Vinum Symphyti Compositum.—Compound Wine of Comfrey.
Related entry: Symphytum.—Comfrey
(A lot of plants in the Boraginaceae contain hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Comfreys are among them. More info here: Livertoxic PAs --Henriette.)
Preparation.—Take of comfrey root, Solomon's-seal root, helonias root, each, in coarse powder, 1 ounce; chamomile flowers, calumba root, gentian root, cardamom seeds, sassafras bark, each, in coarse powder, ½ ounce; sherry wine, 4 pints; boiling water, a sufficient quantity. Place the herbs in a vessel, cover with boiling water, and let the compound macerate for 24 hours, keeping it closely covered; then add the sherry wine. Macerate for 14 days; express and filter. Malaga wine, which is sometimes used in this preparation, is inferior to sherry wine, and more liable to decomposition. The addition of sugar to this wine of comfrey is apt to disagree with many persons, and thus destroy its efficiency. This preparation is sometimes called Restorative Wine Bitters, but is much superior to the article formerly known by this name.
Action, Medical Uses, and Dosage.—This is a most valuable tonic in all diseases peculiar to females, especially leucorrhoea, amenorrhoea, weakness of the back, etc. The dose is from ½ to 2 fluid ounces, 3 or 4 times a day.
