Astringent, diuretic, tonic. Queen of the meadow's role in American medicine has been mostly that of tile diuretic, useful for kidney problems' urinary difficulties and gravel, dropsy, rheumatism, and neuralgia. The rootstock has some astringent properties and can be used for conditions where an astringent is helpful. One American Indian tribe considered the plant useful as an aphrodisiac. A New England Indian named Joe Pye became famous by curing typhus with "joe-pye weed." In decoctions, the flowers are diuretic and tonic. The roots are astringent and useful as such, as in diarrhea.