Boneset is an erect perennial growing to 5 ft (1.5 m) having tapering lance-shaped leaves and many white or purple florets, native to eastern North America, mostly found in meadows and marshland.
Plant Description
Boneset is a large, Hairy, clump-forming, herbaceous perennial herb about 5 ft (1.5 m) tall.
Its found growing in low woods, thickets, stream banks, meadows and prairies, woodland Garden, Dappled Shade and Shady Edge.
It can easily grow in average, medium to wet soils and does well in both sandy and clay soils.
Its stem is erect stout, cylindrical Hairy, thick and rough textured.
Leaves
Leaves are opposite, upto 8 inches long, 4 times as long as wide, tapering to a pointed tip, toothed along the margins, and with a wide base distinctively surrounding the stem so as to appear that the stem pierced a single leaf at the midpoint of two (2) blades.The pinnate vein network is very conspicuous.
The leaf surfaces have fine Hair, particularly the underside which also can have fine gland-dotting.
Flower
Flowers are about 1/2 inch across and are composed of 7-11 florets, each of which is about 1/6-1/5 inch across with a white corolla that has 5 spreading triangular lobes at the throat.The styles of the florets are much longer than the corollas and with a split tip are quite conspicuous. Five stamens surround and are appressed to the style. Anthers are a brownish color at maturity.
The outside of the flower head is surrounded by 7-10 phyllaries in one or two series, each oblong with whitish pointed tips and surfaces finely Hairy with glands.
Flower stalks and corymb stalks are also Hairy.
Flowering normally takes place between July to September.
Fruit
Fruit is a dry, Black Seed with a small tuft.Fertile flowers produce a dry dark brown ribbed narrowly conic shaped cypsela, 1.5-2 mm long, with a Fluffy pappus attached for wind dispersion and a pointed tip at the opposite end.
History
Boneset is native to eastern North America, used by Native Americans to treat Fevers (including Dengue Fever) and Malaria.
Today its used mainly in homeopathic medicine for Fevers, Influenza(Colds (Flu)), Digestive problems, and Liver disorders, however there use is limited because other drugs generally are more effective.
Types & Varieties
Mechanism of Action
Additional Information
Key Actions
• Anti-Inflammatory
• Immune Boosting
• Fever Reducer
• Analgesic,
• Anodyne,
• Anti-Inflammatory,
• Anti-bacterial,
• Bitter,
• Cathartic,
• Depurative,
• Diaphoretic,
• Emetic,
• Febrifuge,
• Immuno-Stimulant,
• Nervine,
Usable Parts
Aerial parts.
It is gathered when in flower in summer.
Directions of Preparation
Cold Tea:
1) 1 ounce (25g) of herb in 1 quart (1 liter) boiling water let steep overnight, strain and drinks throughout day.
2) The cold infusion is for the mucous membrane system and is a Liver tonic.Hot Tea:
1) 1 teaspoon herb in 8 ounces (237 ml) hot water, steep 15 minutes.
2) Take 4-6 ounces (118-177 ml) upto 4 times per day. (Note: Boneset is only a Diaphoretic when hot and should be consumed hot for active Infections, chills and Fevers).Tincture:
1) Use fresh herb in flower (1:2 with 95% Alcohol), use 20-40 drops upto 3 times a day in hot water.
2) Dry herbs (1:5 with 60% Alcohol), use 30-50 drops in hot water up to 3 times a day.
3) In acute viral (or bacterial) upper Respiratory Infections, use 10 drops of tincture in hot water every half hour upto 6 times a day.
4) In chronic conditions when the acute stage has passed but there is continued chronic fatigue and relapse, use 10 drops of tincture in hot water 4 times a day.For Colds (Flu):
1) 1 ounce (25g) of dried Boneset leaf in 1 quart (1 liter) boiling water.
2) Put the dried Boneset in the quart jar and pour enough boiling water over it to fill the jar.
3) Let this infusion steep for 4 hours.
4) Strain and drink.
5) Its recommend that you heat it back up after Straining it, and drinking it warm (Colds (Flu) remedy is very bitter taSting).For fracture:
1) Prepare a decoction of the leaves and take one (1) cup twice (2) a day.For yellow Fever:
1) Prepare a decoction of the leaves and have one (1) cup once a day.For Wound:
1) Make a salve by combining powdered herb and vaseline in equal parts and use it externally.For Cough:
1) Take Slippery Elm, Boneset, Licorice, Flax in equal quantity as a fomentation.For Colds (Flu):
1) Take one (1) tbsp Boneset, one (1) tbsp Peppermint leaves and one (1) tbsp Elder herb.
2) Simmer Elder herb in 2 cups of water for 15-20 minutes and Strain.
3) Take Boneset and Peppermint leaves in a separate container and add 2 cups of boiling water.
4) Leave it covered for 30 minutes and then Strain, then mix both preparations and reheat the mixture.
5) Drink one (1) cup hot, every 15-20 minutes to get relief.
Its Active Constituents:
• Boneset contain:
• Sesquiterpene lactones (including eupafolin),
• Polysaccharides,
• Flavonoids (including Quercetin, Kaempferol, Rutin and eupatorin),
• Diterpenes,
• Sterols,
• A volatile oil.
• Terpenoids (including sesquiterpene lactones),
• Volatile oil,
• Resin,
Precaution:
* It should not be used with a high Fever in excess of 102F.
* It should not be used during breast feeding as its potentially toxic.
* Ingestion of large amounts of Green Teas or extracts may result in severe Diarrhea.
* Its hot infusion may cause Vomiting.
* People suffering from Liver disease should not use it as it contains trace amounts of pyrrolizidine Alkaloids.
* It may cause an allergic reaction in people who are sensitive to plants in the Asteraceae/Compositae family.
* It should never be ingested fresh, as the fresh plant is toxic due to tremerol (a volatile oil found in it).
* It may cause excessive Fluid loss from the body (possibly decreasing the body’s Potassium supplies), where low Potassium levels can result in muscle weakness and potentially dangerous changes in heart rhythm.
Health Benefits of Boneset
Detoxification
• Boneset is an effective Diaphoretic agent which encourages Sweating when consumed, thus forces the body to cool down and also release several harmful toxins through the Skin.
• Drinking a hot infusion prepared with Boneset eases the symptoms of Fever as it stimulates perspiration.
• It also has a mild Laxative effect, allowing waste to move through the body more easily.
Foods & Detoxification
Digestive System
• Boneset sequiterpene lactones content is found to stimulate deficient Digestive enzymes in the gastrointestinal tract.
• It herbal tea can be consumed to increase appetite, alleviate Constipation, treat Indigestion and offer relief against stomach muscle tension among other common Digestive related problems.
• Its both a mild Laxative and Diuretic which makes it a powerful Constipation remedy.
Foods & Digestive System
Immune System
• Boneset has immuno-stimulating properties due to the presence of sesquiterpene lactones and polysaccharides in it.
• It strengthens the Immune System by enhancing the secretion of interferon.
• Interferon belongs to cytokines (the large class of Proteins molecules used for communication between cells to trigger the protective defences of the Immune System that help eradicate pathogens) and have the ability to interfere with viral replication by protecting cells from virus Infections.
• It may be effective when taken by mouth as an immune Stimulant and an Anti-Inflammatory agent.
• Its a good immune boosters as it plays a major role in encouraging the production of white blood cells that efficiently work to destroy any disease-causing micro-organisms.
• Boneset consists of numerous chemical compounds (Rutin and Flavonoids) that work together to safeguard blood vessels against inflammation.
• Its powerful anti-bacterial property also helps the body to form a powerful shield against various disease-causing organisms.
Foods & Immune System
Infections
• Boneset hot infusion brings relief to symptoms of the common cold.
• Its sesquiterpene lactones and polysaccharides are significant Immuno-Stimulants.
• It has anti-viral properties effective against minor viral and bacterial Infections by stimulating the white blood cells.
• It contain Flavonoids and Essential Oils that stimulate the peripheral circulation and acts as a Fever reducer (a powerful Diaphoretic). Its best taken in a hot infusion.
• Boneset immuno-stimulating and Fever reducing properties makes it perfect in alleviating the symptoms of Colds and Colds (Flu).
• It a natural Herbal Remedy for treating Malaria as it significantly reduce in the rate of Plasmodium parasite multiplication. Plasmodium is the harmful parasite responsible for causing Malaria.
• Boneset is particularly effective at treating Dengue Fever (a mosquito-borne disease that causes severe joint aches).
• It may be taken in combination with Cayenne, Elder flowers, Ginger, Lemon balm, Peppermint, or Yarrow to treat inFluenza.
Foods & Infections
Musculoskeletal System
• Boneset Phytochemicals are responsible for the effective inflammatory action.
• Its a natural Herbal Remedy helpful in repairing broken (or fractured) Bones, alleviate Bone pain and even re-calcify teeth.
• Its tea can increase blood circulation mainly to the periosteum (the thin body tissue that surrounds human Bones) when regularly drunk.
• Its natural herbal infusion also works on the nerves and joints both of which are major parts of the skeletal system.
• Its used to ease the painful muscle and joint aches from Fevers and rheumatic conditions.
Foods & Musculoskeletal System
Respiratory System
• Boneset is also an excellent Expectorant capable of loosening phlegm and reducing inflammation in the Respiratory tract.
• Its a powerful Anti-Catarrhal consumed to offer Congestion relief through clearing the mucous in the upper Respiratory tract.
• It also releases phlegm and encourages its elimination by means of Coughing.
• It may be taken with Pleurisy Root and Elecampane for bronchial conditions.
• Boneset herbal tea is extensively used to treat multiple viral Respiratory Infections (including Colds (Flu) and the common cold).
Foods & Respiratory System
