Eupatorium+Fortunei


 * Cultural History of the Eupatorium Fortunei ('Pink Frost') **

**Historical Origins:** The Eupatorium Fortunei, also known as the ‘pink frost,’ originates in Japan. It can be better known to Americans as the Pink Frost Joe-Pye Weed and is a lovely plant that can grow as tall approximately 36’ in height. It forms a clump of stalks that stand upright at about 3’, clothes with claw-shaped, fuzzy green leaves that are edged in creamy yellow. In the fall, but more particularly September, the clumps are topped with small heads of beautiful pink flowers. It is a very easy plant to grow in slightly moist soils.

In Japanese it is known as fujibakama and in Chinese it is the 佩兰 pei lan. This plant is from the species in Asteraceae which is native to Asia. ‘Pink Frost’ is sparsely found growing wild, but is commonly cultivated in parts of Asia. The pink colored flowers have an herb like smell of lavender when crushed. In China the plants are used to make fragrant oils. In both countries it is also used for medicinally reasons. **Cultural History:** Eupatorium Fortunei is mainly used for medicinal reasons. In Indochina it is used for an anticephalgic, aphrodisiac, digestive aid and stimulant tonic. The whole plant has been used to treat loss of appetite, heat stroke with headache, fever and halitosis. In China it is used as a cooling and drying herb, acting mainly on stomach and spleen. It has been used for bronchitis. The whole plant has been used to treat indigestion, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, heat stroke, and feverish summer colds. The root has sometimes been eaten as a restorative to women after childbirth. In Japan the root has been used as a poison antidote. It can also be soaked in oil and applied to hair to help relieve dandruff. Unfortunately it does not seem like the Eupatorium Fortunei gets cultivated much in the United States, but other Eupatorium plants do. The E. sordidum E. sordidum and E. coelestinum cv. 'Album' are sometimes used as ornamental plants. In particular, they are good for structural or background plantings or to attract butterflies. E. itatiayense, E. maximiliani and E. squalidum are known as good honey plants.
 * Importation or cultivation of the plant in the United States:**

I think this plant would be a terrific way to look at how things have multiple reasons and the causes of things and cures. This plant could be researched in Social Studies, while focusing on China and Japan, they could look for the types of disease and/or illness most commonly found and how this plant assists in the healing process. This would be helpful to look at in general to see what was going on at different time periods and when the plant was used the most to aid in healing. It could also be used in science when looking a medicine and how it works. Another debate could lead towards organize vs. inorganic healing processes and the relationship to their origin.
 * Description of what we can learn about culture (in the U.S. or in the place of origin for the plant):**