USNEA LICHEN:
Usnea (various species) is commonly called old man’s beard. A lichen is a symbiotic association between an algae and a fungus. Usnea lichen is always light gray-green in color, always round, and if you pull apart the outer sheath of its main stem, there is a white central cord much like an elastic thread. If the main stem is gray-green throughout with no white inner cord, it is not Usnea. Usnea grows in forested areas of temperate North America and is especially abundant in the northwestern parts of the United States and Canada. There are also species of Usnea found across the temperate regions of Europe. There are many species of Usnea and they can all be used interchangeably as medicine. It is usually found clinging to or hanging down from dead or live trees. Pieces of it broken off in the wind can be found draped across the branches of lower trees and shrubs, or on the ground. In drier regions of the western United States a more diminutive species is found within the deep creases of the bark on Ponderosa Pine trees.
Old Man's Beard on Tree Trunk
The use of lichens as medicine is recorded as far back as about 1600 BC by Chinese, Greek and Egyptian healers. It is still used often in Chinese medicine to treat tuberculosis and other lung diseases. In Europe, Usnea extract has been tested extensively and shown to be effective against many bacterial and fungal infections. It is especially effective in inhibiting the growth of gram-positive bacteria strains such as streptococcus, pneumococcus, and the many strains of tuberculosis. Usnea also has immune enhancing and strengthening properties and has been shown to have anti-tumor effects in laboratory studies with animals. I have seen Usnea extracts used very successfully against MRSA bacterial infections.
Usnea’s medicinal properties are easily put to use. They can be extracted readily into ethel alcohol (tincture) to be carried in a first aid kit for use as needed. They can also be extracted into water by the decoction method in which the lichen is simmered for 15 minutes or so, then allowed to steep until cooled a bit, then strained. When making a tincture or decoction it is best to cut the lichen into small pieces first to allow all parts of the plant to have contact with the extraction medium. The resulting liquid is used externally as a wound wash, a compress by placing soaked sterile cloths over a wound, and taken internally to fight infection and disease. This can also be used as a foot bath when fighting athlete’s foot infections. Powdered dry Usnea also makes a good wound powder to fight infection, or sprinkled onto the feet or into your socks or shoes to fight foot fungus.
First Aid Use:
Old Man's Beard collected
For first aid use, moistened Usnea lichen can be applied directly to an open wound, where it is used as a compress to stop bleeding and to fight or prevent infection. It’s anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal and immune strengthening properties make it a good aid for medical emergencies of all kinds. There are no reported contra-indications for use either externally or internally for people of all ages. Therefore, it is a good medicine for children and even pregnant and nursing women. I have know several nursing mothers who used Usnea “tea” as a remedy for mastitis. As a dried plant, it is light-weight and compact, thus easy to carry with you in a first aid kit. I know many families who keep Usnea on hand to use for any family member who gets injured or sick, whether for cold and flu or other infections. I also use Usnea as an ingredient in some salves. It does not infuse readily into oils, so first wet the cut up Usnea with ethel alcohol, let it soak a while, then add this to the oil you are using to make salve. Do not add so much alcohol that it degrades your oil.
Nature's First Aid Kit
Please note: medicinal uses of Usnea mentioned above are not approved by the FDA and come from historical information, the author’s own experiences using Usnea, and the experiences of others. You should consult a medical professional before using Usnea.
By Cat Farneman All Rights Reserved 2011
For more info on Herbs and Cat Farneman go to www.purrfectlyherbal.com
January 9, 2012
Survival, Survival