usually grow on tree branches and prefers moist habitats. Choosing a Quality Meal kit Subscription Service. I noticed you said it can be used for long term. Using usnea herb in wounds can help treat or prevent infection. Regularly taking the herb helps in clearing the body of a wide range of viruses. It is used to heal respiratory and sinus infections, pneumonia, profuse phlegm, strep throat, colds, flus, as well as, urinary tract, kidney, and bladder infections. Some of the medical uses of Usnea include: Usnea is popular for its antibacterial properties. Vancouver: Lone Pine Pub. Reduce heat and cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes. Beware of look-alike lichens that do not have this whitish core, or have black cores – these are not usnea. As an antifungal and antiparastitic, it can be used when candida overgrowth (yeast infections) or Trichomonas are a concern. Lichens grow in colorful, flat patches. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books. Both the inner and outer parts of usnea are thought to be medicinally valuable. How do I ‘clean’ the usnea? Disclaimer, e-mail: [email protected] It is good for sore throats and skin infections. Place clean usnea in a jar. Input your search keywords and press Enter. © 2020 Healthbenefitstimes. It usually grows on tree branches and prefers moist habitats. For more information on how we may collect and use your data please refer to our Privacy Policy. The genus is in the family Parmeliaceae. Addiction – What Are the Short- and Long-Term Effects of Drug Abuse? It’s available as a tincture, tea, supplement, and medicinal cream. Applied externally, it can help prevent infection and accelerate wound closure, and may even be effective against the bacteria that cause acne. Usnea is … Skype: healthbenefit55. Devon's second book, The Herbalist's Healing Kitchen, will be published Fall 2019. It is taken by mouth to treat colds, strep throat, influenza, sore throats, respiratory infections, and gastrointestinal disorders. It can also be used as a douche to treat cystitis, urinary tract infections, and vaginal infections. Nitty Gritty Life participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Read More. It is beneficial for women with yeast infections trichonomosas, bacterial vaginosis, and chlamydia, and is used to treat other fungal infections like athlete’s foot and infected wounds. Zahlbruckner, Usnea plicata var. Sharing my Nitty Gritty Life with you! It grows almost everywhere and has some amazing medicinal benefits. It is recommended that you use it cautiously while applying the herb to the skin directly. Just a single clump? Though lichens appear to be single plants, they are really a combination of fungus and algae that grow together for their mutual benefit. Bountiful and useful, this herb has an ever present place in my home apothecary. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); POLICY Take some care when collecting it and bring it home to turn it into a tincture to include in your herbal apothecary for optimum wellness! I infused the lichen … Usnea is an all around infection fighter, combatting bacteria, inflammation and pain. Some of the bacteria that it acts against effectively include Staph (Staphylococcus simulans and S. Aureus). This post contains affiliate links meaning that I may make a small commission based off of your purchase at no additional cost to you. There were some reports of liver toxicity issues with a weight loss product in the early 2000’s which contained usnic acid (a constituent of usnea). Common names include Old Man’s Beard, Blood Spattered Beard (um, yikes), beard moss (not a moss), and beard lichen. Nitty Gritty Life is committed to protecting your privacy and data security. Or they are floppy and leaf-like. By only killing the gram positive bacteria, it is a great way of eliminating bacteria without harming the beneficial bacteria. Yet another case for whole herb use. Usnea contains some chemicals that might harm the liver. Usnea chalybeiformis (Linnaeus) Baumgarten, Usnea farinosa (Müller Arg.) Due to its bitter taste, usnea encourages digestion and was historically used by herbalists to treat indigestion. To use usnea on a wound you might try it as a powdered herb or, if the wound is not infected, as a salve. Usnea has been researched to effectively cure several types of fungal infections, Candida species included. Good to know how to use it. It is found growing all over the temperate zones in the northern hemisphere, particularly in the coastal rainforest and sub-arctic regions. As the name longissima implies, this particular species can grow feet to yards long and is particular satisfying to find and forage for. In the capsule form, the patient should take 100 mg of usnea three times a day. Therapeutic Actions: anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antiparastic, analgesic, astringent, styptic, tonic, vulnerary. This is an herb best used fresh, either infused into oil or tinctured in high proof alcohol. One could certainly use heat water to make a dual extract (one phase water, one phase high proof alcohol). Usnea barbata has been used in cosmetic production for its antimicrobial and antifungal properties as a preservative and deodorant. In the effort to support the content of Nitty Gritty Life, this website includes a few graphic ads and affiliate links for which I may receive a small amount of monetary compensation (based on page views), commissions (based on your purchase), or as a paid sponosrship placement. Please consult your primary care physician regarding your specific health concerns. The resulting tincture can be used to address acute complaints, specifically of the respiratory and urinary systems, or used long term as a tonic. Usnea has a great affinity for the respiratory system, as well as being a profound infection fighter for the whole body. Reserve your copy of The Herbalist's Healing Kitchen TODAY! It is also effective against a bacterium that usually causes pneumonia. Dismiss. Usnea is slow growing lichen about 3 cm tall. I live in the PNW also. A high proof spirit (like 95%) is preferred for the extraction here, however I have had very good luck using a lower proof alcohol and allowing the lichen to tincture for several months (rather than weeks). Usnea is commercially available in bulk form or as a powder, capsule, or tincture. Research has discovered that the lichen kills bacteria particularly the bacteria that are found in the digestive tract. MacKinnon, A., Pojar, J., & Alaback, P. B. Perhaps it is no surprise then that this stretchy lichen has profound action on the respiratory system. About how much usnea should I use? https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=190765#null, http://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/hn-2177002, http://www.encyclopedia.com/plants-and-animals/plants/plants/usnea, https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=USNEA2. I usually give it a good rinse and pluck out any other vegetative matter them just “shove it in a jar”! If you have liver disease, don’t take usnea by mouth. An usnea tea can be prepared by steeping 2-3 tsp of dried lichen or 1-2 tsp of powdered lichen in 1 cup of boiling-hot water. The water quantity must reduce to an amount that is equal to the alcohol used. have you used heat in your alcohol extraction to get a better extraction? I hope that helps! Thank you for such concise information. In the PNW, we have both U. wirthii (tufts) and U. longissima (long chains). In Chinese Medicine several types of Usnea were used. Usnea is a fantastic choice for wounds. All rights reserved. hirta (Linnaeus) Acharius, Usnea subcapillaris (D. J. Galloway) F. J. Walker. Although usnea prefers damper environments, it can be found throughout North America. Usnea is a type of lichen that grows on trees. © 2015-2019 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED • DO NOT USE PHOTOS OR CONTENT WITHOUT EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION • Devon Young | Nitty Gritty Life. Unlike most modern antibiotics which disrupt the structure of a cell, this lichen prevents the metabolism of gram positive bacteria such as Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It can be used in mouthwashes, gargles and lozenges, for inflammation of the oral mucus membranes. Living in the temperate and green Pacific Northwest, it is not hard to spot throughout our mixed forests, sometimes as little tufts nestled in nooks of bark or even hanging in long, copious strands from overhead limbs. Because of the absorbent quality of usnea, it has been used in baby diapers, wound dressings, and feminine napkins. Many of the polysaccharides that benefit of the immune system are water soluble. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books. Rogers, R. D. (2011). Zahlbruckner, Usnea hispidula (Müller Arg.) Inland Dena’ina Natives of Alaska occasionally eat Usnea as an emergency food or camp food after first boiling it in water. Sometimes when you are researching the uses for a particular herb, its common or Latin names and associated terms point definitively to its actions or organ affinities. The tincture must be diluted in water before ingesting or using externally. Direct application of the herb on the skin may result in allergic contact dermatitis. I get my hands dirty and am not afraid to do things the "hard way". Devon is a writer and author on subjects of holistic and sustainable living. Usnea is a genus of mostly pale grayish-green fruticose lichens that grow like leafless mini-shrubs or tassels anchored on bark or twigs. It could also be simmered and drank like a tea, but I don’t find it particularly tasty. It grows all over the world. In the capsule form, the patient should take 100 mg of usnea three times a day. Respiratory Herbs: Wild Cherry Bark Syrup, Respiratory Herbs: Bee Balm & Herbal Steam. what is your opinion of usnea not being water soluble? Strain away lichen and store in a dropper bottle. She has a degree in Complementary and Alternative Medicine from the American College of Healthcare Sciences, and her first book, The Backyard Herbal Apothecary, was published by Page Street Publishing in Spring 2019. Usnea is very lightweight and difficult to measure accurately with home kitchen type scales. Usnea is such a great lichen to know about. It was also reportedly used over 3,000 years ago in ancient Egypt, Greece, and China to treat unspecified infections. Wood, M., & Ryan, D. (2016). Usnea is quite beneficial in clearing antifungal infections. It is used in the treatment of bronchitis and as part of herbal cancer therapy, particularly for cases of thyroid cancers in China. What are your thoughts, I am an herbalist, farmer, cook, and forager. Check out my new book The Backyard Herbal Apothecary! Today Usnea is used for infections o… Thready filaments that resemble coarse hair, stretchy like elastic if you tug gently on its strands. Usnea tincture may be taken every two hours to treat bacterial infections. Usnea is a type of lichen that grows on trees. It is a very safe herb that can be used by the whole family. It is beneficial for people with chronic fatigue syndrome, HIV, herpes, and other chronic conditions related with depressed immunity. 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