Usnea Lichen
For tea-making, tincturing, or powdering & encapsulating
For tea-making, tincturing, or powdering & encapsulating
For tea-making, tincturing, or powdering & encapsulating
With over 600 species of usnea, Usnea barbata and U. longissima are most commonly found on Cape Cod. Usnea lichen is analgesic, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiparasitic, antiseptic, antiviral, antineoplastic & antiproliferative (relating to cancer), and a phenomenal immunostimulant. According to the late scholar & herbalist Stephen Harrod Buhner, this lichen is particularly effective against many Gram-positive bacteria, including numerous strains of Staphylococcus and Streptococcus. Usnea has also been found to be active against a few Gram-negative bacteria, including Helicobacter pylori, E. coli, and Proteus mirabilis. It is also active against a handful of parasitical organisms, yeasts, and cancers. In my practice as an herbalist, I have found this lichen to be incredibly effective against numerous resistant Gram-positive bacterial infections, fungal skin infections, particular respiratory bacterial infections, and vaginal infections.
Ingredients: Usnea lichen*
*Locally wildcrafted on Cape Cod
Safety Note: Not to be used during pregnancy. May cause contact dermititis. Be sure to harvest usnea at least 300 or more feet away from roads and polluted areas to reduce the risk of gathering lichen that has absorbed toxic amounts of heavy metals.
Suggested Use:
Store in a cool, dark, dry place
To make topical medicines, grind or mortar & pestle. Ground usnea mixes well with honey and clay. To make medicine for internal consumption, make a double extraction tincture with alcohol and water, or make broth or tea. In his book Herbal Antibiotics, Buhner clearly outlines the step-by-step methods for effectively making potent medicine with usnea. Feel welcome to reach out to me for more information. Note: The inner cortex (white rubber band-like threads) contains immune-stimulating water-soluble polysaccharides. These polysaccharides can be extracted in water with heat by making tea or broth. However, the powerful antimicrobial, anticancer, antiparasitic and antifungal constituents found in green hairs covering the threads will not be extracted by water and require other extraction processes.
DISCLAIMER
*This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Wild Blossoms Apothecary assumes no responsibility for any one's use of its products, as each body responds differently to various herbs and mushrooms. Although we have a skilled community herbalist on staff, Wild Blossoms Apothecary is not a medical clinic. Speak to your doctor or qualified medical practitioner for guidance.
Prices subject to change.