CAPSULE 1
STACKS
Section 2: Room 3
Station 2
Dried Comfrey ~ EXTRACTION METHODS
UNLOCKING COMFREY'S BENEFITS
INFUSION
Infusion is the key to unlocking the health and beauty benefits that are buried deep within the Comfrey plant's leaf, stem and root system. The fresh or dried plant material must be soaked in a liquid to draw out the valuable components. The soaking process causes the mineral, chemical compounds, nutrients and vitamin properties to be extracted from the leaves and deposited - infused - into the liquid. The type of liquid and the extraction method that you choose will depend on the specific product and purpose you wish to achieve.
BENEFICAL PROPERTIES
EXTRACTION LIQUIDS
WATER
for BODY SOAK "TEA"
Dried Comfrey (or Fresh Comfrey) can be infused in water for various uses such as: a relaxing body soak, a compress, or for use in a poultice. When making a "tea" for a body soak the process is different from traditional methods used to make Plant "Tea" Fertilizer where the leaves are left to decompose over weeks. Instead, the dried or fresh leaves are infused into warm or hot water for a short period of time. The time spent in the hot water is called steeping and is typically timed at about 15 to 120 minutes. This method extracts the beneficial properties without rotting the plant material. The longer you steep the tea, the higher its mineral density becomes.
To fully extract all of the leave's available minerals the leaves may be used for more than one steeping session. Each batch will become less potent. Even then the the final batch of leaf remains contain traces amounts of beneficial minerals and may be chopped and recycled into the soil as an amender for your flower pots or your garden plot.
HOW TO MAKE COMFREY INFUSED BODY "TEA" SOAK
RUBBING ALCHOHL & WITCH HAZEL
for LINIMENT
Dry Comfrey is infused in Rubbing Alcohol or Witch Hazel for use as a soothing spray, topical rub or a compress soak. This liniment is used to soothe sore or aching muscles. This infusion technique resembles Plant Fertilizer "tea" infusion in that the plant material is left in the liquid for a long period of time, about four to six weeks to allow the minerals to be fully extracted.
Dried Comfrey is required for this infusion process to avoid molding, rancidity, which will increase the shelf life. The leaves may be recycled once to make another batch of liniment. The second batch will be less potent. The remains not suitable for soil amending.
HOW TO MAKE COMFREY INFUSED LINIMENT
PLANT BASED OILS
for BODY OIL
Dried Comfrey is infused in a plant based oil to use as a topical rub for easing muscle ache or pain. It is also used to promote faster healing of bruising and to soothe and calm minor burns that have unbroken skin. Infused oil is also a component of salve, ointment and cream formulation. The method to make an infused oil is similar to making a water based Body Soak "Tea". However, there are more terms, ingredients and infusion techniques to understand and consider. For detailed information visit : Station
Dried Comfrey is required for this infusion process to avoid molding, rancidity. which will increase the shelf life. The remains are not suitable for soil amending.
HOW TO MAKE COMFREY INFUSED OIL
