Seems like sniffles and coughs are running rampant. It doesn’t matter the season, you know at some point this viral ick will hit your home, you’ve used every ounce of prevention you have and then BAM your house has been hit. So now what?

Since you are now in what is called the acute phase it’s time to swap over to a remedy, and in this case a double extract usnea tincture may be just the thing. Did you know that usnea is not even considered a plant?  Lichen are what is known as symbiosis of a fungus and algae. I prefer to use it over echinacea, but it can also be used WITH it if you prefer.

It is important that usnea is harvest in the most sustainable way, I prefer to avoid anything near roadways or or populated areas as usnea tends to absorb all sorts of stuff (like toxins and heavy metals). I also like to grab what has recently fallen or comes from a ground branch of a dead tree. It takes a while to replenish as it grows slow so be sure to always harvest sustainably. The greenish stuff is what I gravitate to rather than what is greyed out stuff that may have lost it’s vitality as we say.

It’s a tough one to process and requires care and patience. Usnea’s outer cortex contains usnic acid which gives it its antimicrobial properties. For this medicinal component we need an alcohol extraction, using at least 90% alcohol. But Usnea’s inner cord contains polysaccharides, which have immunomodulating properties. This means they bring optimal balance to the immune system. Usnea’s polysaccharides are best processed through a hot water extraction process (aka decoction). Hence why I use a double extraction technique. It takes months to create this tincture but it is worth the wait.

Usnea has been used for thousands of years to support our immune system, kidneys and respiratory system. This herb has COOLING AND DRYING energetic properties, meaning it clears heat, removes toxicity and moves dampness.

Since things like polyphenols are popular these days you may find it interesting that usnea is rich in polyphenols as well as antioxidants and its most abundant compound USNIC ACID.

You can take alone, add to other favourites like echinacea (or in place of it for those who do not tolerate it well), feverfew and tulsi are other great choices. You can add it to warm water, take under the tongue un tincture format or make a tea (although a decoction is better – let it simmer in your crock pot or 30 min on the stove)

In vitro research strongly supports usnea’s antimicrobial properties:

Antibiotic – inhibits 16 known gram-positive bacteria (both in resistant and non-resistant strains)

Antiviral – viruses presenting sores and lesions including Herpes Simplex, Polyoma, Junin, Tacaribe and Epstein-Barr

Anti-fungal – Candida albicans