Boneset herb (Eupatorium cannibinum)

Latin Name: Eupatorium cannibinum
Common Names: Boneset herb

Eupatorium cannibinum is one such substance that fits the definition of a true natural herb: it is an above-ground perennial, the stem of which is not woody like that of a tree or shrub, but smooth and tender like that of grasses and flowers. Better known as boneset herb, local Algonquian-speaking Indians introduced eupatorium cannibinum to early Puritan settlers, who used it to induce heavy sweating in those suffering from a fever. During the eighteenth century, infusions of boneset herb were used to treat victims of yellow fever; early in the last century, eupatorium cannibinum was a common ingredient of patent cough medicines as well.