But there's little if any risk in applying comfrey externally. It's still my first line of defense against sores that are slow to heal. To use it, you can take some fresh leaves and rub them directly on the affected area. You can also find commercial skin-care products containing comfrey in many health food stores. Echinacea has potent immune-stimulating properties that help the body heal wounds.
Commission E approves applying echinacea preparations externally to treat superficial wounds.
I think of this herb as only a mild antiseptic when it's applied externally. If I had an infected cut, I'd take some tincture or drink echinacea tea to strengthen my immune system so my body could heal the infection. I would not hesitate to apply a poultice of crushed goldenseal root if I got cut in the forest and didn't have any other antiseptics handy. Gotu kola contains asiatic acid, a compound that spurs the development of the connective tissue that must form in order for wounds to heal. In clinical trials, external applications of gotu kola extract have proven useful in treating wounds, skin grafts, surgical incisions and even gangrene.