Limited evidenceImmunity

Boneset

A North American herb once widely used for fevers and influenza. Modern research has characterised its chemistry and found immune activity in cell cultures, but no controlled trial in humans has ever been published.

Evidence last reviewed: August 2026

What the science says

Traditional fever use is undocumented in trials Limited evidence
A phytochemical and ethnopharmacological review of Eupatorium perfoliatum described immunomodulatory and antiviral effects in laboratory systems and noted that clinical evidence for the traditional influenza indication is absent.
Antiviral activity in cell culture Limited evidence
An in-vitro study reported that boneset extract inhibited dengue virus replication in infected cells through effects on mTOR signalling and autophagy. This is a laboratory finding in an unrelated virus, not evidence for treating colds or flu.

Dosage & safety

Studied doseNo studied dose. Traditional preparation is roughly 1–2 g of dried aerial parts as a hot infusion; commercial tinctures follow their own labels.

SafetyBoneset contains sesquiterpene lactones and, in some analyses, trace pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which are potentially liver-toxic with prolonged use — do not use continuously or in liver disease. Large doses cause nausea and vomiting. Avoid in pregnancy, breastfeeding, and in people allergic to the daisy family.

Scientific references

Eupatorium perfoliatum L.: phytochemistry, traditional use and current applications
Hensel A, Maas M, Sendker J, Lechtenberg M, Petereit F, Deters A, Schmidt T, Stark T — J Ethnopharmacol, 2011
In-vitro antiviral action of Eupatorium perfoliatum against dengue virus infection: Modulation of mTOR signaling and autophagy
Sinha M, Chakraborty U, Kool A, Chakravarti M, Das S, Ghosh S, Thakur L, Khuranna A, Nayak D, Basu B, Kar S, Ray R, Das S — J Ethnopharmacol, 2022

Where to buy

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