Calendula Flowers
(Calendula officinalis) 

Mullein Flowers
(Verbascum thapsus)

Comfrey Leaves
(Symphytum officinale)

Comfrey Leaves This large plant is known for its remarkable wound healing, emollient, & anti-inflammatory properties. Comfrey promotes skin proliferation as well as draws toxins out of the skin and relieves itching. It is excellent for bee stings, splinters, burns, sores, rashes, chaps, cracks, cuts, scrapes, insect bites, etc. Wounds often heal quickly and without scarring. The leaves contain allantoin tannins, and polysaccharides, which provide its healing properties. They also contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which are more concentrated in the roots and have been shown to cause liver toxicity when high doses are taken over time. Therefore comfrey leaves are best suited for external application.

Calendula is widely used in cosmetology as a hydrating or moisturizing agent and is a common ingredient in many oils, creams, ointments, lotions, soaps, etc. because of its vulnerary, emollient, & anti-fungal properties. It is excellent for soothing and healing burns, wounds, eczema, psorrhiasis, rashes, and dermatitis. Calendula flowers contain many flavonoids, as well as carotenoids which give its color.

St. John’s Wort as well as treating depression, is an excellent remedy for treating all types of burns. It provides soothing relief to pain as well as promotes wound healing. St. John’s Wort is also used for treating neuralgia and nerve pain such as sciatica. It is known to contain anti-viral and anti-inflammatory compounds which have been the focus of much AIDS research. Hypericin, a red pigment classified as a naphthodianthrone, is thought to be an active constituent. Several flavonoids are also present.

Plantain Leaves have been traditionally used topically for their vulnerary, emollient, anti-inflammatory, and itch-relieving properties. They are useful for drawing out splinters or insect stingers and for healing insect bites, sores, rashes, cuts, scrapes, etc. The anti-inflammatory action may be due to iridoids such as aucubin & catalpol and their glycosides. Other compounds of interest in these plants include flavonoids, phenolic acids, phenylpropanoic glycoside esters, such as verbascoside & plantamajoside, & a mucilage, rich in L-arabinose, D-galactose & uronic acids, which may have a protective and water-retaining role. Both Plantago major and Plantago lanceolata are often used interchangeably.

Mullein Flowers have been traditionally used topically for their emollient and itch-relieving treatment of skin conditions such as insect bites, chaps, cracks, etc. The flowers contain a mucilage containing polysaccharides that are compriesed of arabinose, galactose, and uronic acids. They also contain flavonoids, iridoids, lignan glycosides, phenylpropanoic glycoside esters, and saponins.