up completely.

comfrey salve on a wooden surface with comfrey leaves and flowers

This comfrey salve is one that I always have on hand in my herbal medicine cabinet.

Comfrey has so many healing benefits, and this salve is amazing for healing minor cuts, scrapes, and wounds. It really works wonders!


Herbal Salve Recipes

Here are some other herbal salve recipes you may like:

  • Dandelion Salve
  • How to Make a Yarrow Plant Salve
  • Plantain Salve
  • Calendula Salve
  • Cannabis CBD Salve
  • St. John’s Wort Salve
  • How to Make an Herbal Salve
  • Herbal Bug Balm Salve
  • Diaper Rash Salve
  • 10 Herbal Salve Recipes for Natural Skin Care

A tin of comfrey salve surrounded by comfrey leaves and flowers, on a wood background.
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4.04 from 25 votes

Comfrey Salve

Learn how to make your own homemade comfrey salve. Comfrey has many medicinal benefits and is excellent for helping to heal minor wounds.
Prep Time 5 minutes minutes
Active Time 5 minutes minutes
Total Time 10 minutes minutes
Yield 12 ounce yield
Cost $5.25
Author Colleen @ Grow Forage Cook Ferment

Equipment

  • Small Saucepan
  • Small Glass Measuring Cup
  • Tins

Ingredients

US Customary – Metric

Comfrey Infused Oil

  • 2 cups carrier oil of choice
  • 1 cup dried comfrey leaves

Comfrey Salve

  • 1 cup comfrey infused oil
  • 1 ounce beeswax
  • 1 ounce refined shea butter

Instructions

Comfrey Infused Oil

  • Fill a pint jar about ½  to â…”rds full of dried comfrey leaf, then cover the plant material with your carrier oil of choice.
  • Let the oil infuse in a cool and dark place for 4-6 weeks (or longer).
  • Strain out the comfrey leaf before using in this recipe.

Comfrey Salve

  • Create a makeshift double boiler by putting a small bowl or a glass Pyrex measuring cup over a pot with about an inch of simmering water.
  • Put the comfrey oil and beeswax into the small bowl or Pyrex, and heat until the beeswax completely dissolves into the oil, stirring occasionally.
  • Add the shea butter and stir until it completely dissolves.
  • Carefully pour the mixture into small jars or tins and let sit until the salve sets up completely.

Notes

You can use a single carrier oil or a combination of oils. My favorite combination for making salves is equal parts of olive, coconut, and sweet almond oils.
This recipe makes approximately 12 ounces of salve total, or six 2 ounce tins.
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kathy Magouirk says

    September 7, 2023 at 9:44 am

    Where can I purchase comfrey plants? When you say in your recipe to add green comfrey oil, do mean what you made allowing 6 weeks?
    Would this help plants in the garden?

    Reply
    • Grow Forage Cook Ferment says

      September 11, 2023 at 12:43 pm

      You can buy comfrey seeds pretty much anywhere that sells medicinal seeds. Mountain Rose Herbs, Strictly Medicinal Seeds, etc. I couldn’t find anywhere in the recipe that says “green comfrey oil” but the salve is made with the comfrey infused oil I made in the first half of the recipe.

      Reply
  2. Stephanie says

    September 1, 2023 at 7:04 pm

    Can cocoa butter be used as a substitute for shea butter?

    Reply
    • Grow Forage Cook Ferment says

      September 5, 2023 at 9:43 am

      Yup!

      Reply
  3. Brenda says

    May 8, 2023 at 2:19 pm

    I’m going to be making some comfrey salve soon. I didn’t know you could “cook” it. Did you use high or low setting for 3 hours? I have been growing comfrey for a few years. I don’t understand why mine doesn’t grow up like yours and other pictures I’ve seen. My comfrey grows out, not up.

    Reply
    • Grow Forage Cook Ferment says

      May 9, 2023 at 8:36 am

      Hi Brenda. I’m not sure what you mean by cooking it, but if you mean infusing it with heat, yes, you can put the dried comfrey and carrier oils in a double boiler or slow cooker and simmer for 2-6 hours to speed up the infusion.

      Reply
  4. Maria says

    February 15, 2023 at 8:44 am

    Hello

    Great salves. Thank you for sharing all these recipes. Comfrey salve is the one I most use

    Reply
  5. Nina says

    February 7, 2023 at 7:21 pm

    hi there. you don’t mention how much Shea butter to use in the comfrey salve recipe. Please inform. Also, can I add celery seeds and how would I do that? I had a salve with them in it and am wondering if that ingredient has made my skin so soft. Thank You so much!!!!
    Many blessings to you-
    Nina Nathan

    Reply
    • Grow Forage Cook Ferment says

      February 9, 2023 at 9:28 am

      Hi Nina, did you scroll down the page to the recipe card? It says you’ll need one ounce of shea butter. I’ve never used a salve with celery seeds before, so I’m not sure how much you should use, but if you want to try, I would suggest adding them to the infused oil.

      Reply
  6. Kat says

    September 22, 2022 at 7:08 pm

    For your carrier oil combo, do you use fractionated coconut oil?

    Reply
    • Grow Forage Cook Ferment says

      September 26, 2022 at 8:21 am

      Hi Kat. I use refined coconut oil, but you definitely could use fractionated.

      Reply
  7. Elizabeth Conlin says

    May 11, 2022 at 1:01 pm

    I’ve been making infused oils & salves for 16 years and have never experienced them going rancid. I store them in a cool dry place. While the viscosity may stiffen over time and the potency of the phytochemicals will decrease, using vitamin E as a preservative works very well. Use 4 drops to a cup of infused oil at the end of processing.

    Reply
  8. Jo says

    March 6, 2022 at 8:41 pm

    Hi. I made this comfrey salve per recipe. and like it a lot. However, the texture has become grainy after a couple of weeks? Did I do something wrong? Do I need to temper the fat mixture? Thank you.

    Reply
    • Grow Forage Cook Ferment says

      March 7, 2022 at 8:50 am

      Some oils, like shea butter, when exposed to different temperatures melt and recrystallize if they aren’t cooled rapidly. I will usually keep my homemade salves refrigerated to ensure they’re always at a consistent temperature.

      Reply
  9. Ximena Martin says

    December 17, 2020 at 12:45 pm

    5 stars
    Hi! Why refined shea butter? can be unrefined? what’s the difference?
    Thank you!!!

    Reply
    • Grow Forage Cook Ferment says

      December 17, 2020 at 1:37 pm

      Hi there, you can use unrefined, but be aware that it does have a strong scent that not everyone likes. Refined shea butter has no scent.

      Reply
  10. Kristi says

    November 20, 2019 at 8:29 am

    4 stars
    This salve has been in the making for a long time. I bought the seeds grew the plants and had misplaced the recipe. Finally dried the leaves -soaked the leaves- and today made the salve. Anxious to give it a try.
    My only suggestion is you show a 1 cup pyrex. By the time you add the beeswax and Shea it overflows. Thanks again for sharing

    Reply
  11. Jennifer says

    May 17, 2019 at 11:52 am

    Hello! I am making a healing salve with comfrey, calendula and plantain. I was thinking about adding some cannabis but can’t find anything on the net about mixing these herbs. Do you have any thoughts?

    Thank you

    Reply
    • Grow Forage Cook Ferment says

      May 29, 2019 at 9:59 am

      Hi Jennifer, I think that sounds like a great combination!

      Reply
  12. Bobbie Bell says

    April 10, 2019 at 10:15 am

    I had made a tincture of comfrey, lavendar and lambs ear with vodka. Was ready to put it in dropper bottles when I saw comfrey should not be ingested. Would it work as a topical spray, or addition to a poultice? Would it work to use it with beeswax and/or shea butter since it is vodka and not oil? I hate to waste it…..

    Reply
    • Mark Streight says

      September 2, 2019 at 8:54 pm

      I drink one comfrey leaf twice a week it cured all my pain.One comfrey leaf,one glass of water,one glass of ice goes into my vitamix blender for one minute then its bottoms up tastes like a mild cucumber juice and abra cadabra no more back pain and no more arthritus pain in my hands or hip.More people die of aspirin every day of the week then have died of comfrey in recorded history.

      Reply
      • Lita says

        April 13, 2021 at 6:19 pm

        How big of a comfrey leaf are you talking here

    • Hmh says

      April 8, 2023 at 10:17 am

      Apparently the liver toxicity associated with consuming comfrey is from using very high doses over an extended period of time… as in 10 cups a day of steeped tea over several weeks… it’s not recommended to be a regular part of your tea consumption but I don’t think it sounds dangerous in acute situations when used only temporarily (just from what I have read so far…)
      I certainly wouldn’t throw out what sounds like a good tincture you’ve made!

      Reply
  13. Tracy says

    February 20, 2019 at 9:44 pm

    After i strain my comfrey and am left with my infused oils, does it get harder, more like an ointment, less like an oil? Also, how long before it gets rancid?

    Reply
    • Grow Forage Cook Ferment says

      February 24, 2019 at 1:06 pm

      No it won’t get harder unless you add some beeswax and/or some kind of butter like shea butter. If you use dried comfrey leaves and store the oil away from heat and light it will stay good for up to a year or more.

      Reply

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