Evolution of the use of Boneset

Eupatorium perfoliatum comes in various names depending on the geographical regions. Some of the most common names are feverwort, Indian sage, sweating plant, wild Isaac, vegetable antimony among many others. The botanical name is boneset, of the family Asteracea/compositae.

The herb Boneset, as the name suggests, was traditionally meant to relieve bone aches or deep bone pain that was associated with dengue fever. It was first commonly used among the Antive Americans and European settlers especially to manage fevers. By the mid 19th Century, boneset had become common and well used among the settlers in America. It was during this time too that boneset was officially listed in the United States Pharmacopoeia (1820-1916) and later on in the Formulary (1926-1950).

Traditionally, the plant was very famous for its medicinal value among most communities that knew about it. It was used to manage influenza, nasopharyngeal catarrh, fever, acute bronchitis and constipation. When taken orally, this herb acts as an antipyretic, laxative, cathartic and emesis. The tincture extracted from the herb is used by homeopaths with back pain, bladder problems, anal herpes, bilious fever, cough, flu, fever, fracture, gastritis, thirst, indigestion, jaundice, bone ache, bladder problems, wounds, rheumatism among other health problems.

In the contemporary medical field, the Boneset is considered to have high immunostimulating properties hence used among HIV patients as well as cancer. It is also used as prescription medicine to stimulate secretion and excretion of bile that ultimately soothes aches of the bines and reduce night sweats. It is also used in managing inflammations as it helps in clearing the mucous from the upper respiratory tract. It also helps in relieving indigestion in older people and also managing constipation. This herb can also be used in moderate doses to help manage muscular rheumatism and common cold.

It is also instrumental to note that it is the leaves and flowering parts that are extracted from the plant for the medical use. Its preparation comes in the form of powder that can be used in tea, in form of tincture as well as liquid extract. The dosage is often three times in a day regardless of the form that the herb is taken. The duration of taking the herb at any given time is often recommended to be two weeks at least at a time. There are various active ingredients of the herb including eufoliatin, eufoliatorin, sesquiterpene lactones, euperfolitin, euperfolide, eucannabinolide and helenalin (Petersen D., 2016). However, care needs to be taken as Boneset is also known to contain some additive toxins. As a matter of fact, the fresh boneset herb is known to contain toxic chemical tremerol, well known for causing vomiting, nausea, muscle tremor, weakness, as well as increased respiration. High levels of consumption can cause coma or even ultimately death. The dried boneset herb is not known to contain the tremerol hence has no these risks mentioned.

References

Petersen D., (2016). Herb 503: Advanced Herbal Materia Medica II. American College of Healthcare Sciences.