Comments on: Usnea: Healing From the Forest

By: Roni

Roni — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 22:44:58 +0000

I’ve been using Usnea for about 7 years now to treat lots of things. I was 31 and developed an abscess in one of my tonsils (31 years with no tonsil issues?!). The doctor wanted to remove all tonsils and adenoids! I did some research and found that women over the age of 30 have a high percentage of infection and clotting issues after these surgeries. I’m an RN, but always look for a natural treatment for EVERYTHING. I’m not sure who told me about Usnea, but it worked! Every year for the next 3-4 years, the abscess stared to bother me again, and I’d repeat the Usnea and it would go away, only after I decided to take it for an entire week did it go away completely and it’s been I guess 3 years with no trouble. I recently tried it for a bladder infx with great success.
Thanks to Usnea, I can’t remember the last time I took an antibiotic.

By: kate

kate — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:47:23 +0000

Thanks kiva

By: Kiva Rose

Kiva Rose — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:01:00 +0000

Hi Jorge, you must be a new reader, you’ll want to check out my post The Basis of My Claims AKA What I Know and How I Know It which can be found at http://bearmedicineherbals.com/?p=132

Thanks for reading,
Kiva

By: Jorge

Jorge — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 14:35:35 +0000

Could you please share the scientific data that support the following paragraph from your discussion of usnea?

“The Usnea are their own delicate medicinal miracles. They have a special affinity for rebalancing bacteria and eradicating infection throughout the mucus membranes, from mouth to lungs to gut to urinary tract and on. This medicine is a special gift for those with signs of infection in the lungs and bronchial area, often indicated by yellow or green phlegm, chest pain, difficulty breathing and sometimes accompanied by a fever.”

By: Kiva Rose

Kiva Rose — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 14:47:21 +0000

Oh Ananda, I love the smell too, especially right after a rain!

By: Kiva Rose

Kiva Rose — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 14:46:45 +0000

Hi Kate, you could be right about the Usnea energetics differing with climate…. Thomas Avery Garran of Hawaii does note its cold nature too, but then again, he is likely using the same spp as me… I have definitely noticed the temp in things like Monarda differing depending on the soil and climate.

I’ve used both moist and dry Usnea, and I haven’t seen much difference but that doesn’t mean there isn’t one if just means I haven’t noticed it yet.

I have used Usnea for many gum infections with good success, interesting observation.

Whoa, intense picture…. have to ponder that one.

By: kate

kate — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 11:27:09 +0000

I haven’t noticed the cooling effect from usnea tincture. Although I wouldn’t have been looking for that I am quite sensitive to getting cold. I wonder if the usnea that grows in my more temperate climate isn’t so cooling? Do herbs differentiate like that?

I’m also curious if there is much difference between using moist usnea and dry? I stopped using usnea eventually because it was so drying to already dry nasal membranes. I will go back to it though and experiment with using lower doses I think.

I think there is probably a specific use with healing teeth. Something to do with the doctrine of signatures (teeth having all those tubules in their structure; the inner and outer layers; colour), but also the immune aspects. Check this out:

http://www.nature.com/bdj/journal/v204/n8/covers/index.html

By: Ananda

Ananda — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 12:10:18 +0000

Oh and the smell! Like warm hay, oakmoss, or a really deliciously sweet man Truly sensual. I’ve used Usnea each time I had very bad tonsillitis (in my late teens) and it works extremely well. I also used other herbs, but this one along with Echinacea really helped with the pain and swelling.
Thank you for the beautiful post Kiva!
love – ananda