Komprey
Symphytum officinale · Comfrey
The plant today
Symphytum officinale is a perennial flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae. Along with 34 other species of Symphytum, it is known as comfrey (from the Latin confervere to 'heal' or literally to 'boil together', referring to uses in ancient traditional medicine). Internal or long-term topical use of comfrey is discouraged due to its strong potential to cause liver toxicity. To differentiate it from other members of the genus Symphytum, this species is known as common comfrey or true comfrey. Other English names include boneset, knitbone, consound, and slippery-root. It is native to Europe, growing in damp, grassy places.
Excerpt from “Symphytum officinale” on Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Recorded in the Philippines
GBIF holds 5 records of this plant from the Philippines. The ones with map coordinates fall in 2 provinces: Isabela (2), Agusan del Sur (2).
Counts from GBIF occurrence records, October 2026. They include planted trees and garden plants, and a province with no records may only lack collectors.
What the 1985 book uses it for
A record of home remedies from 1985, with the book's amounts and doses reworded. It is not medical advice.
- Skin eruptions and dermatitisLeaf juice, applied.Apply three times a day.Page 37
Summarised from Herminia de Guzman-Ladion, Healing Wonders of Herbs (Manila: Philippine Publishing House, 1985), where this plant is shown as “Comfrey” on page 80. The book is in copyright, so its wording and photographs are not reproduced. Amounts are the book's, restated.
Recent research
The most cited papers since 2022 that name this plant in the title, pulled from Europe PMC in October 2026. Titles are the authors' own and the findings have not been reviewed here.
- Artemisia abrotanum and Symphytum officinale Polyphenolic Compounds-Rich Extracts with Potential Application in Diabetes Management
- Metronidazole Potentiation by Panax Ginseng and Symphytum officinale: A New Strategy for P. gingivalis Infection Control
- Healing of Skin Wounds in Rats Using Creams Based on Symphytum Officinale Extract