On a recent
wander through the wild and beautiful Donegal hills amongst
the scattering of black faced sheep on unfenced land.
Something I noticed was that the seemingly naked winter trees were actually encased in thick silver Lichen.
Something I noticed was that the seemingly naked winter trees were actually encased in thick silver Lichen.
On the ruins of old stone walls emerald green moss creeps and cloaks everything while bright orange lichen clings to the ruins of wall steds.
Silver birch trees stand glowing in the russet decaying ferns while ancient hawthorns bow under the weight of the Lungwort Lichen.
Standing in a place that appears barren and lunar and that leads one to inner reflection - I began to think about the benefits of this silent overlooked organism.
Lichens are
organisms their bodies consist of both fungus and alga each one having an
important interactive relationship with each other. That is why they are an
important part of nature and beneficial to humans.
Their vivid colours all add to the wild landscape and add warmth to it over the long grey winter days
Over the ages we
have used them as dyes and medicines, food and perfumes.
Lichens were used for the dyeing of wool and silk in ancient times and
probably the most famous are the lichens known collectively in ordinary English
as the Orchil Lichens.
Medicinal (Looking at Lungwort only)
As the name
Lungwort suggests it helps with our respiratory track. The shape resembles the
tissue inside the lungs
It is still used
for asthma, urinary problems and lack of appetite and can be uses as an
antiseptic when rubbed on wounds.
A hot water
infusion/tea has been known for anti-inflammatory benefits as well as a cold
remedy.
Lungwort is both expectorant and emollient, so it is useful
for bronchitis and laryngitis. This lichen is often found as one of the
ingredients in tea blends for coughs and may be safely given to children.
Because of the lichen acids it contains, such as usnic acid, it has powerful
antibacterial properties, especially against strep, staph, bacteria, and the
organisms that are associated with tuberculosis and bacterial pneumonia.
Lungwort has a taste of
BITTER
and a temperature of
COOL.
It can be used in
the dried form for teas or in a tincture which can be got in shops if you don’t
feel confident about collecting it in nature.
My Recipe for Lichen Tea;
1 table sp of dried Lichen
1 cup boiled
water.
1 tsp Honey
Pour boiling
water over lichen leave for 5 min strain and add Honey to taste.
You can be
adventurous and in the Teapot add cinnamon sticks, cloves and a pinch of nutmeg
for that warming seasonal relief.
Recipe for Chesty Winter Cough
Handful of dried
Lichen, washed
2/3 cup organic
honey
1 teasp Ginger
1teasp dried
clove
Juice of ½ a
lemon pinch of Cayenne pepper (helps loosen mucous) can be left out for kids.
Combine all
ingredients in a small pot and heat on low. Let simmer for 20 – 30 minutes,
covered on lowest heat, stir occasionally,
Strain Lichen.
Store in Glass
jar in the fridge for winter months
How to Collect;
Lungwort lichen requires a breathtaking 5-30 years to grow and is only found
in very ancient forests. In order to maintain the population, responsible
harvesters must take care that during collection the whole plant is not
removed. The upper tissue edge must remain on the trunk since from this
remaining 20 percent of tissue the lungwort will be able to regenerate.
Not surprisingly, lungwort lichen is considered to be rare or threatened
in many parts of the world.
- Do not collect all of a specimen; just
take part of it, leave enough for it to reproduce
- You can also gentle pull it from the
branches if there’s lots of it
- Use a knife to slice it off - don’t
cut to deep into tree bark.
The upper tissue edge must remain on the trunk
since from this remaining 20 percent of tissue the lungwort will be able
to regenerate
- You don’t need a large amount but what you collect place in a paper bag or envelope
- Dry and store in a dry place (airing
cupboard is good for drying) glass jar with lid for storage
Please
note that the advice given in these notes is not intended to be a replacement
for professional medical advice and treatment. Always visit a fully qualified
medical herbalist or G.P. for diagnosis.
If
you are pregnant, have an existing condition or are currently taking medication
consult a medical herbalist to see which herbs are appropriate for you to take.
Do not use in Pregnancy
If your child has experienced
recurrent infections or is currently taking prescribed medication it is best to
see a medical herbalist for individually tailored comprehensive treatment.
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