BONESET

(Eupatorium perfoliatum; COMPOSITAE)

Parts used:  Dried leaves and flowering tops

Therapeutic action:

Diaphoretic (sudorific), tonic, febrifuge, expectorant, nervine, stimulant, diuretic, antispasmodic, aperient, emetic (large doses warm), anti periodic, stomachic, bitter.

Boneset is one of our great Indian remedies, cleansing to the stomach, liver, bowels, uterus, and skin; and though it manifests great power, it is quite safe and harmless. Boneset is a sudorific tonic in its action on the skin, and it stimulates the secretion of bile by the liver, as well as by gall cysts. It is similar to camomile in action.

Medicinal uses:

Fevers (all types), influenza, catarrh, skin diseases, dyspepsia, constipation, night sweats, indigestion, bilious conditions, jaundice, muscular rheumatism, bronchitis, sore throat, chills, emesis, general debility.

Preparation:

Fluid extract, infusion, powder, solid extract, tincture.

Solid Extract: Boil the herb in water for 15 minutes to make a strong decoction; then evaporate the decoction to a solid extract and make into pills. (Boiling down the herb to make a solid extract removes the relaxing properties of Boneset, leaving a medicinal material which is a stimulant, antispasmodic, and tonic remedy of great importance.