Usnea spp.

Earth Medicine Special Report: Usnea from David Bruce Leonard on Vimeo.

PLANT NAME: Usnea spp.

SIMILARLY USED SPECIES: U. barbata, U. ceratina, U. dasypoga, U. florida, U. hirta, U. filipendula, U. longissima

COMMON NAMES: ‘Umi koa (“beard of koa”), limu ‘o ke kuahiwi (“seaweed of the mountain”) [Hawai’i]; song lo [China]; old man’s beard [USA]; chan wiziye (“spirit of the north wind”) [Lakota]; janggut tok adam (“adam’s beard”), rumput angin (“air grass”), tahi angin (“excrement of air”) [Malaysia].

FAMILY: Usneaceae.

CATEGORY: Cool herbs that transform hot phlegm.

PROPERTIES: Bitter sweet neutral.

PART USED: Whole lichen.

PREPARATION OF MEDICINE: Because usnic acid is not water soluble, the tincture is preferred (1:3, 70% alcohol), or you can decoct. A crock pot works well. Usnea can also be made into a salve.

WESTERN FUNCTIONS REPORTED: Antibacterial; antibiotic; antifungal; antiparasitic; antiseptic; as bitters; dermatological aid; eupeptic; general wound healer.

TRADITIONAL CHINESE ENERGETIC FUNCTIONS (~ = extrapolated):

Opens the chest~, cleanses the lungs, transforms phlegm~.
Removes damp heat.
Invigorates blood~.
Clears heat and toxins.
Clears deficiency heat~, stops bleeding.

GATHERING:

Usnea is not actually a plant but a lichen, which is part algae and part fungus. A good way to identify this lichen is to pull it apart. Medicinal Usnea has a soft thread-like “core” and is always round.
Usnea is becoming rare and should only be picked in genuine need. Only take what you will use! Take it from downed branches if possible. Usnea often grows on old-growth trees and it is imperative to not over-harvest. Avoid gathering Usnea from heavily polluted areas, as it might absorb heavy metals from the air. See Other

RESEARCH:

Most of the research points to usnic acid being an effective antibacterial against gram-positive bacteria; [Cocchietto 2002; Garcia, 1999], although one study showed it to be also antibacterial against gram-negative bacteria [Rowe 1989]. Its effect on gram-positive bacteria may be due to secondary metabolites of lichens [Lauterwein 1995]. Usnic acid may prevent bio-film colonization by Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, and Enterococcus faecium on artificial implant devices [Francolini 2004].

An usnic acid preparation can inhibit Streptococcus mutans in the oral cavity without altering the normal bacterial equilibrium of the mouth [Ghione 1988].
Usnic acid inhibits Epstein-Barr virus activation [Yamamoto 1995] and is a potent inhibitor of mouse polyomavirus because of its ability to inhibit RNA transcription [Campanella 2002].
Extracts of Usnea complanta are antiviral in vitro against Herpes simplex virus [Vijayan 2004].Usnic acid is used topically with zinc sulfate to prevent post-surgical recurrence of Human Papilloma virus [Scirpa 1999].
Usnic acid is anti-parasitic against Leishmania amazonensis when applied intra-lesionally but not orally or subcutaneously in mice [Fournet 1997]. It has a strong effect against Trichomonas vaginalis in vitro [Wu 1995].
Some research points to Usnea spp. extracts being only mildly antineoplastic [Proska 1999], while others report stronger effects [Bezivin 2004; Campanella 2002]. Extracts of U. fasciata containing the polysaccharide raffinose inhibited close to 90% of sarcoma 180 and Ehrlich tumor cells [Periera 1994].
Usnic acid is anti-inflammatory in lab animals for both acute and chronic conditions [Vijayakumar 2000]. It is analgesic and reduces induced fever in mice [Okuyama 1995].

TOXICITY: None noted when using the whole lichen.

CAUTIONS AND CONTRAINDICATIONS: Not in pregnancy. May cause contact dermatitis in topical use, discontinue if rash develops [Mitchell 1965; Goncalo 1987]. If used in autoimmune conditions, monitor immune status carefully.

NOTES

Used as medicine in Ancient Egypt, Rome, Greece, and China since before the time of Christ. The use of Usnea was documented in “The Formulary of Al-kindi,” A.D. 850

In Native American traditions Usnea represents the north and maintains the “lungs” of Planet Earth. In those traditions Usnea has a sacred primeval relationship with the trees, helping to protect them against infections.

One of our best plants for chronic respiratory problems. Because it does well as a tincture, it is often taken separately from the rest of an herbal formula.

PLANT NAME: Usnea spp.

SIMILARLY USED SPECIES: U. barbata, U. ceratina, U. dasypoga, U. florida, U. hirta, U. filipendula, U. longissima

FAMILY: Usneaceae.

CATEGORY: Cool herbs that transform hot phlegm.

PROPERTIES: Bitter sweet neutral.

PART USED: Whole lichen.

PREPARATION OF MEDICINE: Because usnic acid is not water soluble, the tincture is preferred (1:3, 70% alcohol), or you can decoct. A crock pot works well. Usnea can also be made into a salve.

WESTERN FUNCTIONS REPORTED: Antibacterial; antibiotic; antifungal; antiparasitic; antiseptic; as bitters; dermatological aid; eupeptic; general wound healer.

TRADITIONAL CHINESE ENERGETIC FUNCTIONS (~ = extrapolated):

Opens the chest~, cleanses the lungs, transforms phlegm~.

Removes damp heat.

Invigorates blood~.

Clears heat and toxins.

Clears deficiency heat~, stops bleeding.

GATHERING:

Usnea is not actually a plant but a lichen, which is part algae and part fungus. A good way to identify this lichen is to pull it apart. Medicinal Usnea has a soft thread-like “core” and is always round.

RESEARCH:

An usnic acid preparation can inhibit Streptococcus mutans in the oral cavity without altering the normal bacterial equilibrium of the mouth [Ghione 1988].

Usnic acid inhibits Epstein-Barr virus activation [Yamamoto 1995] and is a potent inhibitor of mouse polyomavirus because of its ability to inhibit RNA transcription [Campanella 2002].

Extracts of Usnea complanta are antiviral in vitro against Herpes simplex virus [Vijayan 2004].Usnic acid is used topically with zinc sulfate to prevent post-surgical recurrence of Human Papilloma virus [Scirpa 1999].

Usnic acid is anti-parasitic against Leishmania amazonensis when applied intra-lesionally but not orally or subcutaneously in mice [Fournet 1997]. It has a strong effect against Trichomonas vaginalis in vitro [Wu 1995].

Usnic acid is anti-inflammatory in lab animals for both acute and chronic conditions [Vijayakumar 2000]. It is analgesic and reduces induced fever in mice [Okuyama 1995].

TOXICITY: None noted when using the whole lichen.

CAUTIONS AND CONTRAINDICATIONS: Not in pregnancy. May cause contact dermatitis in topical use, discontinue if rash develops [Mitchell 1965; Goncalo 1987]. If used in autoimmune conditions, monitor immune status carefully.

NOTES

Used as medicine in Ancient Egypt, Rome, Greece, and China since before the time of Christ. The use of Usnea was documented in “The Formulary of Al-kindi,” A.D. 850

In Native American traditions Usnea represents the north and maintains the “lungs” of Planet Earth. In those traditions Usnea has a sacred primeval relationship with the trees, helping to protect them against infections.

One of our best plants for chronic respiratory problems. Because it does well as a tincture, it is often taken separately from the rest of an herbal formula.