Name: Boneset, Eupatorium perfoliatum

Family: Compositae

AKA: Thoroughwort.[i] Augueweed, Feverwort. [ii]

Parts used: Aerial parts of flowering plant. [iii]

Uses: Flu (“Break-bone fever”); catarrh, colds, treats cases of muscular rheumatism caused by exposure to cold and damp. Useful for stomach disorders of nervous origin. Tincture has weak anti-inflammatory effect. Hot infusion promotes therapeutic sweat in fevers. Small doses are tonic to digestion, large doses cause vomiting.[iv] Also used for skin conditions and worms.[v]

Infusion: 1 cup boiling water over 1-2 teaspoonfuls of herb, infuse for 10-15 minutes, drink as hot as possible during fevers or flu, every ½ hour. [vi]

Actions: Stimulant, febrifuge (reduces fever), laxative; works slowly over time and greatest influence over stomach, liver, bowels, and uterus. Mild purgative or laxative, aperient.[vii] Also diaphoretic, tonic, anti spasmodic, anti-catarrhal, bitter, diuretic, emetic. [viii]

Constituents: Eupatorin, a bitter glucosidal principle, also volatile oil, tannins, resin, gum, sugar. [ix] Flavinoids (quercetin, kaempferol, rutin, eupatorin), terpenoids (sesquiterpene lactones) [x] including eupafolin, also polysaccharides, sterols; sesquiterpene lactones and polysaccharides are significantly immunostimulant. [xi]

Tincture: 2-4ml 3x/day[xii]

Harvest: Collect by harvesting aerial parts when in flower.

Taste: Bitter

Flower Essence:  “Reweaves broken energy circuits between emotional heart wounds and your immune system.”[xiii]

Combines: In treating flu, combine with Yarrow, Elder flower, Cayenne, Ginger.[xiv]

Contra-indications:  Toxic if excessively dosed.

Plant ID: Leaf is ‘perforated’ by stem, not connute – two opposite leaves connect around the stem; rough textured, hairy leaves that can get 8” long, plant can get 4-5’ tall, white flat-topped umbel of hairy looking flowers.

Historical: A common North American Native remedy quickly adopted by white settlers.[xv] Settlers soon called it “Indian sage” and used it as a tea for colds, turning it into the first remedy everybody used.[xvi]