Parts Most Frequently Used: Whole Herb, Leaf, Aerial Parts

Flavors/Temps: Bitter, Astringent, Cold

Caution: Considered safe, although it should not be used fresh.  It contains a toxic chemical called tremerol, eliminated by the drying process, making it safe for the young and old.

Key Constituents: Sesquiterpene lactones (including Eupafolin, Euperfolitin, Eufoliate, Euperfolide, and Helenalin), Volatile oil, Tannic acid, Eupartorin, Resin, Gum, Polysaccharides, Flavonoids (Quercetin, Kaempferol, Astragalin, Rutin), Allantoin.

History/Folklore: Boneset acts slowly and consistently. In large doses, it becomes more emetic and purgative. In low doses, it becomes a mild tonic and diaphoretic. It is best known for its ability to fight all kinds of fevers. It promotes sweating and drives heat stagnation down and out of the body. It is both a stimulating and a restorative herb.

Native to North America, boneset was a popular healing plant used by Native Americans for treating fevers, colds, and flu symptoms.

The plant’s common name, “Boneset”, derives from its use by early settlers to treat a flu known as “break-bone fever” (Dengue fever), characterized by symptoms that included a feeling of a person’s bones being about to break. These same symptoms led to its use to treat influenza and other ailments with high fevers, intense muscle pain, and the feeling of “steaming bones” or “bones-about-to-break” symptoms.

The plant’s Latin name, Eupatorium, is derived from Eupator, the 1st century BCE king of Pontus, famous for his herbal skills. The species name, perfoliate, refers to the plant’s stems seeming to perforate, or grow through its paired leaves.

The 17th-century English herbalist, Culpepper recommended that the dried leaves be burned in rooms to drive away wasps and flies.

Boneset is popularly used to treat influenza and is considered by many herbalists to be one of the best herbs for treating this condition.

Studies indicate that the herb treats viral and bacterial infections because of its strong anti-inflammatory properties and by stimulating white blood cells to kill disease-causing organisms.

Traditional uses include stories of the leaves being used successfully to help treat broken bones despite the plant having no constituents that directly support bone health. The herbalist, Michael Wood, suggests that this may be due to the plant’s ability to increase blood flow to the periosteum (the fibrous membrane that covers the surface of our bones), aiding the process of healing broken bones. As yet, there are no conclusive studies that prove this application of the herb.

Boneset can be combined with Echinacea and/or Licorice Root as these herbs are mutually beneficial and, when combined, will hasten the healing process to strengthen immunity and help fight colds and flu.

In TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine, boneset is also used to treat ailments due to too much Damp Heat in the Body, which causes bloating, indigestion, and chronic sinus congestion with yellow mucus.

Boneset is a symbol for resilience, healing, and connection to nature. It’s often seen as a sign of inner strength and the ability to endure hardship.