Eupatorium

Eupatorium are medicinal plants in the Asteraceae family and the Eupatorieae tribe. The genus Eupatorium comprises 38 known species. The term Eupatorium comes from the Greek "eupatorion", named after the king of Pontus, Mithridatise Eupator, who, according to Pliny, was the first to use a species of this genus for liver disorders (in the first century BC). The species Eupatorium perfoliatum was used by many American Indians to treat colds, fevers, flu, rheumatism and kidney problems. The plant was part of the US pharmacopoeia from 1820 to 1950. Recent German studies highlight the plant's action on the immune system. Comparative studies have been carried out on patients suffering from chronic colds: the substances compared were aspirin and a mother tincture ofEupatorium perfoliatum.