This member of the aster family was widely used by Native Americans, who
referred to the herb as ague weed. European settlers learned how to use
the plant from the Menominee, Delaware, Mohegan, Iroquois and Cherokee,
all of which who made infusions of the leaf and bark whenever fevers
broke out. In fact, the common name for this plant likely came from its
use in the colonies to counter dengue fever, a mosquito-transmitted
viral infection known as break-bone fever at the time. The herb was so
depended on in the 19th century that it travelled with soldiers into
battle during the Civil War.
The tannins and alkaloids in this herb lend astringent properties, which
makes boneset suitable for various topical applications.
