MRS J TYLER, of Wallingford Road, Kingsbridge, writes:

Thank you for publishing the article on comfrey recently.

About 30 years ago the first Ten Charities Fair was held in Kingsbridge Market Hall and, besides selling donated goods, I made some comfrey ointment to sell because I had read how to do so in a book.

It was at the second Ten Charities Fair that a lady came to me and said: 'I have been looking for you, all year, in every craft show in Devon. That comfrey ointment is marvellous!'

About that time Churches Together opened the Cornelius charity shop in Mill Street and I have been supplying the shop ever since.

People down here on holiday will buy a year's supply as one cannot buy comfrey ointment in shops.

It is truly fantastic in its healing properties. Besides preventing the development of spots, styes and bruises, it is effective in reducing arthritic pain, and reducing the itching of chicken pox and other causes.

A friend asked me to send some out to South Africa where it had given relief to the itching after chemotherapy.

Drinking comfrey tea – pour boiling water over some leaves – is very healing internally.

One man I know was told that it would take six months for his recovery from an operation. He had one drink of comfrey tea and when the doctor saw him next he was surprised and said he would be better in a fortnight.

A friend in Dartmouth drank comfrey tea daily after her operation and her doctor said: 'These scars look as if you had the operation months ago – and you only had it last week!'