Symphytum officinale

Symphytum officinale, commonly known as comfrey, is a perennial herbaceous plant native to Europe and Asia, belonging to the family Boraginaceae. The Latin name Symphytum is derived from the Greek word symphyo, meaning "to unite" or "to knit together," reflecting the plant's traditional use in wound healing and bone setting. In Hebrew, it is known as סימפיטום (Symphytum) or צמח הרופא (Tzamach HaRofeh, meaning "healer plant"). Other relevant translations include consuelda mayor in Spanish, grande consoude in French, and Beinwell in German. Comfrey has been used for centuries in traditional medicine for its purported anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and tissue-regenerating properties, primarily due to the presence of allantoin and rosmarinic acid in its leaves and roots. However, its use is controversial due to potential hepatotoxic effects caused by pyrrolizidine alkaloids. The plant typically grows in moist, grassy areas and can reach heights of up to 1.2 meters, with bell-shaped flowers that range in color from yellow to purple.