Asters have been used for various purposes. Their prominence late in the season, when many other plants are dormant, prompted lots of experimentation. A myriad of uses and treatments are recorded.

A tea of brewed aster plants was used to treat headaches. Some were drinking teas, while others were concoctions used for soaking the head. Entire plants were used as smoke or steam in sweat baths. Immersion in a hot bath of silky aster (A. sericeus) flowers, leaves, and stems was used as an arthritis treatment. Panicled aster (A. lanceolatus) was used to treat nose bleeds. The plant was crushed and placed on hot coals. Inhaling the smoke apparently stopped the bleeding

Young, tender leaves of big-leaf aster (A. macrophyllus) and heart-leaved aster (A. cordifolius) were harvested as edible greens by the Ojibwa, Chippewa, and others. Besides being a serviceable vegetable, both plants also helped people obtain meat. The burning roots attracted deer, which would come close to investigate the smell. Deer naturally produce scent or musk between their hooves and the scent of the burning the aster roots resembles that odor. The Chippewa also used the smoke from the root of New England aster (A. novae-angliae) to attract game.

Aster can even treat insanity. The Meskwaki used calico aster (A. lateriflorus) blossoms to make a facial smudge for treating crazy people. This needs more research. If this cure is still valid, in these wild times I advocate a calico aster for every family.