Thanks Ushadi for sealing the identity.
-- Dr. Gurcharan Singh Retired Associate Professor SGTB Khalsa College, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007 Res: 932 Anand Kunj, Vikas Puri, New Delhi-110018. Phone: 011-25518297 Mob: 9810359089 http://www.gurcharanfamily.com/ http://people.du.ac.in/~singhg45/ On Thu, Jun 7, 2012 at 10:30 AM, ushadi Micromini <[email protected] > wrote: > Dear Bimal da: yes, that's the russian comfrey... > > > Dr Duke wrote about it at length: > http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/duke_energy/Symphytum_peregrinum.html > hope you enjoy the review > > and Thank you for your kind words > Usha > == > > On Thu, Jun 7, 2012 at 8:19 AM, Bimal Sar kar <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Thank you Ushadi for educating me on the subject.I have not seen this >> plant.I find reference of Symphytum asperum and Symphytum peregrinum in The >> Useful Plants of India a CSIR publication.Both the species are >> introduced.This is what the book says about the second plant, >> " One of the most nutritious forage plants,introduced in India for >> trial. >> Bimal >> > > ============================= > usha di > >> >> On Thu, Jun 7, 2012 at 7:32 AM, ushadi Micromini < >> [email protected]> wrote: >> >>> *Boraginaceae Week :: UD003 COMFREY or **Symphytum officinale **Herbal >>> medicine* >>> >>> * >>> * >>> >>> >>> ** >>> >>> *Comfrey is a perennial herb of wonderful herbal properties... healing >>> not only humans, animals but also mother earth.. grows to be 2-3 feet tall >>> with flower spikes that bear white , pink flowers... there is a wild >>> variety with blue flowers also ... >>> * >>> >>> >>> ** >>> >>> *Its the knitbone of yore... for centuries past ... used as poultice, >>> cream oil and in few cases as infusion to heal bruises, fractures, >>> inflammations such as osteoarthritis... stomach ulcers, irritable bowel >>> syndrome and bronchitis... acne, psoriasis and even scars. >>> * >>> >>> ** >>> >>> >>> ** >>> >>> *Its reported to have allantoin which speeds epitheilal healing, >>> inulin, saponins and and one herbal book even mentions Vit b12 along >>> with Vit A and C*, *proteins* *and tannins... and rosemarininc acid.* >>> >>> >>> *BUT the roots have the high levels of pyrroziline alkaloids that lead >>> to hepatic cellular damage and veno-ooclusive disease which may result in >>> death... >>> * >>> >>> *so in the last century it was recommended not to use without >>> supervision >>> * >>> >>> *NOW HOW DOES IT HELP MOTHER EARTH? * its a rich source of >>> micronutrients esp potassium, iodine and silicon (in useful forms) and >>> its leaf juice (fermented), is used as an organic fertilizer esp for >>> potatoes, vegetables , does wonders in soils depleted of these nutrients, >>> for flowering plants and fruiting trees... its leaves make a good >>> manure-pile starter/base... >>> >>> >>> since this plant grows abundantly in wet low lying soils and >>> riverbanks... and high heat, i personally thin its use can be adapted in >>> INDIA .... only problem is some varieties may become widespread weeds... >>> ecologically a problem may develop... so careful study is needed... but >>> this is a plant worth investigating, our soil in India is badly being >>> depleted by indiscriminate farming and uncontrolled chemical fertilizer and >>> insecticide use and hormone injections into vegetables!!!!! >>> The leaves decompose on their own an dissolve and feed the growing >>> plants , I have seen farmers put down a couple of inches of Comfrey leaves >>> around fruit trees an mulch... >>> and use leaf decomposition liquid for vegetables, green beans that >>> thrive in proper k and other mineral containing soils and are thus good for >>> us .... >>> >>> I could not locate my digital era photos… What I am submitting is >>> digital in-camera scans of old color prints from several years ago…. So >>> the color reproduction of the flowers which were a very pleasing pink with >>> some white is not reproducing as such, even though I tried darkening >>> it in the scanner… >>> >>> >>> The last print is a recent digital pic of top surface the leaves only >>> from a large leaf variety. >>> >>> -- >>> Usha di >>> =========== >>> >>> >> > > > -- > Usha di > =========== > >
