Usnea

Botanical Name
Usnea barbata

Common name
Old man’s beard

Introduction and Where Grown
Usnea, also known as old man’s beard, is not a plant but a lichen—a symbiotic relationship between an algae and a fungus. The entire lichen is used medicinally. Usnea looks like long, fuzzy strings hanging from trees in the forests of North America and Europe, where it grows.

Common Use:
Usneais used in Headache, ocular irritation, cough, profuse phlegm, malaria, scrofula, leukorrhea, functional bleeding, wound bleeding, carbuncle, toxic snake bite. Usnea or old man's beard as it is sometimes referred contains usnic acid, a natural antibiotic proven effective against gram positive bacteria, such as Streptococcus (strep throat), Staphylococcus (impetigo, etc.), Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and other fast growing species.

How much is usually taken?
100 mg per day can be taken in capsules. Tincture, 3–4 ml three times per day, can also be used.

Are there any side effects or interactions?
There are no known side effects of usnea. It is considered safe for use in children. The safety of usnea during pregnancy and breast-feeding has not been established.


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