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Usnea barbata / Bearded Usnea |
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Product Code: FPT-01780
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Scientific Name: Usnea barbata | |||
Usnea Overview: Usnea has a documented history of therapeutic use dating back over three thousand years in Chinese medicine. It is actually still used today in liquid form to treat pulmonary tuberculosis and chronic bronchitis. In Germany, Usnea is approved in the Commission E, and is used for any type of inflammation relating to the throat and mucous membranes. It has the propensity to stimulate the production of mucus which helps to ease pain from coughs and colds. It is also widely used by alternative practitioners for urinary tract, kidney, and bladder infections. | |||
Usnea barbata; Usnea plicata (Old Man's Beard, Tree Lichen) From Lise Alschuler, ND
Family: Usneaceae
Part Used: Lichen
Active Constituents:
Lichen acids (usnic acid-antibiotic), polysaccharides (immunostimulating), mucilage, anthraquinones (endocrocin-laxative), fatty acids, all the essential amino acids, vitamins, carotenoids. Origin of tomoxifen
Medicinal Actions:
Anti-microbial, anti-fungal, immunomodulating, demulcent, laxative, nutritive
Medicinal Uses:
1)There is very little in the herbal literature about Usnea. Christopher Hobbs has written the most thorough review entitled: "Usnea: The Herbal Antibiotic (and other medicinal lichens)".
2)Usnea has a long history of medicinal use throughout this continent, in Europe and in Asia. It was used by many Native American tribes in the Northwestern region of the United States and Canada. Chinese herbalists have used the U. longissima species (Sun-Lo). All species of Usnea contain usnic acid which is one of the main identified active constituents. It is apparently difficult to extract this constituent, the process requiring a hot distillation. It is of note, that Native Americans made infusions of this lichen and achieved medicinal action.
3)This herb is primarily antibiotic, especially against gram positive organisms such as: Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and other fast growing species. Usnea spares the gram negative bacteria that colonize the intestinal tract and is not bacteriocidal to gram negative pathogenic bacteria. In vitro, usnic acid is more effective than penicillin against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Streptococcus and Pneumococcus. The flesh eating microb. Usnic acid is thought to disrupt the cellular metabolism of bacteria, by preventing the formation of ATP from ADP or by uncoupling oxidative phosphorylation. Human cells are much less permeable to usnic acid and are therefore, unaffected by it.
4)Because Usnea and penicillin do not share the same mechanism of action, they may be used together to enhance the overall antibiotic effect. Antibiotic for the anti biotic resistance . Usnic acid is also anti-fungal and effective against Trichomonas.
Usnea also contains polysaccharides that are immunomodulating. This enhances the antimicrobial effect of this plant. Additionally, these polysaccharides have demonstrated anti-tumor activity in animal studies. It is a good addition to any formula directed against an infectious process such as UTI, UTI, gastroenteritis, impetigo, pharyngitis, skin infections.
In traditional Chinese medicine, Usnea longissima is considered to be cooling and slightly bitter.
5) The alcoholic preparation is considered to be surface-acting while the water extraction is internally acting. Usnea enters the lung, spleen and kidney meridians. In acute condition
Contraindications: None known
Pharmacy:
Infusion: 1 Tbl/cup water X15 min TID - QID
Tincture: 2-5 ml TID
Usnea Herb Profile
Also known as
Usnea longissima and Usnea barbata, Old Man's Beard, Beard Moss, and Tree Moss.
Introduction
The oddly named usnea isn't a plant at all, but actually it is a lichen, which is a combination of algae and fungi functioning as a single organism. Usnea grows on old trees in cool, damp forests, most commonly found in the pacific Northwest which provides most of the nations supply. Contrary to popular belief, Usnea is incredibly abundant and has the potential of devastating entire forests because of its parasitic nature. The various species of usnea are hard to distinguish, but have equivalent uses in herbal medicine.
Constituents
Usnic acid, essential fatty acids, mucilage, and sterols.
Parts Used
The dried thallus or lichen strands of collected plants.
Typical Preparations
Usually used to make cough and cold lozenges. Can be consumed as a tea and in extract form. externally as a compress or poultice.
Summary
Usnea has been used in Chinese medicine for more than three thousand years. Considered a bitter, cool medicine, usnea is antibiotic, antifungal, antispasmodic, antipyretic, and analgesic. Early Chinese herbalists administered usnea orally as an expectorant and topically to treat infections and ulcers. Today, it is used as a tincture or infusion to treat tuberculosis and bronchitis, and applied locally to help heal infected wounds. The German E commission monographs approve usnea for treating inflammations of the mucous membranes in the mouth and larynx, and American herbalists utilize it for the treatment of lung infections, tuberculosis, urinary tract infections, Candida albicans, and strep throat.
Precautions
None.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
