Boneset

Scientific Name(s): Eupatorium perfoliatum L.
Common Name(s): Agueweed, Boneset, Crosswort, Eupatorium, Feverwort, Indian sage, Sweating plant, Thoroughstem, Thoroughwax, Thoroughwort, Vegetable antimony, Wild Isaac

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jan 24, 2022.

Clinical Overview

Use

There is no recent clinical evidence to guide use of boneset. Limited experimental data suggest anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and cytotoxic activity.

Dosing

There is no recent clinical evidence to guide dosage of boneset. Traditional use was 2 g of leaves and flowers. Internal use should be tempered by the occurrence of hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids in this plant.

Contraindications

Contraindications have not yet been identified.

Pregnancy/Lactation

Documented adverse effects, including cytotoxic constituents. Avoid use.

Interactions

None well documented.

Adverse Reactions

The FDA has classified boneset as an "Herb of Undefined Safety."

Toxicology

The ingestion of large amounts of teas or extracts may result in severe diarrhea. The identification of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in related Eupatorium species is cause for concern until detailed phytochemical investigations are carried out on boneset. This class of alkaloids is known to cause hepatic impairment after long-term ingestion. While direct evidence for a hepatotoxic effect from boneset does not exist, there is sufficient evidence to indicate that any plant containing unsaturated pyrrolizidine alkaloids should not be ingested.

Scientific Family

• Asteraceae (daisy)

Botany

Boneset is a ubiquitous plant found growing in swamps, marshes, and shores from Canada to Florida and west to Texas and Nebraska. The plant is easily recognized by its long, tapering leaves that join each other around a single stout stem giving the impression of one long leaf pierced at the center by the stem. Hence its name perfolia, meaning "through the leaves." The plant grows from July to October to a height of about 1 meter. It flowers in late summer with white blossoms that appear in small upright bunches. The entire plant is hairy and light green.Hensel 2011, USDA 2016

History

Boneset has been used as a charm and as a medicinal remedy for centuries by indigenous North Americans. As a charm, the root fibers were applied to hunting whistles with the belief that they would increase the whistle's ability to call deer. As an herbal remedy, American Indians used boneset as an antipyretic. The early settlers used the plant to treat rheumatism, dropsy, dengue fever, malaria, pneumonia, and influenza. The name boneset was derived from the plant's use in the treatment of breakbone fever, a term describing the high fever that often accompanies influenza. Boneset was official in the US Pharmacopeia from 1820 to 1900. Based on data from early medical compendia, boneset is believed to have diuretic and laxative properties in small doses, while large doses may result in emesis and catharsis. Boneset had been used by physicians to treat fever, but its use was replaced by safer and more effective antipyretics.Bolyard 1981, Erichsen-Brown 1989, Hensel 2011, Herz 1972

Chemistry

Boneset leaves and roots contain a variety of sesquiterpene lactonesBohlmann 1977, Herz 1977 as well as a number of sterols and triterpenes, including sitosterol and stigmasterol.DomInguez 1974 The flavonoids quercetin, kaempferol, and eupatorin and their glycosides...