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| Veterinary Botanical
Medicine Association |
| Dedicated to Developing
Responsible Herbal Practice |
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| MEMBER WEBSITE |
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Jasmine C. Lyon,
Executive Director |
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QUESTIONS?
email
office@vbma.org |
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| Established in 2002 by
Susan Wynn, DVM, RH(AHG) |
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VBMA Herbal Wiki |
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Common Name:
Usnea
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Usnea
spp., ‘Umi Koa; beard of koa, old man’s beard
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Family
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Usneacae
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Part Used
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Use whole lichen
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Active constituents
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Usnic acid; barbatic,
diffractaic, evernic acids. Polysaccharides,
mucilage
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Action:
Cooling Herb; transforms
hot phlegm
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Antibacterial; antibiotic; antifungal;
;antiparasitic; antiseptic; dermatological aid
eupeptic; general wound healer
TCM indications: 1.
Opens the chest, transforms phlegm; 2. Removes
damp heat; 3. Invigorates blood; 4. Clears heat
and toxins; 5. Clears deficiency heat, stops
bleeding
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Indications
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Topical dermatologic aid
for fungal infections; dysentery; spastic colon;
indigestion; headache, sinus infections sore
throat; eye inflammation; lupus; abscesses,
boils, carbuncles, Candida; leprosy; lymph
tuberculosis; toxic snakebites; malignant
tumors; malaria; uterine bleeding; trichomonosis,
Chlamydia, mastitis, immunity boost for common
cold; pleurisy, pneumonia, tuberculosis; urinary
tract infections; can be made into bandages,
diapers and sanitary napkins. It has an ability
to absorb heavy metals and pollutants-used as a
biomeasure for air pollution.
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Cautions
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May cause local rash if
allergic and used topically
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Contraindications
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pregnancy
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Herb Drug Interactions
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None found
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Dosage (use animal doses
where available, otherwise human doses can be
included here but specify)
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Human: 10 g; Tincture: 3-4 ml TID;
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Notes: Habitat: old growth
trees in cool areas. World wide distribution except
Australia
BUT Usnea is becoming
ENDANGERED USE ONLY IF IN NEED; Harvest from downed
branches.
Energetics: bitter,
sweet, neutral; stimulating and relaxing
Historically used
as a bitter tonic.
Research: shown to
inhibit pathologic oral bacteria without harming normal
flora; inhibits Epstein-Barr virus, inhibits RNA
transcription; has strong effect against Herpes
simplex virus; anti-parasite action against
Leishmania amazonensis and Trichmonas vaginalis;
mildly anti-neoplastic; comparable to hydrocortisone
and Phenylbutazone as anti-inflammatory, analgesic and
anti-pyretic.
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