SHAGGY MANE MUSHROOMS
October 27, 2022
TURKEY TAIL MUSHROOMS
October 7, 2023
Today, like most days, I was in the forest. Today and lately I have been searching for Turkey Tails and other forest mushrooms but the mushroom season has been all but a complete bust this year. That being said, I trust in nature, she gives us exactly what we need and nothing that we don’t. Right now I believe she is showing me she wants us to focus on Usnea. She shows me this with the abundance of the herb she offers. Usnea comes by many names, I have most commonly known it as Old Mans Beard although I have also heard it called Witches Hair. I don’t believe the abundance of unsea this year is by chance but in fact a gift to help us heal from the current situation of the pandemic. No I am not saying this should be used instead of the current conventional and preventative treatments but instead to be used in conjunction with them. Thankfully we have vaccines helping us control the spread of covid but this doesn’t negate our need to pay attention to both our immune systems and the damage being suffered by those who have been unfortunate enough to contract the virus. Not to mention regular cold and flu season.
Usnea is a lichen. A lichen is a word you may associate with werewolves who are half human half wolf. That is because a lichen is a symbiosis of more than one thing and in the case of Usnea it is a fungus and an algae. These two organisms join together to become a new structure with all parts working together for optimal survival. Usnea is quite easy to identify It begins its growth as a small shrub like structure clinging to the branches and trunks of coniferous trees and sometimes other trees as well. As it grows it begins to look like a long beard on a tree.
It is a greyish green colour. Now with only this description you can definitely find yourself in a misidentification situation. there are some other plants like Spanish moss that can be mistaken for Usnea by a novice forager.The best way to be sure is to gently pull on a filament of your fresh suspected Usnea and the outer layer will gently crack to expose a white elastic fibre in the centre of the thallus. if it does not do this it is not Usnea.
Usnea has a long history in Herbal medicines from around the Globe. possibly because it is a prime example of the doctrine of signatures. The doctrine of signatures, dating from the time of Dioscorides and Galen, states that herbs resembling various parts of the body can be used by herbalists to treat ailments of those body parts. Usnea bears a resemblance to the respiratory tract especially the bronchial tree. So it should come as no surprise that Usnea has a special affinity to these systems.
The word Usnea translates loosely to lungs of the forest which is also interesting as it does act as a purification for the forest air. Usnea can only survive in clean air. When trying to grow in polluted areas Usnea will absorb heavy metals and toxic substances from the air and water and subsequently die. For this reason biologists use it as an indicator of air quality. If you are in a forest rich with Usnea you are in clean air. For this reason and the fact that it grows as little at 4mm a year please only collect Usnea that has fallen to the ground and not from the trees themselves.
This magical lichen has many other medicinal properties and uses. In Traditional Chinese medicine it is said to have cooling and drying properties. In the Pacific Northwest the fibers of Usnea longissima are used by the Haida, an indigenous nation of the Pacific Northwest Coast, to strain impurities from hot pitch before the pitch is used as medicine. Usnea is also used in the Canary Islands as a general wound healing, in Italy as a eupeptic, an antiseptic in Argentina, an antibacterial agent in Saudi Arabia, an antitumor agent in Chile and as an abscess and dye by North American tribes.[1]
In modern science we have been able to study the properties of this lichen. Phytochemical analysis confirms the general presence of a wide range of metabolites, polysaccharides, fatty acids, phenolic acids, flavonoids, terpenes, sterols, depsides, depsidones, and benzofurans. As specific constituents, usnic acid, polyphenols, and depsides have been considered as main efficacy component for antibacterial and antifungal activities. In addition, pharmacological analysis also revealed that other pure compounds and crude extracts of Usnea species prove to be significant anti-cancer, anti-proliferative, anti-oxidant, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, hepatoprotective, and anti-genotoxic agents.[2]
In herbal medicine today it is recognized that Usnea has two major properties. The outer layer contains all of the anti microbial and anti bacterial properties while the inner fibre contains polysaccharides giving it its powerful immune modulating properties. The polysaccharides are water soluble and can be extracted in hot water to make a tea to help balance your immune system. the anti microbial, anti bacterial and anti fungal properties are not soluble in water and will need to be extracted in something stronger such as alcohol and be made in to a tincture.
The tincture can be used topically or internally for short periods. common ailments treated with Usnea are: Bronchitis, cold, flu, phlegm, athletes foot, bacterial infections, tuberculosis, asthma, under or over active immune systems, herpes, viruses, bacterias, fungus. It is truly something every person should know and know well.
This magic does not come without precautions. While I haven’t heard of or found any articles about anyone taking a natural tincture like the one pictured here having this problem. The isolated active ingredient found in Usnea is Usnic Acid, this compound has been used in “supplements” such as a weight loss pill and after continued use of this there were some instances of liver failure. for this reason if you have a history of liver problems it is not advised to take Usnea orally. Regardless of the health of your liver it is never advised to take Usnea for longer than ten days at a time. It is a powerful medicine and should be treated as such. You should always speak with a healthcare professional before starting any new herbal regime, especially if you are currently taking other herbs or medications.
You can buy a double extract tincture of Usnea in my store. you can also stay tuned for future posts about how to make your own double extract tincture.
[1] https://mountpisgaharboretum.org/learn/plant-list/usnea-spp/
[2]https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2016/ra/c5ra24205c
This is a 2oz double extract of Usnea, foraged and made by WhichBetty. Usnea is a tree lichen, meaning it is a symbiosis of more than one thing, in this case it is both a fungus and an algae. It has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for over 2000 years as well as has a long history in western herbal practices. This herb was sustainably harvested by me on the Gulf Islands of BC away from chemical or biological contaminants. It is known as a cooling herb that is both drying and energetic.It is used for inflammation and infection as well as it is believed to be a powerful immune modulator and will ward off viruses. This has a special affinity for the lungs and should be part of everyones medicine cabinet.
Disclaimer: While studies have and are being conducted I am not involved in conducting them nor am I a scientist or a doctor. please talk to your doctor or health care provider and be sure to do your own research.
*TINCTURE SHIPMENTS ARE CURRENTLY DELAYED DUE TO THE CANADA POST STRIKE
