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