Gravel Root, Wild Crafted
Eupatorium purpureum
Also known as: Eupatoire Pourpre, Eupatoriadelphus purpureus, Eupatorium purpureum, Herbe de Joe Pye, Joe Pye, Joe-Pye Weed, Kidney Root, Purple Boneset, Queen of the Meadow, Raíz de Eupatorio, Roter Wasserhanf, Trumpet Weed.
Gravel root is used for urinary tract problems such as urinary or kidney stones; infections of the bladder, urethra, and prostate; and painful urination. People also use gravel root for arthritis-like pain (rheumatism) and gout, as well as for fever from malaria, dengue virus, or typhus. Gravel root is also used to reduce stomach acid, increase urine flow, cause vomiting, and cause sweating; and as a stimulant and tonic.
There’s a lot of concern about using gravel root as medicine, because it contains chemicals called hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), which may block blood flow in the veins and cause liver damage. Hepatotoxic PAs might also cause cancer and birth defects.