by Henry N. Guernsey — Key-Notes to the Materia Medica
In chills and fever, when chill comes on in the morning, with great pain in the bones, as though the bones would break; long bones particularly; then comes thirst, then chill with thirst, and as chill subsides, comes copious vomiting of bile.
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Eupatorium perfoliatum appears in 15 of the 21 classic books on Similia. Each was written to do a different job — here is what each adds on this remedy, with the opening of its entry.
“Boneset. (Compositae.) Adapted to diseases of old people; worn-out constitutions, especially from inebriety ; cachexia, from prolonged or frequent attacks of bilious or intermittent fevers. Bruised feeling, as if broken, all over the body (Arn., Bellis, Pyr.). Bone pains affecting back, head, chest, limbs, especially…”
“Eupatorium perfoliatum, Linn. Natural order , Compositæ. Common names , Thorough-wort, Boneset. Preparation , Tincture of the whole plant. Authorities. [The numerous clinical symptoms, from cases cured with the drug, are not here included; those wishing to learn its application to disease are referred to the original…”
“Thoroughwort Known as "Bone-set", from the prompt manner in which it relieves pain in limbs and muscles that accompanies some forms of febrile disease, like malaria and influenza. Eupatorium acts principally upon the gastro-hepatic organs and bronchial mucous membrane. It is a boon in miasmatic districts, along…”
“ACHING BONES. BREAKING, BROKEN, BRITTLE, ETC. CHILLY, cold DIRECTION of sensations, Up and Down HOLDING, being held, etc., Amel. LYING, on abdomen, Amel. MUSCLES ODORS, smells, etc., Agg. (Comp. Sensitive.) PERIODICITY SORENESS, BRUISED, SMARTING, ETC. (COMP. RAWNESS.) TIME, 4 A.M. to 8 A.M. TIME, 8 A.M. to 12 Noon…”
“BONES. Stomach. Liver. Occiput. Bronchiæ. Muscles: Chest. Back. Limbs. COLD AIR. Motion. PERIODICALLY: 7-9 A.M. 3rd. or 7th. day. Lying on part. Coughing. Smell or sight of food. Vomiting bile. Sweating. Lying on face. VIOLENT, ACHING, BONE-BREAKING PAINS (Coccl. Pyro. Rut.). Bruised, sore ache, vomiting. Sore…”
“Boneset. Thoroughwort. N. O. Compositæ. Tincture of whole plant. Anus, herpes of / Back, pain in / Bilious fever / Bones, pains in / Cough / Dengue / Diarrhœa / Fractures / Gout / Hiccough / Hoarseness / Indigestion / Influenza / Intermittent fever / Jaundice / Liver, soreness of / Measles / Mouth, cracks of /…”
“or the bone-set, is a popular remedy in malarial districts for chills and fever. In this disease it is indicated by the following symptoms: The chill begins from seven to nine a.m. with thirst. It first appears in the back and is accompanied by aching in the limbs, as though every bone in the body were being broken…”
“(Boneset.) Description. — The Thoroughwort is an indigenous perennial herb, with a horizontal, crooked root. The stems are round, stout, hairy, and from one to five feet high. The leaves are opposite, connate-perfoliate, each pair resembling a single leaf centrally perforated by the stem, and placed at right angles to…”
“Boneset ; Thoroughwort. Compositæ. It was recommended by Dioscorides for ill-conditioned ulcers, dysentery, and the stings of reptiles ; chronic fevers, obstructions of liver. --Leadam., B. J. H., vol. 8, p. 381. CLINICAL AUTHORITIES. Ophthalmia , Miller, Raue's Rec., 1873, p. 66 ; Cracks in corners of mouth …”
“Including E. perfoliatum, L., and E. purpureum, L. Nat. Ord., Composite. Eupatorium perfoliatum, bone-set, ague-weed, thorough-wort. I. Provings.-1. WILLIAMSON. (No informationgiven.) Headache, with sense ofsoreness internally, better in house, aggravated on first going into open air, relieved by conversation; pain…”
“Eupatorium Perfoliatum (Boneset) History: Every time I take up one of these old domestic remedies I am astonished at the extended discoveries of medical properties in the household as seen in their domestic use. All through the Eastern States, in the rural districts, among the first old -settlers, Boneset-tea was a…”
“Headache and nausea every other morning, when awaking. Soreness and pulsation on the back part of the head. Heat on the top of the head. Great aversion to light. Redness of the face, with dry skin. Paleness; of the mucous membrane of the mouth. Tongue covered with white fur. Soreness of the corners; of the mouth…”
“Common name: bone-set. Cachexia, from prolonged or frequent attacks of bilious or intermittent fevers (Ars., Chin., Ferr., Lach., Lyc., Nat-M., Puls., Sep.) (A.). Painful soreness of eyeballs (Arn., Bell.) (N.). ACHING PAINS AS IF IN THE BONES, WITH MOANING (N.). Intense backache, as if beaten (Rhus-T.) (B.)…”
“Painful soreness of eyeballs; coryza; aching in every bone; prostration in epidemic of influenza (La Grippe). Deep hard achings as if in the bones, with sore, bruised feeling all over, back, arms, wrists, legs. Vomiting of bile between chill and heat. Chill 7 to 9 A. M. Hoarseness in the morning, with soreness in…”
Kent's Repertory lists Eupatorium perfoliatum in 619 rubrics. These are the ones where it carries the highest grade — the symptoms Kent treated as most characteristic. Most of them sit in EXTREMITIES (114), STOMACH (74), HEAD (67), CHILL (57), COUGH (36).
