From The Forest

Usnea sp. Usnea, also known as old man’s beard, is not a plant but lichen—a symbiotic relationship between an algae and a fungus. The entire lichen is used. Usnea looks like long, fuzzy strings hanging from trees in North American and European forests, where it grows. This particular species of Usnea, common to our area, is medium-sized tufted shrub lichen, pale yellowish green in color. It is highly branched, bearing numerous short side branches, reinforced by a tough, white, central cord. Usnea grows over trees and shrubs, preferring old growth forest conifers in shady areas.

Cautions: There are no known side effects of usnea, and it has not been reported to interfere with the action of common medications. It is considered safe for use in children. Theoretically, caution is advised in people with autoimmune disease (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, lupus), as Usnea may increase the action of the immune system.

Constituents: Usnic acid, mucilage.

Antibiotic – Usnic acid, which gives usnea its bitter taste, acts as an antibiotic. Use 2 tsp. of tincture in warm water 30 minutes before mealtime.

Anti-fungal – Indicated in the treatment of fungal infections of the mouth, stomach, intestines, anus, vagina, nose, ear, and skin, as well as systemic fungal infections. As an external anti-fungal Usnea Salve is excellent.

Anti-microbial – The lichen helps the body to resist and kill unwanted organisms such as bacteria, virus, fungus and parasites. The properties are often referred to in a more specific way using the terms anti-bacterial, anti-biotic and anti-fungal. Take 3 #00 capsule three times a day for the above conditions. Usnea appears to kill bacteria by disrupting their metabolic function. Specifically, it uncouples oxidative phosphorylation by acting on the inner mitochondrial membrane and also has ATP-ase activity. Both of these mechanisms ultimately kill bacterial cells by cutting off their energy supply. Unlike bacterial cells, human cells are less permeable to usnic acid and are not adversely affected.

Cough medicine – Usnea also contains mucilage, which can be helpful in easing irritating coughs. A teaspoon of dried usnea added to chokecherry bark (1 tsp.) and Horehound (1/2 tsp.) per cup of boiling-hot water works well.

Gast-intestinal – Because of its bitter taste and ability to stimulate digestion, Usnea was historically used to treat indigestion. Take two teaspoons of tincture in warm water, as needed.

Gynecological aid – For vaginal infections, use a strong infusion of Usnea as a douche. A strong infusion can also be added to a bath for women following the birth of a child, to aid parturition and to prevent infection.

Lung aid – Usnea is recommended by herbalists and naturopathic doctors for acute and chronic lung infections, such as pleurisy, pneumonia, colds and flu, and as an adjunct to tuberculosis (TB) treatment. Usnic acid, the constituent of the Usnea species that has been studied most extensively, inhibits gram-positive bacteria such as streptococcus, staphylococcus, and mycobacteria. The organism Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major cause of bacterial pneumonia in adults, and a related organism, Streptococcus pyogenes, is responsible for the clinical condition pharyngitis, which is commonly referred to as strep throat.

Wounds – Usnea, pulverized into a fine powder, make an excellent antibacterial dressing for open wounds and runny sores.

PHOTOS: Bulk Usnea, Usnea, Jules and Sheila harvesting, apprentices on a winter Usnea harvest.

Achillea millefolium. Opening a bag of Yarrow Flowers is a delight! This bag of blossoms will make approximately 70 cups of tea.

Constituents: Essential oil (proazulene, borneol, camphor, cineole, eugenol, linalool, pinene, sabinene, thujone), isoValerianic acid, achillein, formic acid, salicylic acid, polyacetylenes, asparagin, sterols, glycoalkaloid (achhilleine), flavonoids (apigenin, luteolin, rutin, quercitin), coumarins, tannins.

Analgesic – Yarrow helps to relax peripheral blood vessels, thereby improving circulation, which can aid in the treatment of some headaches. Take one teaspoon of tincture in a cup of warm water, or drink a tea brewed with two teaspoons of Yarrow per cup of boiling hot water for headache relief.

Antihemorrhagic –Yarrow contains achilletin and achilleine that aids in blood coagulation. The fresh leaves are an effective first aid to stimulate clotting in cuts and abrasions, as well as working as an antiseptic and a local anesthetic.

Blood Pressure – Taken as a tea, Yarrow relaxes the peripheral blood vessels and is therefore useful in lowering blood pressure. A teaspoon of the dried herb is steeped in one cup of boiling-hot water for ten minutes. Three to four cups are taken hot throughout the day.

Cold Remedy – If taken freely with Mullein and Horehound at the beginning of a cold, the congestion will usualy break up within twenty-four hours. Use one teaspoon dried Yarrow, two teaspoon dried Mullein and one-half teaspoon dried Horehound per cup of boiling-hot water. Drink a cupful every two to three hours.

Cosmetic Aid – Yarrow makes an excellent facial steam for problem skin. Put a handful of dried Yarrow leaves and flowers in a small basin. Pour one quart of boiling water over the dried herb. Lean the head over the bowl, draping the head and bowl with a large towel to make a facial steam tent. Steam face for ten minutes, then rinse skin with fresh cold water.

Febrifuge – The plant is useful for breaking dry fevers. Steep two teaspoons of dried Yarrow leaves or flowers in one cup of boiling hot water for six or seven minutes. The tea is then sipped slowly. The best way to bring on copious sweating is to sit in a tub of hot water or a sauna while sipping the tea. Yarrow’s diaphoretic properties also help open the pores and aid in the elimination of waste material.

Gynecological Aid – Yarrow has been very effectively used during menopausal years, reducing the incidence of "hot flashes" and speeding up the transition. One teaspoon of the dried flowers is steeped in one cup boiling-hot water for ten minutes and taken hot several times a day. Two to three cups of Yarrow tea will decrease menstruation. Steep one teaspoon in one cup of boiling-hot water for five minutes, and then sip slowly.

Constituents: Ursolic acid, hydroquinones (arbutin, chimophilin, ericolin), flavonoids (avicularin, kaempferol), triterpenes (ursolic acid, taraxasterol), phenols, methyl salicylate, essential oil, and tannins.

Ground dried Lomatium Dissectum root, dug during the peak spring and autumn seasons, cleaned, sliced and dried, then ground. During harvest season, Jil will dig your roots on order, then clean, dry and grind them. She will have your dried, powdered root mailed to you within 10 days or your order. During off season, she will have a limited amount dried and stored. The off-season dried roots will then be ground when ordered, to preserve maximum freshness.

Lomatium dissectum is considered among many Native American tribes as one of the Bear Medicines (along with Osha and Arrowleaf Balsamroot) since in spring it sends up parts resembling furry, brown paws. Bear Medicine plants were used to heal the heart, liver and lungs.

Cautions: Some people have experienced rashes as a side effect. Lomatium should be taken in small doses. If too much is taken (exceeding seventy drops per day), a rash can occur. Should this happen, discontinue use of Lomatium. The rash will clear up in one to five days.

Arrowleaf Balsamroots are large and bulbous with a deep main taproot and several side roots. They grow on rocky hillsides, anchoring their roots among the rocks. It takes approximately thirty minutes to dig one of the larger roots. The roots are harvested in early spring just as leaves are appearing or in the autumn when the leaves have died back.

WHEN YOU RECEIVE YOUR ROOTS: After scrubbing the soil from the root, break the outer bark from the inner core with a hammer. Break the outer bark into small pieces and place into a large glass jar or food-grade bucket. The core can then be pulled apart into long thin strips. Add the long strips to the outer bark. The outer bark and inner core are then tinctured together by covering both with food-grade alcohol, such as vodka. It takes at least four weeks for the vodka, acting as a solvent, to extract the sticky balsam from the root. After four weeks, strain the liquid from the root, discarding root. Bottle the tincture in dark glass bottles, sealed tightly. Suggested dosage is 1/2 to 1 tsp. twice daily.

Constituents: Dihydroxy-cycloartenol (root), hydroxy-two-0-hexa-nor-cycloartenone (root), hydroxy-cycloartenol (root), hydroxy-cycloartenone (root), hydroxy-lanosterone (root), hydroxy-methyl-kaempferol (leaf), methoxy-kaempferol (leaf), beta-hydroxy, beta-acetoxy, alpha eudesmol (root), beta eudesmol (root), beta sellinene (root), betuletol (leaf), carissone (root), cinnamic acid, heptadeca-one-cis-8-diene (root), jaceidin (leaf), montarusin (plant), nonacos-one-ene (root), patuletin (leaf), spinacetin (leaf).

Adaptogen – As an Adaptogen, take 1 tsp. tincture of the root twice daily for six weeks.

Antibacterial – A tincture of the root or Arrowleaf Balsamroot Salve may be applied to infections and hard to heal wounds. A tincture of the root and bark may be used internally or externally for bacterial problems. For internal use take one teaspoon tincture three times daily.

Antifungal – Make a liniment from the pounded root and bark by infusing it in rubbing alcohol. Apply to athlete's foot and other fungal outbreaks.

Immune Stimulant – Use the tincture as you would Echinacea, taking one teaspoon twice daily to strengthen the immune system.

Veterinarian aid: Arrowleaf Balsamroot is a natural antibiotic for pets and livestock, as well as a blood and lymphatic system cleanser. It is excellent for infections of the respiratory tract or head. It should only be used when necessary for no more than three weeks at a time. Dosage for small animals is ¼ to ½ tsp. of the tinctured root. Large animals, such as horses and cows can take 2 Tbsp. tincture per dosage.