MedicinalLichens,byRobertRogers

LICHENS LUNGWORT (Lobariapulmonaria) (Stictapulmonaria) (Pulmonariaofficinalis) ICELANDMOSS (Cetrariaislandica) USNEA (Usneaspp.) REINDEERLICHEN (Cladinaspp.) STUDDEDLEATHERLICHEN,FAIRY PELT/LEMONLICHEN (Peltigeraaphthosa) GROUNDLIVERWORT,DOGLICHEN (P.canina) WITCH'SHAIR (Alectoriasarmentosa) BLACKTREELICHEN (Bryoriafremontii) (A.jubata) SPECKLEDHORSEHAIR (B.fuscescens) SIMPLEHORSEHAIR (B.simplicior) ALPINECORAL (Stereocaulonalpinum) WILDOWLCLOVER (Everniavulpina) NORTHERNPERFUMELICHEN (E.mesomorpha) PUNCTUREDGRISTLE (Ramalinadilacerata) PLATEDROCKTRIPE (Actinogyramuhlenbergii) (Gyrophoramuhlenbergii) (Umbilicariamuhlenbergii) FROSTEDROCKTRIPE (Umbilicariavellea) (U.americana) WAXPAPERLICHEN,POWDERED SHIELD (Parmeliasulcata) SALTEDSHIELD,ROCKSHIELD (P.saxatilis) POWDEREDSUNSHINE (Vulpicidapinastri) (Cetrariapinastri) (Tuckermannopsispinastri) ROCKORANGELICHEN,JEWELLICHEN (Xanthoriaelegans) FRAGILESPHAEROPHORUS (Sphaerophorusfragilis) ALPINESPHAEROPHORUS (S.globosus) HOODEDTUBELICHEN,HOODEDBONE, MONKSHOODLICHEN,PUFFEDLICHEN (Hypogymniaphysodes) SMOKYRIMLICHEN (Lecanoracenisia) GREENLIGHT,ARCTICKIDNEYLICHEN (Nephromaarcticum) Dermatocarponmoulinsii Soloriniacrocea Siphulaceratites Ramalinatumidula Platismatiaglauca Thamnoliasubuliformis Haematommalapponicum Leprarialatebrarumetal. PARTSUSEDlichenthallus LateinlifeIhavecomeonfern. Nowlichensareduetohavetheirturn. ROBERTFROST Ortoswampswheretheusnealichen hangsinfestoonsfromthewhitespruce trees. THOREAU

Didyouheartheoneaboutthefungus andthealgaTheytookalichentoeach other. LichenisfromtheGreekLEIKOtolick orlickup;ahabitoftheplanttolapits tonguesalloverthehost.Lichenmay alsocomefromtheGreekfor"leprous, wartoreruption",asDioscorides thoughttheyresembledtheskinof afflictedpeople,andusedtheDoctrine ofSignaturesasanattemptedcure.The FrenchscientistTournefortnamedthem backin1700AD. UsneaisfromtheArabicUSHNAfor moss.Bryoriaisderivedfrom BryopogonandAlectoria;twogenerato whichitwasformerlyassigned. Lichensareaslowgrowingsymbiotic combinationoffungiandalgae.As such,theydonotcompletelyresemble eithergroup,buthavetheirown beautifulanddistinctivelook.One lichenologistcalledlichens"fungithat havediscoveredagriculture",in referencetotheirsymbiotic relationship. Foralongtime,itwasbelievedthatthe relationshipwassymbiotic.Many scientistsnowbelieve,following laboratorystudy,thatthefungusis reallyaparasite.Whenlichenswere experimentallyseparatedinlabsand grownapart,thealgaegrewmore quicklyandthefungusmoreslowly; however,whenthetwojoinforces,they cansurvivewhereneitherwouldmake itoneitsown.Infact,scientistscould getthemtorejoinonlywhenconditions wouldnotsupportthemseparately. Strangebedfellowsindeed!

Whenthisideaoftwoorganismsliving togetherwasfirstproposed,itwas consideredquiteradical. MordecaiCookedenouncedthis dualismasunqualifiedromancewhich afuturegenerationwillcontemplateas fairytales. TheGermanSimonSchwendenerwrote in1869,Thisfungusslavesaregreen algae,whichithassoughtoutorindeed caughtholdof,andcompelledintoits service.Itsurroundsthem,asaspider itsprey,withafibrousnetofnarrow meshes,whichisgraduallyconverted intoanimpenetrablecovering,but whilethespidersucksitspreyand leavesitdead,thefungusincitesthe algaefoundinitsnettomorerapid activity,eventomorevigorous increase. Thetermhelotism,suggestingamaster slaverelationship,maybestdescribe lichens. Theyhavetheabilitytogrowinthe coldest,snowfreealpineandboreal forest,oftengrowinglessthana millimeterayear.Itisestimatedthat 13,00030,000lichenspeciesinhabitthe planet.Over20speciesareaddedto thelistinBritishColumbiaeachyear. Lichenographs,orprintedillustrations, werefirstpublishedin1480.Linnaeus wasnotkeenonlichens,andcalled themRusticipauperrimi,orthepoor trashofvegetation. Lichenshavebeenusedfornatural dyes,includingthetartansofScotland. AfewcroftersstillproduceHarris TweedusingthelichenParmelia omphalodes.Anaddedadvantageover syntheticdyeswasthatbitterlichen acidsrepelmoths.TherelatedP. chlorochroa,whichgrowsoncalcareous rocksontheprairiegrassland,wasused

bytheNavahotoproducenicewarm browndyestotheirwoolsandblankets. Brilliantblues,pinksandpurplesare possible,somethinghighlyunusualin theplantkingdom,byusingthe ammoniainurineandfermentingfor severalweeks.Itissaidthatsmellof urinedisappearsintimeandfinally exudesavioletlikescent.Ifnotfixedby mordants,thecoloursquicklydulltoa palebrowninsunlight. Ochrolechiaoregonensis,whichgrows withlittlepinkdiscsontheroughbark ofconifers,givesaviolet,purpledye, andissomewhatplentiful. TheCreeusedDicranumlichenfor lampwicks,andvariousUmbilicaria speciesforfood.Otherlichens,suchas theSnowBedIceland,weresimplyused innorthernAlbertaandtheNorthWest Territoriesasahotburningtinder. Throughouttheyears,theyhavebeen usedformedicine,foodandbeer making. Athrivingbrandymakingindustryin SwedenandRussiawentbankruptin the19thcenturywhenthelichensupply wasexhausted.Onekilogramoflichen wasneededtoproduceonehalflitreof alcohol.InFrance,today,lichensare usedintheproductionofchocolates, usingthelichenasafillerandsubstitute forstarch. Afterall,lichenfibreiscomposed mainlyofmannose,galactoseand glucose,witheachspecieshaving differentmakeups.Cetrariaand Alectoriaspp.,forexample,contain significantlymoreglucosethanCladina andStereocaulonspp;whichinturn containmuchmoremannoseand galactose. Thishigherglucoselevelisreflectedin higherlichenancontent,makingthese

speciesmorethan50%solubleinwater, whileCladinafibreislessthan5% soluble. Aspiciliaesculenta,whichisclosely relatedtoA.cinereaandA. caesiocinerea,isbelievedbysome scholarstobethemannamentionedin Exodus16:31oftheBible.Thelichen formssmallroundpebblegrowthsthat areeasilydisturbedandblowaroundby thewind.Theyswellinmorningdew andareedible. Iwatake(Umbilicariaesculentaor Gyrophoraesculenta)or"stone mushroom"iscollectedinthe mountainsofJapanandexportedto Chinaasaluxuryitem.Properly prepared,itresemblestripe.Asfood, thebitterconstituentswereneutralized bysodaashfromfirestolessenstomach irritation.Theblackerthelichen,the lesserthecontentofusnicacid,partof theirritation.MooSungKimetal.(J. Ethnopharm.105:3)foundthelichen possessesantithromboticproperties duetoantiplateletactivity.Thesame authorhasidentifiedtheabilityto reducemelanininhumanmelanoma cellsandinhibittyrosinaseglycosylation (J.Microbiol.45:6). Thelichenswereoftenassigned medicinalpropertiesbasedonthe doctrineofsignatures. Alichenresemblinglungswasusedfor respiratorycomplaints,forexample. Anunidentifiedblacklichenknownto thePaiuteasKAWASIIN,orPackrat Urine,wasscrapedoffrocksandboiled asaliquorfortreatingvenerealdisease. HighlyprizedinmedievalEuropewere lichensthatgrewonbareskulls,for epilepsy.Thedemandwassoheavyand profitableforthis"heady"medicine (mucuscraniihumani)thatcollectors

devisedmethodstopastetheskulland cultivatelichens. NativesofnorthernCanada incorporatedbothAlectoriaandBryoria intoclothing.Itwasinterwovenwith cedarorsilverberrybarktomakevests, leggingsandmoccasins.Althoughnot verydurableinwetweather,itwas usedbythosewhocouldnotobtain furs,oraspartofceremonies. Tanning,perfumery,andeven powderedwigsreliedonlichens. Architectsandmodelrailroadbuffsuse glycerinsoakedlichensformodeltrees. Lichensareusedfor"sizing"inbook bindingforapplyinggoldleafand colour;andfabricindustriesforfilling poresinthesurfaceofpaperandfibre. Lichensareusedinfuneraldecorations, astheywilllastforseveralweeksatthe grave. Thegreatmysteryinthechemistryof lichensistheir"secondarycompounds", whicharenotbyproductsofnormal plantmetabolism.Becauseofthe energyrequiredtoproducethem, scientistsspeculatetheymusthave importantvalue. DuringWorldWarII,boththeGermans andAmericansinvestigatedlichensfor theirantibioticpotential,andfound over50%ofspeciestestedshowing activity.Over700secondarylichen substanceshavebeenidentified,with newcompoundsbeingdescribedallthe time. Aromaticcompounds,suchasdepsides, depsidonesandcarotenoids,areunique tothelichens. StudiesoutofIndiahaveshownspecies ofLeprariatoexhibithypotensive, analgesic,antiinflammatory,anti spasmodicandneuromuscular junctionblockingactivity.Further

studiescouldbecarriedoutonLepraria spp.inourregionoftheworld. Withtwonotableexceptions,the lichensofourareaarenotpoisonous. Youmustbewaryofthebig,badWolf Lichen(Lethariavulpina),abrightyellow lichen,andPowderedSunshine (Vulpicidapenastri)alemonyellow lichen.Theycontainpinastricand vulpinicacids,bothextremely poisonous;andpreviouslymixedwith groundglass,nailsandnuxvomicatokill wolves.ThereisnorecordinNorth Americaofusingtheselichensforthis purpose;however,theAchomawaiof northernCaliforniasoakedtheir arrowheadsinthewetlichenforan entireyear,sometimescombinedwith rattlesnakevenom,tomakethetips poisonoustogame. Bothhavebeenusedforthebrilliant yellowdyestheyproduce;thecoastal TlingitandHaidaGwaiitradingfishoils forthelichentocolourtheirspruceroot basketsanddancingblankets.Emmons, intheChilkatBlanketof1907,saidthat themosswasboiledinthefreshurine ofchildren. Interiorpeopleboiledthelichenin waterandthensoakedtheirbuckskins, horsehair,porcupinequillsormountain goat'swool.TheHunaofnorthern CaliforniausedittodyeBearGrass (Xerophyllumtenax). TheOkanaganColvilleboilediton occasionswithOregonGrapebarkasa yellowdye.Boththeyandneighbouring Blackfootuseditexternallytotreatskin problems;thelatterforwartsand eczemaafterblackenedinfire. BecarefulwhencollectingL.vulpinaas itcancausesevererespiratoryirritation andnosebleedsinclosedenvironments. TheYukiofCaliforniauseditaspartof

bedding,andtheApachecarriedsome withthemandputacrossofthecolour ontheirfeettoletthempassenemies unseen. TherelatedBrownEyedSunshineLichen (V.canadensis)isalsousedtodye mountaingoatwool(hair?). NativesofthesouthwestusedPhyscia mixedwithpineresinforayellowpaint. ThePaiuteofwesternNevada recognizedtheyellowandorange lichensfortheirantibacterialandanti fungalproperties.Theycalledthem LizardSemen,derivedfromthelittle pushupsthatwesternfencelizardsdo onrocks. Lichens,especiallyUsneaspp.,arean indicatorofpureair.Theyaremore susceptibletodamagefromsulphur dioxidethatotherplants,andgood monitorsofairquality.Researchers fromItaly,ina1997articleinNature, suggestastrongcorrelationbetween lichenbiodiversityandlungcancer. ThelichenHypogymniaphysodesisthe mosttolerantmacrolichentosulphur dioxidepollution,andwillincorporateit intocellulartissue,asameasureof toxicityinthearea. Lichensareresistanttoradiation,andin oneexperimenttheysurvived1000rads adayfornearlytwoyearsfroma distanceof8mandcontinuedtogrow. Asingleexposureof400radswillkilla human,toputthingsincontext.The potentialuseoflichensasbioindicators ofradionuclidesisveryhigh. Twooftheveryfeworganicchlorine containingsubstancesoccurringin nature,gangaleoidinanddiploiein,have beenisolatedfromlichens. One,asyetunidentifiedlichengrowing likethickyellowgreenpainton bouldersoftheRockies,isusedby

Nativesasanarcotic.WildBighorn sheep,especiallyyoungewes,also enjoyanibble,grindingtheirteethto thegumstoscrapeitofftherocks.Itis slowgrowing,takingoveracenturyto spreadoveronesquareinchofrock.It isapioneerplant,growingwhereother plantsoffernocompetition.Isuspectit isaLecanorasp.Sheepinthedesertsof LibyachewthelichenL.esculentatothe pointoftoothlossfromabrasion. ThePimaandMaricopaofthe southwesternUnitedStatesusedagray colouredlichenonrocksanddeadwood withastrongvioletodour.Theycallit EarthFlower,andmixeditwithtobacco asahallucinogen,andattractwomen, luckandsuch.Itisalsosprinkledon cutsandsores,suchasrattlesnake bites,thatwillnotheal. TheWaoraniofEcuadoruseaspeciesof Dictyonemaasahallucinogen(Davis andYost,BotanicalLeaflet29:3, HarvardU.). NativesthroughoutCanadaproduced rockpicturesofrealandgrotesque animalsbyscrapingthelichenofflarge verticalrockfaces.Thesehavelasted centuriesduetotheslowgrowthof lichens. ThenovelTroublewithLichenbyJohn Wyndhamisascifinovelabouttheir longlifespan,asitrelatestohumans. Onespecies,Acarosporachlorophana,a brightyellowcrustoselichenfoundin westernAlberta,growssoslowlyon rocks,itisalmostunmeasurable.

LUNGWORT/LUNGMOSS, HAZELCROTTLE,HAZELRAW (Lobariapulmonaria) (Stictapulmonaria) NotehowLobariapulmonariaisa rhymingcouplet,ataxonomicrarity. AnothertwoareChrysanthemum leucanthemum,theOxeyeDaisy;and Humuluslupulus,orHops. StictaisfromtheGreekSTIKTOS, meaningspotted. Lungwortgrowsintheoldgrowth borealforests,whereitsnitrogenfixing isveryimportant.Itcanbe distinguishedbylargethallithancover branchesandtrunksofspruce,poplar andfallenlogs.Itlookslikeflaccidlungs andwasusedforthispurposebynative tribes.Aslichensgrow,itisfairly luxuriant,withanaverageannual increaseof4.8millimeters. Lungwortwasboiledtraditionallyin milktomakea"coughtea"or"lichen chocolate". Itwasalsousedbeforehopsforbeer makinginEuropeanandSiberian monasteriesduringthe17thand18th century,aswellasinIndiaandSikkim, whereitwasalsousedasacleansing hairpowder,andtotanhides. LungwortwasalsousedinFrancefor perfume,butitwasnotplentifuland rarerthanotherlichens. ThecloselyrelatedLobariaoreganais mostcommonlyfoundinthemountains onthetopofonehundredyearold DouglasFir.Here,thelichencaptures nitrogen,falltothegroundand decompose,releasingthenutrientto nitrogendeficientsoils. TexturedLungwort(L.scrobiculata)is foundwestofthecontinentaldivideas wellasfromnorthernSaskatchewanto GreatSlaveandGreatBearLake.Itis

edibleandcanbeeatenrightfromthe tree.TheYup'ikofAlaskaknowitas QELQUAQ.InScotland,itwasusedto dyewoolabrowncolour. TheHaidarefertoitastreeblanket, forestcloud,orcloudleaves/medicine, alludingtohealthproperties. MEDICINALCONSTITUENTSmucilage (including3040%lichenin),lichenacids includingstictic,norstictic,sticinic, constictic,peristictic,cryptostictic, methylstictic,thelophoric,and gyrophoricacid;fumaricandoxalic acids,fattyacidssuchaspalmitic,oleic andlinolenic,traceminerals,ergosterol, fucosterol,protein,andtannins. Lungwortisveryusefulforallsortsof upperrespiratorycomplaints,including lymphatictuberculosis. Itisusefulinformulasforhayfever, headcolds,andflusaswellas intermittentfeversornightsweats. Itsnourishingandbloodbuilding nutrientsareusefulforthosesuffering chronicinternaldryness.Italsorestores moisturetothetissuethatproduces breastmilk. Itcombineswellwithborageorherbal lungwortforgastriculcersandshould begivenconsiderationintreating ulcerativecolitisandallergiesassociated withthegastrointestinaltract.Tannins, quercetin,mucilage,andother constituentshelprepairandregenerate mucosalmembranes,andcalmmastcell reactivity.ThetraditionaluseinIreland fortreatinghemorrhoidsprobablyhas basisinfact. Itactsonthebaseofthebrainandthe vagusnerve,relievingfeversand irritativecoughs,bothacuteand chronic.

Thelungwortcoughiswheezing,rasping dryandpersistent,oftenworseinthe drydustymonthsofsummer. Lungwortalsopossessesantirheumatic andanalgesicactivity,usefulinpain occurringbetweenthescapula, shouldersandocciputofthehead. Sometimesthepainextendsintothe chestandshoulders.Myalgiaand arthralgiaofthesmalljointsmayalso benefit. StudiesconductedbyLiuattheInstitute ofRadiationMedicineinTianjinhave shownlungworttobeprotectiveof bonemarrowstromaland hematopoieticstemcellswhenexposed toradiation.Thismaybedue,inpart, totheantioxidantpropertiesreported byOdabasogluetal.(Phyto.Res.18: 11). TherelatedPepperedMoonLichen(S. fuliginosa)containstrimethylamine. CabbageLungwort(L.linita)contains tenuiorin. Polyporicacid,derivedfromSticta coronate,wasshowntodoublethelife expectancyofmiceinfectedwithacute leukemia,aswellasothercancers. MelanicacidcompoundsinLungwort areinducedbyUVBradiation. ESSENTIALOILAnessentialoilissteam distilledfromthislichenandusedin perfumery.CommonlycalledLungwort, itisknowninEuropeasHazelcrottle, hazelrawandrage. HOMEOPATHYLungwortisfora generalfeelingofdullnessandmalaise, whenacoldiscomingon.Thepatient mayfeelasiffloatinginairandhavea greatdesiretotalk.

Thisisaccompaniedbydullpressurein theforeheadandrootofthenose,with anunsuccessfulconstantdesiretoblow. Theremaybeadry,hackingcough duringthenightthatisworseon inhalation.Theextremitiesmaybered andinflamed.Changesofweather affectthesymptoms. DOSETincturetosixthpotency.The mothertinctureispreparedfromthe freshthallusofthelichen. ICELANDMOSS (Cetrariaislandica) Althoughcalledamoss,thisbrown lichenattachestorocksinopensub alpineforests.Itisbestcollectedwhen greenandfullygrownbetweenMay andSeptember.Anaverageyieldof700 kgperacreofairdriedIcelandmoss couldbeexpectedifsolidlycovered,the exceptionratherthantherule. Thelichenissymbolicofhealth,and associatedwiththebirthdateJanuary 16th.Otherlichen,suchasRamalina andCladoniaspp.,symbolizedejection, andJanuary14th. ItisassociatedwiththesecondRune, UR. InIceland,itiscalledFJALLAGROS,and asfarbackat1280AD,thefirstwritten lawsofthatcountrybannedpeople pickingitoneanother'sland. TheChipewyanusedTSANJUasa sourceofbothfoodandmedicine. Icelandmossisusedasasourceof glycerolinthesoapindustry,and becauseofitslackofodour,incold creammanufacture.InRussia,during WorldWarII,IcelandMoss,Alectoria ochroleucaandvariousCladinaspp. wereusedtomakeatypeofmolasses,

withtheglucoseyieldfromIceland Mossat78%ofdryweight. BreadMoss,orBRODMOSE,isa ScandinaviannameforIcelandMoss duetoitsuseinextendingwheatflour orpotatoesintimesoffamine. InEurope,itwastraditionallysoakedin birchash(2%)todecreasethelichen acidsbeforeingestion. WorkbyAiraksinenetal.(Arch.Toxicol. 9,Suppl.)suggeststhisisagoodthing. Whenuntreatedlichenwasfedtomice as50%ofdiet,theydiedin45days. Whenashsoakedandboiled,survival timesincreasedto2022days,and whenonly25%ofdiet,itwaswell toleratedforsixweeks. Apatentissuedin1951suggestedthe useofIcelandMossasapreservative forluncheonmeats,orcreamfilled pastries.Itisbothantibioticandheat stableandsafeforhumanconsumption. Europesbestsellingnaturaltooth whitener,BlanX,containssilicaand Arcticmoss. Waterextractsofthelichenhavebeen foundtoinhibitdevelopmentofthe tobaccomosaicvirus.Evenat1:500,it reducedthenumberofbrownlesions onleavesby80%duetoanenzyme calledribonuclease. Thelichenin,ahotwatersoluble polysaccharide,causestheformationof agelwhencooleddown. ThecloselyrelatedIcelandLichen(C. ericetorum)isalsocommontopartsof theprairies,andalthoughsimilar,does notcontainfumarprotocetraricacid.It wasusedtoflavourandthickensoups bytheInuitofAlaska. StripedIcelandLichen(C.laevigata)in theextremenorthernpartsofthethree provincescontainsfumarprotocetraric,

protolichesterinicandlichesterinic acids. CrinkledSnowLichen(formerlyC. nivalis,nowFlavocetrarianivalis)is foundnearthetreelineortundra.Itis brewedintoateainpartsofthehigh Andesasatonicforheartconditions andtorelievealtitudesickness. EarlyworkbyBurkholderetal.(Bull. TorreyBot.Club72:2)foundactivity againstBacillussubtilis,B.mycoides, andSarcinalutea. CurledSnowLichen(formerlyC. cucullata,nowF.cucullata)isfoundat higherelevationsofconiferouswoods andontundra.NativesofAlaskauseit toflavourtheirfishorducksoups. Burkholderetal.(mentionedabove) foundactivityagainstallaboveaswell asStreptococcusspp.and Staphylococcusalbus(hemolytic). MEDICINALCONSTITUENTSlobaric acid,glucanslichenin(polysaccharides 3040%)isolichenin(10%),lichenan (17%),galactomannan(7.6%),various usnic(?),salicylic,cetraric,physodalic andfumaricacids,estrosterolperoxide, protolichesterinicacid(0.10.5%), lichesterinic,protocetraricacid(0.2 0.3%)andfumarprotocetraricacids(2 11%),aromaticlichenacids(23%), aliphaticlichenacids(11.5%),cetrarin, picrolichenin,oxalicacid,furan derivatives,iodine,Vit.A,traceminerals includingiron,iodideandcalciumsalts, fattyacidlactones,terpenes,mucilage, fibre,andgums. Historically,IcelandMmosshasbeen usedtomanufactureantibiotictoinhibit tuberculosis,1kgofantibioticsfrom40 kgofplantmaterial.InFinland,ananti fungalcreamcalledUSNOismadefor

treatingathlete'sfootandringworm. ThelichenenteredtheFinnish Pharmacopoeiain1915. InSwitzerland,IcelandMossisusedfor sorethroatpastillesandasanadditive toluncheonmeatsandpastriesto retardspoilage. IcelandMossisanutritiousand soothingtonic,withslightlaxative effect.Ithelpsimprovetheappetite anddigestionoftheelderlyandthose recoveringfromadebilitatingillness. Thebitterprinciplesbenefitthe stomachinbothtinctureandinfusion form,stimulatingapoorappetite, throughstimulatingtheproductionof salivaandgastricjuices. ItthereforecanbeusedlikeQueenof theMeadow,forbothhyperandhypo acidicstomachconditions. Decoctionsareusedforchronic diarrheaandrespiratoryproblems.Like lungwort,itincreasestheflowofbreast milkbutnotwithinflamedorsore breasts.Bothlowthyroidandanemia conditionsarehelpedbytracelevelsof iodineandironandothernutritive propertiesaswell. Licheninissolubleinhotwaterand uponcoolingformsagel;while isolichenin,presentinsmalleramounts, issolubleincoldwater. Lichenanisapolysaccharidesimilarto betaglucan,foundinoatsandbarley. Stubleretal.(J.Phytopathol.144)found lichenanexhibitedstrongantiviral activity. Itsoothesnauseafromgastritisand vomitingandcombineswellwithborage andchickweedforpepticulcers,hiatal hernia,andesophagealreflux.Infact, forthoseindividualswithaYinorfluid deficiency,itwouldworkbetterthana straightastringentherb.

Inanopenclinicaltrial,100patients withpharyngitis,laryngitisorbronchial ailmentsweregivenlozengescontaining 160mgofanaqueousextractofthe lichen.Therewasan86%positive responsewithgoodgastrictolerance andlackofsideeffects. Perhapsitshouldbeconsideredincases ofdiverticulitisandevencysticfibrosis inchildren. MildinfusionsofIcelandMosscanbe usedasavaginaldoucheforits soothing,demulcentproperties. Tinctureformisbestforwhooping cough,asthma,TB,andkidney/bladder complaints;especiallythoserelatedtoa dry,irritatingcondition.Here,the sweet,moistandastringentnatureof IcelandMosshelpsaddressthe underlyingconcern. Itmaybeusedfornightsweatsor fevers,butistakenduringthedayto preventrecurrence.DonotuseIceland Mosswhenafeverispresent. Protolichesterinicacidhasbeenfound toexhibitantitumouractivityinmice. Morerecentstudieshaveshown protolichesterinicacidtobeapotent inhibitorofHIV,thevirusassociated withAIDS;aswellas5lipoxygenase (Pengsuparpetal.,J.Nat.Prod.58). Othercomponents,suchas polysaccharides,havebeenfoundto stimulatetheimmunesystem (Infolfsdottiretal.,PlantaMedica, 1997).Earlier,theauthorsfounda polysaccharidescomparabletothe fungalpolysaccharidelentinan(Shiitake) usedforclinicalcancertherapyinJapan. Theauthorsalsofoundextractsof IcelandMosstosuppressthegrowthof Heliobacterpylori,whichcontributesto gastricandduodenalulcers(Antimicrob. AgentsChemotherapy41).

Lobaricacid,anotherconstituent,has beenfound(Ogmundsdottiretal.,1998) tobesignificantlyanticarcinogenicwith regardstotwobreastcarcinomaand erythroleukemiacelllinesaswellas antiinflammatoryproperties.TheED50 forlobaricacidis1444g/mlforthese threecancercelllines. WorkbyHaraldsdottiretal.(Planta Med.70)foundlobaricacidvery effectiveagainstanumberofhuman cancercelllinesinvitro. WorkbyGulcinetal.(J.Ethnopharm. 79:3)determinedIcelandMoss containssignificantpotentialasa naturalantioxidant.Just50gofwater extractshowedhigherantioxidant activitythan500gofalphatocopherol. EightsecondarycompoundsinC. islandicadecreasedby52%when screenedofnaturalUVAandUVB radiation(Bachereauetal.,Symbiosi 23). ThecloselyrelatedSnowBedIceland lichen(C.delisei)showssignificant inhibitoryactivityonestrogenthrough inhibitionofaromatase.Extractsata concentrationof40g/mlshowed82% inhibition.Itcanbefoundin northwesternAlbertaandthroughout theTerritoriesandYukon. Ragbag,orVariedRagLichen (Platismatiaglauca),wasformerly classifiedasCetrariaglauca.Itisfound insouthwesternAlbertaand northeasternManitoba.Ithasbeen usedinthepastforyieldingachamois coloureddyeforwool. Thenewgenuscontainscaperaticacid andatranorin. TherelatedC.haleicontainsalectoronic acid.

ThecommonSpinyHeathLichen(C. aculeata),alsoknownasCoelocaulon aculeatum,hassignificanteffecton variousbacterialsystems,butnot mammaliancells(Zeytinogluetal., Phytother.Res.22:1). Thelichenextractanditsactive constituent,protolichesterinicacid, showsactivityagainstAeromonas hydrophilia,Proteusvulgaris, Streptococcusfaecalis,Bacilluscereus, B.subtilis,Pseudomonasaeruginosa, andListeriamonocytogenes(Turketal., Zeit.Naturforschung58:1112). HOMEOPATHYIcelandMoss(Cetraria Islandica)isusedforacuteandchronic bronchitis;asthmaandpainsinthe chestwhilecoughing. DOSE1020dropsoftinctureas needed.Themothertinctureis preparedfromthedriedlichen. ESSENTIALOILIcelandMossissteam distilledandyieldsbrownishoil (0.051%).Ithasasaponificationvalue of98andanacidvalueof72. Thebulkofaliphaticacidsaresaturated (66.8%),composedmainlyofpalmitic, stearic,andbehenicacid.Unsaturated acidscomposedtherest,witholeicand linoleicacidsmostcommon. SPIRITUALPROPERTIESIcelandMoss anditsspiritualpropertiesarerelatedto thesignatureofthislichen.Individuals strugglingwiththeirpersonalevolving ofspiritualissues,orthoseindifficult environments,physicallyand emotionally,willbenefitfromthis lichen. Whenanindividualcomescloseto achievingdeeperawarenessofGod, thereisoftengreatfearand

unwillingnesstocontinue.Thisisoften relatedtotheincorrectbeliefthat nothingwillremaintobedoneonearth. Thoseworkingtowardsspiritualgoals basedinEasternphilosophieswillalso behelped.Inthemartialarts,one seekstoletgoofthemind,andyetbe readyforfullphysicalresponse.Iceland Mosswillhelpdevelopthistrustaswell ashelpanindividualdiscoverandfeel comfortablewiththeirownlevelof spiritualpurpose. GURUDAS PERSONALITYTRAITSThemoistened Cetrariagivesoffanaromathat suggestsstillothermammalsorthings mammalian,ablendedwhiffofsuede wornbyanequestrian,andofthe horse,sweating. Itisagoodbadintriguingscent, probablywithpheromonalpowers,and ofthesortthatisusedasballastinthe makingofaperfume.Iwouldnotbeat allsurprisedifanessenceofthisplantis eventuallystirredintosomeconcoction withanamelikeTheDevil'sDew,tobe dabbedonbywouldbyDionysians. SCHENK USNEA SHAGGYOLDMAN'SBEARD,SUGARY BEARD (Usneahirta) POWDERYBEARD (U.lapponica) PITTEDBEARD (U.cavernosa) SCRUFFYBEARD,STRAWBEARD (U.scabrata) FISHBONEBEARDLICHEN (U.filipendula) (U.dasypoga)

METHUSALASBEARDLICHEN (U.longissima) Usnea,orOldMan'sBeard,hangsin greygreenstrandsfromlarchand spruceoftheborealforest.Lookforthe centralwhitethreadinsideUsneafor correctidentification. Usneawasrecommendedinthe FormularyofAlKindiaround850AD.It wassuggestedforaswollenspleen,a partoftheimmunesystem.Earlierin ancientGreece,bothHippocratesand DioscoridesrecommendedUsneafor uterineproblems. TheChinesehaveusedvariousUsnea spp.(SungLuo)forthousandsofyears. Itisprizedforitsbroadspectrum antibacterialandimmunestimulating propertiesinvariousrespiratoryand urinaryinfections. Itisalsoveryeffectiveintrichomoniasis, giardia,andcandidainfections;and particularlyeffectiveincervicalerosion, asadouche. TheMalaysiansuseUsneaspp.asa generaltonicandteaforcolds;andthe neighbouringIndonesiansusedU. thallus,orKAYUANGIN,meaning "windywood",asanastringentand antispasmodicforintestinalproblems. Itwasalsoburnedinhomestocombat evilspiritsandwindbornediseases. Usneaspp.areusedinPeruforadark bluedye. IntheSudan,thecloselyrelatedU. molliusculaisknownasSHEIBAand usedinperfumeryandasan aphrodisiac.Inlocalmedicine,itisused asabitterstomachic,forcoughs,andto relievemenstrualpain. Usneahasbeenfedtocowsinthe alpineregionsofEuropetohelpthem getthroughcoldwintersandfight mastitis.Sodiumusnateisusedasa

sprayforfightingmildewandother plantdiseases. TheBlackfootcallitESIMATCHSIS,and theCreebyMITHAPAKWAN.Bothused Usneaspp.forstoppingnosebleedsand bleedingwounds.Adecoctionwasalso usedtowashsoreorinfectedeyes. TheDakotacallitCHANWIZIYE, translatingaseither"onthenorthside ofthetree",or"SpiritoftheNorth Wind.ThenorthernChipewyanknow itasK'ITSAJU,whiletheDena'inacallit SpruceHair,orCH'VALAANDAZI. Usneaspp.areusedascatalysts,for makingfermentedcornbeverages,by theTarahumaraofnorthernMexico. Itwasanemergencyfoodthatrequired moreboilingtoremovetheusnicacid; themoreyellowthelichen,themore medicinal,butlessedible. PittedBeardLichen(U.cavernosa)was usedbytheWylackieofCaliforniatotan leather.Animalbrainswerewrappedin thelichentoholdtogether,andthen rubbedvigorouslyintothehide. FishboneBeardLichen(U.filipendula) hasbeenusedonSakhalinIsland,now belongingtoRussia,asapowderto treatwounds.Modernresearch indicatesithasantibacterialactivity. Sodiumusnatehasbeenfoundeffective againstthetomatocanker (Corynebacteriummichiganensis);and usnicacidshowsamoderatedegreeof inhibitionofthebluestainingwood fungusTrichosporium,andtobacco mosaicvirus. Itisusedinasprayat100500ppmfor beanrusts,andmildews,aswellas brownrotonsomestonefruits. Recentworkhasfoundusnicacid stronglyinhibitsthemouldNeurospora crassa.

TherelatedU.subfloridanaisaboreal forestlichenthatwasmixedwith tobaccoandbutter,andthenboiledand cooledasalotionforskininEurope. Recentworksuggeststhatlichensmay producemoreusnicacidwhenlevelsof UVBarehigh.Thissuggestsa biomonitorforincreasedradiation levelsandpotentialfordevelopmentof moreeffectivesunscreens. ThelichenU.longissimaisfoundonthe WestCoastaswellasEasternCanada. IthaslongbeenusedinAyurvedicand Unanimedicineforarthritis,edema, eczema,cardiactonicsandmassageoils forrheumatism,gout,andsciatica. Ayurvedicscholarsequateitsusedwith Parmeliaperlata. TreefellersinwesternCanadaare susceptibletoskinrashesandusnicacid hasbeenidentifiedasapotential photosensitizer,andrespiratoryirritant. KahleeKeane,orRootWoman,inher enjoyablenewbookTheStanding PeoplementionsUsneaasaheart wormmedicineforwolves.Interesting! MEDICINALCONSTITUENTSU.hirta (+)usnicacid(3%),alectoric,hirtic, thamnolic,defractic(rare),hertillicand usnaricacids,anthraquinones, hirtusneanoside,andvariousfattyacids. Usnicacidisalsoknownas2,6diacetyl 7,9dihydroxy8,9bdimethyl 1,3(2H,9bH)dibenzofurandione. U.filipendulasalazinicacid.usnaric aicd,barbaticacid,dusinicacid,aswell asemulsin. U.cavernosasalazinicacidand/or usnicacid. U.lapponicausnicand/orsalazinic acid;sometimesbarbaticacid. U.scabratainlandonlyusnicacid.

C.longissimavariousBorcinol depsides,includingevernic,barbatic anddiffractaicacids;glutinol, longissimioneAandB. Theouter,greengreycortexcontains theantibioticsubstance,whilethe whiteinnercorecontainsimmune stimulatingpolysaccharides. Recently,thepolysaccharideshavebeen foundtopossessantitumouractivity, confirmingtheirtraditionalusefor cancer. Forexample,inthecaseofsarcoma180 inmice,dailyinjectionsfor10daysafter implantationledtocompleteregression oftumourscomparedtocontrols. Althoughnotcertainofthemechanism, itisthoughtthatanoutpouringof lymphoidandplasmacells,aswellas macrophagestotheareaofthegrafted tumourisresponsible.Similaractive constituentsarealsofoundin Umbilicaria,Lobaria,andStictaspp. Otherconstituentshavebeenfoundto benonsteroidalandantiinflammatory. Ina1993RomanianstudyofUsnea hirta,itwasdemonstratedthattheanti inflammatoryactivitywascomparable, orsuperiortophenylbutazoneand hydrocortisone;theanalgesicactivity closetonoraminophenazone,andthe antipyreticactivityequalorsuperiorto aminophenazone. WorkbyVijayakumaretal.(Fitotherapia 71:5)foundusnicacidsignificantly reducedinflammationinbothacuteand chronicconditions. Hirtusneanoside,isolatedfromU.hirta, showsactivityagainstgrampositive bacteria(RenzakaandSigler,J.Nat. Prod.70:9). SimilarstudiesinJapanin1995, reportedinPlantaMedica,showed

Usneadiffractawithsimilaranalgesic andantipyreticeffect.There,theplant isknownasSARUOGASEandattributed withmanyofthesameproperties. InNorthernEurope,themedicinal valuesofUsneaandotherlichenshave beenlongrecognized. Studiesshoweffectivenessagainstgram positivebacteria,suchasStreptococcus (strepthroat),Staphylococcus (impetigo),andMycobacterium tuberculosis. Usnicacidismoreeffectiveagainst somebacterialstrainsthanpenicillin, anditisabletocompletelyinhibitthe growthofdifferentstrainsofhuman tuberculosisindilutionsof1:20,000. Otherstudiesciteitseffectivenessat1 partpermillion,similartostreptomycin. Microbeslikethetuberclebacterium formheavilywaxedcoatsandstiffcell wallsthatallowthemtopersistand evendivideinsidemacrophages.They areabletopreventthehost'slyosomes fromtakinginthehydrogenions neededtocreateanacidicenvironment, andthusneutralizingtheireffect. Usneaalsohasadifferentmodeof action.Syntheticantibioticsresemble thecellwallofbacteriaandare incorporatedinthecell.Thisresultsina weakcellstructureasthebacteriaswell andburst. Scientistsbelieveusnicaciddisrupts cellularmetabolismeitherby preventingATPformationorbyun couplingofoxidativephosphorization. Thus,thecellsrunoutofenergyand die. DrugresistantTBispresently undergoingaworldwideresurgence thatoneWHOhealthofficialdescribed as"themostfrighteningsituationIhave everencountered".

WorkbyWeckesseretal.(Phytomed. 14:78)foundUsneaspp.activeagainst Propionibacteriumacnes,Coryne bacteriumspecies,andmost importantly,againstMRSA,or methacillinresistantStaphylococcus aureus. UsneamayalsobesuperiortoFlagyl (metronidazole)againstTrichomonas,a parasitethatcausesseriousuterineand cervicalinfectionandtissuedestruction. Italsohasgoodeffectincandidiasis, andgiardiasis,orbeaverfeverasitis knownontheprairies,aswellasbowel inflammationingeneral.Usneaisalsoa relaxantofthesmoothmusclesofthe body,includingthecolonandlungs. InRussia,asodiumsaltofusnicacid calledBinanisusedfor2ndand3rd degreeburnstopreventinfection;and forvaricoseulcers,furuncolosis, impetigo,Trichomonas,andLupus erythematosus.Binanisavigorous antibiotic,effectiveagainstmicrobes andprotozoainconcentrationsof 1:300,000to1:1,000,000whenapplied externally. InGermany,aproductcalledEvosin,a mixtureofusnicandevernicacids,is usedforimpetigo,furunculosisand Lupusvulgaris,aswellasmastitisin cows.Usniplant,containing0.2%usnic acid,islikewiseusedforskinconditions. Likewise,sodiumusnateisusedinChina forpulmonarytuberculosis.In30cases treated,24werecuredand6were improvedafter71days. Mastitisincows,athlete'sfoot, ringworm,andacutebacterialinfections canbetreatedinternallyandexternally. Usnicacidhasbeenformulatedinto toothpaste,mouthwash,deodorants andsunscreens,aswellascreamsand ointments.

Usnicacidshowsactivityagainst Streptococcusmutans,whichcreates dentalplaqueandcaries,without disruptingnormaloralflora. Usnicacidisnotonlyantifungaland antibacterial,butalsoeffectiveagainst viruses,andprotozoa. InArgentina,Usneaisusedforwashing warts.ItisaconstituentoftheChinese drugSHIKOAandtheJapanese medicinaldrugSEKIKA.TheMaoriof NewZealanduseUsneatoincrease resistancetoinfectionandstimulatethe appetite. Thisledtotheunfortunatemarketingof aweightlossproduct,LipoKinetix, whichcontainedsodiumusniate.Said tohelpthebodyburnfat,itwasfound toresultinonedeath,twoliver transplants,andsevencasesofnon fatalliverfailure. Usnicacidwastestedinonestudyin SaudiArabiaforthepossibilityofusefor cancerandleprosy.Itwasfoundto havenoadverseeffectontesticular nucleicacidsorepididymalspermatozoa inlaboratorymice,unlikemostanti cancerdrugs. Usnicacidhasbeenfoundtoinhibit Ehrlichasciticcellsinlaboratorystudies. Ithasavasodilatingeffect,andhelps relaxthemusclesoftheuterus,bronchi andintestine. Otherstudiesindicateusnicacidhas antiproliferative,antiinflammatory, analgesic,antigrowth,antiherbivore andantiinsectproperties. Both(+)usnicacidand()usnicacid, especiallytheformer,showhigh cytotoxicactivityagainstcancerouscells (Koparaletal.,Nat.Prod.Chem.20:14). Nineusnicacidamineconjugateswere testedforcanceronL1210celllines. WorkbyBazinetal.(Bioorg.Med.

Chem.16:15)foundsignificanttoxicity andinductionofapoptosis. Dr.WilliamMitchell,Jr.,considers Usneaavaluablediureticthatcombines wellwithparsley.Herecommendsup to90dropsoftincture3xdaily. ItcombineswellwithOregongrape root,dandelionroot,anduvaursifor dampheatstranguryandwithScullcap andElecampanerootforphlegmheatin thelungs. Forgiardiainfection,oramoebic dysentery,combinewithOregongrape rootandelecampaneroot. TheactivepartsofUsneaarepoorly watersoluble,slightlybetterinalcohol andmostsolubleinoil.Usnicacidis alsoinfluencedbythesolventused,pH value,andwithwhatpowdersor ointmentsitismixed. UsnicacidabsorbsUVlightandmaybe usedinsunscreenproductswithgood results. UsneahirtahasanLD50of21.02g vegetalmaterial/kgofbodyweight; accordingtostudiesconductedby Dobrescuetal.inRomaniain1993. Energetically,usneaclearsheatand resolvestoxinsduetoitsbitterandcold nature. ThismakesitveryvaluableinTCM theoryfordampheatinthelower burner,aswellaslungconditionswhen Qiisdisruptedduetodampness, phlegmorheat. Usnealongissimahasbeenusedin ChinaandIndiaasanexpectorant,while FirstNationsuseditforfeminine hygieneproductsandbedding.The coastalspecieshasbeenstudiedbyLee andKim(Phytotherapy19:12)forits antiplateletandantithrombotic activity.

Diffractaicacidinthisspecieshasbeen foundtoenhancetheantioxidant defensesystemaswellasreduceeffects onneutrophilinfiltration(Bayretal.,J. Phytomed.13:8). Choudharyetal.(Phytochem.66:19) identifiedantiinflammatory compounds. Methanolextractsshowinvitro melanogenesisinhibition.Tyrosinase glycosylationisbelievedtobeinvolved. Kimetal.(J.Microbiol.45:6). WorkbyOdabasogluetal.(J. Ethnopharm.103:1)foundusnicacid fromthisspeciesbothantioxidantand protectiveofindomethacininduced gastriculcers.Morestudyisneeded. Otherlichensarericherinusnicacid. OneHaematommasp.(H.coccineum) hasnearly20%content.Theclosely relatedBloodSpotLichen(H. lapponicum)hasnotbeenstudied. Afungalstrain,Corynesporasp.,has beenfoundonUsneacavernosa.Work byParanagamaetal.(J.Nat.Prod.70: 11)foundextractsofthisstrain cytotoxictobreastandprostatecancer celllines. DOSETincture2030dropsas needed.Forseriousinfectionlike trichomonasandtuberculosis,itistaken longtermupto6xdaily.When collectingandmakingtincturesuseonly livinglichens. HOMEOPATHYUsneabarbataisthe remedytorememberforallformsof congestiveheadaches;especially sunstroke.Theheadcanfeelreadyto burstatthetemples,ortheeyesfeel likeburstingfromtheirsockets.The faceisreddish.

DOSETinctureindropdoses.The1x dilutionisusedfortheeliminationof heavymetals. ESSENTIALOILUsneabarbataand othersareextractedwithethanolto produceaTreemossconcreteand absolute. Thesemisolidmassisgreenishbrown andcontainsmethylbetaorcinol carboxylateandolivetonide.Itisused largelyinsoapperfumery,althoughit doessupplytherequisite"mossy"notes inFougereandrelatedperfumes. Itshouldberestrictedto3%ofany fragrancecompoundforbesteffect. LICHENOILStuffaglassjartightlyfull ofUsneaandcoverwithcanolaorolive oil.Coverwithcheeseclothandsetin warm,sunnywindowforseveral months. Thismaybeusedinternally,byfilling gelatincapsules,orusedexternallyasa healingsalvewithbeeswaxforinfected boils,carbuncles,impetigoandeven vaginalbolusesfortrichomonas. LICHENESSENCEUsnealichenessence isforindividualsinthehelpingor healingprofessions.Attimes,dueto thedesperatesituationsandenergiesof patients,thereisdangerofempathizing toostrongly,andbeginningtotakeon their"illness". Usneaessencehelpsretainboundaries, sothateffectiveworkcanbecarriedout withoutendangeringtheirownhealth. Thiscanbesubtle,butonceobserved, whichtheessencehelpsreveal,itwill berecognizedanddealtwith. PRAIRIEDEVA

SPIRITUALPROPERTIESUsnea representsthenorth,theplaceofgray hairs.Itmaintainsthelungsystemof theplanet.WhenUsneacametome, personifiedasayoungman,andspoke tomeofitsuses,ittoldmethatits healingqualitiesarespecificforthelung systemoftheplanetthetrees. Itsuseforpeoplewassecondarytoits primaryfunction.Thiswasthefirsttime Irealizedthattheplantsprovided medicinalactionswiththeecosystem, thattheyevolvedanddevelopedtohelp theEarthecosystem,Gaia,maintaina healthybalancewithinitself.Irealized atthattimethatitwasonlybecausewe areapartoftheecosystemthatthe plantsalsoworkforusashealing agents. Thereisanancientcompactbetween Usneaandthetrees,andcominginto contactwiththedeeperspiritual aspectsofUsnea,onemakescontact withancientpowersthatexistedlong beforehumans. BUHNER

GRAYREINDEERLICHEN,TRUE REINDEERLICHEN (Cladinarangiferina) GREENREINDEERLICHEN (C.mitis) TREEREINDEERLICHEN (C.arbuscula) REINDEERLICHEN,STARTIPPED REINDEERLICHEN,NORTHERN REINDEERLICHEN,CAULIFLOWER LICHEN,CARIBOULICHEN (C.alpestris) (C.stellaris) (C.aberrans) BLACKFOOTEDREINDEERLICHEN (C.stygia) Rangiferisthescientificgroupingfor bothreindeerandcariboo. TrueReindeerlichenisverycommon acrossnorthernCanada,whereitis usedasafoodsourcebycaribou.Itis veryfragileandslowgrowing;averaging 3.4mmperyear.Aftergrazingby caribou,ittakesupto15yearsto recover.AlthoughC.rangiferaisthe truereindeerlichen,thestartipped lichenisamoreimportantfood,and preferredbycaribou.Bothareslow growing,averaging3.44.1mmperyear. Caribouandreindeerproducelichenase intheirstomach,whichalongwith bacteriaandprotozoaintherumen, helpthemsurviveextremeconditions. Theenzyme,lichenase,isalsofoundin snaillivers. TheWoodsCreeofSaskatchewancallit WAPISKASTASKAMIHorsometimes ATIKOMICIWIN.Decoctionsorthe driedpowderweretakentoridthe bodyofintestinalworms. Inuitatetheundigestedstomach contentsofcaribouasasourceof VitaminC.Theyalsofashionedwicks

fromreindeermoss,forblubberoil lamps. TheAleutsofAlaskausedinfusionsof thislichenforchestpains,whilethe Tanainaboiledandateitfordiarrhea. Cladinaspp.separatedfromgrassin cariboustomachswasstirredwithoil, andstirredwhilethewordTENIYASH, meaningincreasewassungsothe mixturewouldriseandbecomelight. TheOjibwasdecoctedC.rangiferinato bathnewborns,andgivethemstrength. TheChipewyancallitTSANJU.Theuse ofpartiallydigestedreindeerlichen fromcariboudigestivetractshaslong beenatraditionalpartoftheirdiet.The contentsoftherumen,EBURTI,were boiledbyplacingheatedrocksintothe cutoutrumenorlargeintestine,with addedmeat,fatandblood.Thisis knowntotheChipewyanasEBIE HECHELH,orbowelsoup.Thewinter feastwaspreferredduetothefine whiteCladinabeingpresentalmost exclusively,whereasinsummeryou mightgetblueberries,leaves,grass, mushrooms,etc.Itmakesastimulating tea. AccordingtoVogel,theOjibwabathed newbornsinwaterinwhichReindeer Lichenhadbeenboiled. TheGwich'inoftheMackenziedelta, callitWhiteMoss,orUHDEEZHU. Whenboiled,theteaisgoodfor stomachandchestpain.Itcanalsobe boiledforanhour,andthenfried,fora crispytreat. Whentakenfromthecaribourumen,it isknownasIT'RIK.Itiseateninsoup,or placedonothermeattotenderizeand enhanceflavour.Itissometimeshung foruptoaweektoage,andthenmixed withfat,marrow,andberries,forareal treat.

InEurope,trueReindeerLichenhas beenusedtoproduceanironreddye forwool. StartippedReindeerLichenisharvested commerciallyforflowerarrangements, architectsandmodelrailwayhobbyists forminiaturetreesandshrubs.In FinlandandSweden,thisisamillion dollarexportbusiness,withsome3,000 tonnesharvestedperyearforChristmas andgraveyardwreathsandmodels above. Traditionally,thelichenwasusedin Russiaintheformofpowderontreating wounds.TheWoodCreedecocteditto expelintestinalworms. BlackfootedReindeerLichenhasa pinkishjelly;asopposedtotheclear, colourlessjellyfromthetruereindeer lichen. MEDICINALCONSTITUENTSC.stellaris usnicacid,fumarprotocetraricacid, atronorin,perlatolicacid;various polysaccharidesincludingnigeran, galactomannan,arabinitoland mannitol;andsmallamountsof rangiformicacid,pseudonorrangiformic acid,ventoricacid,proteinsandsterols. C.rangiferinafumaroprotocetraric acid,atranorin,traceofVit.D,some ergosterol,arabitol,mannitol,volemitol, alphatrehalose,sucrose,umbilicin;54 63%licheninacid C.arbusculafumarprotocetraricand usnicacid C.mitisusnic,rangiformicacid C.squamosasquamaticacid Usnicacidissignificantlyhigherin younglichentissue,withthefirstfew mmcontainingupto12xtheolder growthjust48mmback. Cladoniaspp.are94%carbohydrate, 2.7%protein,2%fat,and1.3%minerals.

Medicinally,thelichenisdriedand powderedanddecoctedforintestinal parasites. InFinland,thelichenwastraditionally boiledinwaterasalaxative,orboiledin milkforrespiratoryaffections. InDenmark,apopularwhiskymade fromthecaribouorreindeermoss,so endangeredtheplantthatproduction wasshutdownbythegovernment.A similarbrandyventureinSwedenalso closeddownin1883.InRussia,C.mitis syrupwastoobitterforhuman consumptionandusedtoproduce alcohol,ormediumforfoodyeast,with aglucoseyieldof75%drywt. StudiesconductedbyWuetal.(Chinese J.ofParasitologyandParasiticDisease 13:2)showedC.alpestriswaterextracts tohavestrongeffectagainst Trichomonasvaginalisinvitro.This wouldbewelcomedbythelarge numberofwomenaffectedbythis irritation;intheformofawarmwater douche.Theauthorsfoundno significantdifferencebetweenthe effectofusnicacidandmetronidazole atconcentrationsof0.40.6mg/ml. ReindeerLichen(C.rangiferina)has beenshownmoreeffectiveinchronic inflammationratherthanacute conditions.InastudybySurleymanet al.(Bio.Pharm.Bull.25:1)comparedto indomethacin,thelichenextract showed43%inhibition,ascomparedto thedrugat72%. Atranorinappearstobestimulatedby UVAinsunlight. Recentworkidentifiednewcompounds, hangokenolsAandB.Theseandother previouslyidentifiedcompoundswere testedforactivityagainstMRSA (methicillinresistantStaphylococcus aureus)andvancomycinresistant

Enterococcispp.(Yoshikawaetal., Chem.Pharm.Bulletin.(Tokyo)56:1). ManytonnesofC.stellarisareusedby thepharmaceuticalindustryforitsusnic acid(seeUsnea). ReindeerLichen(C.stellaris)isknownto theInuitofBaffinIslandasNIRAIT.A brothispreparedforsicknessanda cooledwashforeyeinfections. BothC.mitisandC.stellarisshow activityagainstStaphylococcusaureus andBacillussubtilisinstudies conductedbyHarmalaetal. (Fitotherapia63:3). EarlyworkbyBurkholderetal.(Bull. TorreyBot.Club72:2)indicatedC.mitis showedactivityagainstS.albus, Diplococcuspneumoniae,Streptococcus hemolyticus,S.viridans,Bacillus mycoides,andSarcinalutea. Cladinaalpestrisshowsactivityagainst Bacillussubtilis. Thelatter,knownasCaribouLichen,or NIRNAITtotheInuit,wasusedtocure eyeinfections,orboileduntilthetea turnedblackanddrunkcoldbythesick. InAlaska,thelichenisaddedfor flavouringtoduckorfishsoup. HOMEOPATHYReindeerLichen(C. rangifera)hasbeenrecentlyprovedat the30thpotencybyMishaNorlandin 2002. Mentalsymptomsincludejealousy, suspicionanddelusion.Dreamsof crime,evil,guns,murder,war,fights androbberyareprevalent. Physically,thereisvertigo,throat huskinessorlossofvoice,headandeye pain.Nasalcongestion,burningtongue, stomachnausea,andabdominal flatulencearepresent.Adrycough, thickexpectorationandstitchingpainin

chest,coldextremitiesanditchingskin isalsocommon. CLADONIANumeroustextshave mixedupCladinaandCladonia,but unliketheformer,ithasasquamulose primarythallosethatmakesfor accurateidentification.Cladonianow referstoPixieCupLichensandtheir relatives,butpreviouslyrepresentedall reindeerlichens. Cladoniaspp.containusnicandisusnic acids,especiallyinthecortex,aswellas betaorcinoldepsidesanddepsidones suchasbarbaticacid,andsquamatic acid;atranorin,fumarprotocetraricand protocetraricacids,aswellasnorstitic, psoromic,rhodocladonicandthamnolic acids.Theyalsocontainursolicacid, foundinapplesandvariousmedicinal herbspecies. UsnicacidfromCladoniaspp.has shownhighcytotoxicactivityagainst cancercells. VariousCladoniaspp.havebeenfound effectiveinthetreatmentof tuberculosis(Vartia,1973).This confirmsthetraditionaluseinFinlandof hotwaterlicheninfusionsforthis dreadfuldisease.Didymicacid,foundin manyCladoniaspp.,inhibitsthe mycobacteriumat25mcg/ml.Strepsilin isinseveralCladoniaspp.andshows antibioticactivity. SpeciesinhibitingBacillussubtilis includeC.gracilis,C.deformis,C. amaurocraea,C.bacillaris,C.coniocrae, C.fimbriata,C.pleurota,andC.uncialis. SpeciesinhibitingStaphylococcusaureus includeC.gonechu,alsoknownasC. sulphurina. Activityagainstbothbacteriawas exhibitedbyC.pyrixata(Burkholderet al.,Bull.TorreyBot.Club72:2).

BLACKFOOTCLADONIA,SMOOTH CLADONIA (Cladoniagracilis) Gracilismeansslender,referringtothe slendercupshape.Itmaybethemost commonlichenindrylodgepoleforests, growinginhugematsinplaces. Thelichenhasbeenusedtoproducean ashgreendyeforwool. Thislichenshowssignificantinhibitory effectonestrogenformationfromthe estrogenprecursor,sulfatase.Extracts ataconcentrationof40g/mlshowed an83%inhibition. Italsocontainsfumarprotocetraricacid. LESSERSULPHURCUP (Cladoniadeformis) C.deformishasbeeninvestigatedforan unusualironsubstance.WorkbyAlagna etal.inItalyindicatedthattheironis presentashighspinFe(III),and coordinatesinanoxygencontaining environmentarisinggraciliformin ligands.Italsocontainszeorin. MANYFORKEDCLADONIA (Cladoniafurcata) (C.subrangiformis) C.furcatahasbeenshowntoinhibitthe Staphylococcusaureusbacterium,and containsfumarprotocetraricacid. WorkbyLiuetal.(ActaPharmacol.Sin. 22:8)identifiedapolysaccharideinthe lichenthatinducedapoptosisinhuman leukemiaK562cells. TRUMPETLICHEN (C.fimbriata) (C.major) TrumpetLichen(C.fimbriata)contains only12.9g/gofcarotenoids,while someCaloplacassp.containupto151 g/gofvarouscarotenoids.

WorkbyCzeczugaetal.(Feddes Repertorium110:78)fromPoland priducedalistofcarotenoidsfrom34 lichenspeciesin Thelichenalsocontainsatranoricacid, fimbriaticacid,andfumaroprotocetraric acid. Ithasbeenusedinthepastasareddye forwool. BROWNPIXIECUP,CUPMOSS,CHIN CUPS (Cladoniapyxidata) CONSTITUENTSAbundantatranorin andfumaroprotocetraricacid,barbatic acidandpsoromicacid;mucilage;as wellasparellicacid,andanenzyme emulsin. PyxidataisfromtheLatinPYXIS, meaningabox.Apyxisnowaterm appliedatthegovernmentmintfora boxcontainingsamplecoins.ChinCup comesfromitsformeruseinwhooping coughorchincoughasitwasknown. Thislichenisfairlywidespread throughouttheareaandexhibits demulcent,antitussiveandexpectorant properties.Thelichenhasbeenshown effectiveagainstbronchitisandcoughs, includingwhoopingcough,once combinedwellwithcoltsfootand sundew.Itgrowsmainlyonhigh mineralsoil,contributingneededtrace mineralstoformulas. Theycanbeidentifiedbytheircuplike shape. Aswellasmedicinally,itwasused traditionallyinEuropetodyewool eitherred/purpleorashgreen. HOMEOPATHYSymptomsinclude hurriedfeeling,butlessanxiousand nervous;bloatedabdomen,

disorientation,uncertainty,drynessof tongue,lips,throat,skinandrectum. Tiredandyetsleeplessness,desirefor openair;difficultybreathinginhot room. DOSESixto30thpotency.Provingby IzzieAzgadandRosalindFloydon9 provers. BRITISHSOLDIERS (Cladoniacristatella) Thislichenissonamedduetoitsgreen bodyandredhead;reminiscentofthe earlyBritishredcoats. Thelichencontainsusnic,didymic, barbaticandrhodocladonicacid. EarlyworkbyBurkholderetal.(Bull. TorreyBot.Club72:2)foundactivity againstStaphylococcusalbus,Diplo coccuspneumoniae,Bacillussubtilis,B. mycoides,andSarcinalutea. ThesameauthorsfoundbothC. pleurotaandC.uncialisactiveagainst theabovebacteriaaswellasseveral Streptococcusspp. MealyPixieCup(C.chlorophaea)was boiledbytheOkanaganColvilleand usedtowashsoresslowtoheal.It containsfumarprotocetraricacids.This lichenisanoldwhoopingcoughremedy mentionedinearlyEuropeanherbals.It isboiledinmilkandusedtodayinWales underthenameCWPANAUPAS. ResearchinMichiganfoundfour differentchemicalpopulationsofthis specieswitheachraceoccupyinga differenthabitat,leadingtosignificant differenceinconstituents,from grayanicacidtocryptochlorophaeicacid tomerochlorophaeicacid,tothemore commonfumarprocetraricacidstrain. TheredtippedC.bellidiflorais common.TheHaidaGwaiidippedthe

redtipintohumanbreastmilkand appliedittosoreeyes. OtherCladoniaspp.worthmentioning areGrittyBritishSoldiers(C.floerkeana) containingcocellicacid;andC. macilentawiththamnolicacid.Bothare easternspecies. DragonCladonia,orDragonFunnel(C. squamosa)containsatranorin. C.bacillariscontainsbarbaticacid, whichpossessesantituberculinum activity.Italsoproduceshemolysis. ArcticAlpineLichen(C.coccifera)has redapothecia,andcontainszeorin. TheEuropeanC.convolutacontains usnicacid,fumarprotocetraricacidand 9(Omethyl)protocetraricacid,the latterofwhichhasbeenshownto induceapoptosisofmurineleukemia cells(Bezivinetal.,PlantaMed.70). LICHENESSENCESSmoothCladonia lichenessenceisthemirrorforhelping opennewdoorsintoconsciousness.It islikeaspotlightfocusingdeepwithin, reflectingupintoawareness,an unacknowledgedpartofoneself. Ithelpstodiscoverandunderstandthe patternsdevelopedandenactedtoday. Itallowsonetoreclaimpowerthrough awareness. CANADIANFOREST ArcticAlpineCladonialichenreleases deepseatedpatternsandwornoutold issuesbytransmutingnegativekarma, whichisripeforresolution.Destructive emotionsarethenpurified,self punishment,angerandlowselfesteem relinquished. FINDHORN

STUDDEDLEATHERLICHEN,FAIRY PELT/LEMONLICHEN,FRECKLEPELT, SEAGREENLICHEN (Peltigeraaphthosa) CONSTITUENTSvariousphenolics, includingaphtosinandtenuiorin; methylgyrophorate,gyrophoricacid, andtriterpenoidsPhlebicacidAandB. PeltigeraisfromtheGreekandLatin, meaning"shieldbearing".Aphthosais fromtheLatinmeaningthrush,referring tothediseaseofthethroat,forwhichit wasonceaspecific.Orperhaps, originally,itisfromtheGreekAPHTHAI, meaningpustuleoreruption. Whenmoist,thislichenturnsabrilliant green,laterdullingtoagreygreen.Itis commonlyfoundgrowingovertrue mossesinconiferousforest. AllPeltigeraspp.areusedforboiling waterdyes,usuallybrowninnature. Itisastrongpurgativeandanthelmintic, thecombineswellwithotherplantsfor cleansingwormsandotherparasites. TheSwedesboilthelicheninmilkfor treatingthrushintheirchildren.Backin the1800s,itwasbelievedthatwhite spotsonthecheeksoffeverishchildren wascausedbyelves,andusedFairyPelt tohelpthecure.Thisisanother exampleofplantsignature,wherethe cephaloidawasthoughttobesimilarto thrusheruptionsinchildren'smouths. Giventheprevalenceofchronicthrush andyeastinfectionstoday,itisaplant worthyoffurtherattention. Whencooked,thelichenbecomesthick andgluelike.Thisisagreatremedyfor diaperrash,appliedandlefttodry. Repeatasneeded. TheNitinahtofVancouverIsland chewedbothP.aphthosaandclosely relatedP.britannicafortuberculosis.

TheTlingitsprinkledthedry,powdered lichenonscaldsandburns,andthe Nitinahtusedthefreshpoulticeonleg sores. FairyPeltorLemonLichencontainsa mixtureofmethylandethylorsellinates thathavebeenshowntobesuperiorto commonlyusedpreservativeagentslike methylandproplyphydroxybenzoates. Theantimicrobialactivecompounds werefoundtobeeffectiveagainstfungi andbothgrampositiveandnegative bacteria. Itcontainsseverallaccases,whichmay haveapplicationinbiologicalreactions. ThecloselyrelatedRuffledFrecklePelt (P.leucophlebia)wasatonetime consideredthesamespecies,butnow distinct.Bothareextremelywidespread andcommon. StudiesbyIngolfsdottiretal.(Pharm. Biol.38:4)showedthelichen possessingmoderateinhibitionofHL 60,humanleukemiacells. Thephycobiontofthislichen, Coccomyxasp.,excretes16xmore biotininaculturemediumthanfree livingChlorella. TherelatedFrogPelt,orManyFruited Pelt(P.polydactylon)isusedmedicinally inSikkimasapastetostopbleedingand asanantiseptic.Itiscommontothe mountains,andmontaneofAlberta, andcontains23%peltigerin,a derivativeoforcinol,aswellas tenuiorin,methylgyrophorate, gyrophoricacid,andtriterpenes. StudiesinWalesindicatethatthelichen inhibitsthegerminationofgrassseeds, aswellasrootproductionand elongationingrassseeds.Thissuggests theuseofthisandotherlichensin organicfarmingandweedcontrol. WaterextractsofDogPelt,mentioned

below,inhibitvariousbent,meadow, andryegrassesaswellasfescue. MembranacousDogLichen(P. membranacea)wasusedbythe KwakiutlofBritishColumbiaasalove charminanunspecifiedmanner,aswell asbyNitinahtmenwhocouldnoteasily urinate. Peltigerarufescensshowsremarkably highantioxidantactivitydespitelow levelsofphenolics(Odabasogluetal., Fitotherapia76:2). GROUNDLIVERWORT,DOGPELT (Peltigeracanina) CONSTITUENTSergosterol,emulsin, mannitollikesubstances,methionine ItsLatinname,P.canina,wasforits formervalueinprotectionfromdog bites;basedontheplantsignatureof thefruitingbodiesresemblingdogteeth orears.Today,itisknownasasafe, reliablelaxative,ifusedinmoderate amounts;andamildeffectiveliver tonic. EarlyGermansettlerstoNorthAmerica usedthelichenforstrengtheninga weakliver,orcoolingonethatwas inflamed.Whengroundintoapowder andputinwhitewine,itwasgivento littleboyssufferinghernia.Inpartsof 19thcenturyWales,itwaspowdered andmixedwithblackpepperfordog bites. TheNitanahtofVancouverIslandused P.canina(orP.aphthosaabove)asan infusionforthosesufferinganuria,or inabilitytourinate. Boiledinwater,andgargled,thelichen soothestheswellingoftonsilsandthe uvula.

Thedistilledwaterisexcellentforan inflamedliverorfortreatingjaundice,a fewtablespoonstakenseveraltimes daily.Thehighconcentrationof methioninemayberesponsible,inpart, foritshighcurativerate. Thelichenhasthesymbolicmeaningof confidence.Itwasadyesourcein Europeasanironredcolourforwool. ConcentricPelt(P.elisabethae),Ruffled FrecklePelt(P.leucophlebia),Veinless Pelt(P.malacea),BlackSaddleLichen (P.neckeri),CarpetPelt(P. neopolydactyla),andFlatFruitedPelt(P. horizontalis)containtenuiorin,methyl gyrophorate,gyrophoricacid,peltigerin, andvarioustriterpenes. Manyoftheothersinourregion containnolichensubstances,soyou cannotjustspeculate. FanLichen(P.venosa),forexample, containszeorinandtenuiorin. Tenuiorinhasbeentestedagainst humanbreast,pancreasandcolon cancercelllines,andshowedmoderate activity(Ingolfsdottiretal.,Phytomed. 9:7). HOMEOPATHYGroundliverwortis usedwheneverthereislotsofthroat congestion,withprofuseexpectoration andhoarseness.Thethroatistickling andirritating,withascrapingandrough sensation. Liverwortinducesfreeandeasy expectoration;relievingthatcontinual feelingofsomethingcaughtinthe epiglottis. DOSESecondpotency PERSONALITYTRAITS Thenobleliverwortdoesnotappear,

Withoutaspeck,liketheuncloudedair, Aplantofnobleuseandendlessfame, Theliver'sgreatpreserver,henceits name. ABRAHAMCOWLEY WITCH'SHAIR (Alectoriasarmentosa) Thislichenlooksatfirstglancelike Usnea,butitlacksthecentralcord.Itis foundinthesameborealforests, hangingfromconifersthatareatleasta centuryold.TheBellaCoolaofB.C. usedthelonghairfortheirdance masks. InScandinavia,differentcoloured AlectoriaandUsneaspp.areusedto maketrolls,towarnchildrentobegood andkindtootherpeople.Legendstold ofdeformedchildrendrivenintothe woods,anddwarvescarryingoff naughtychildren. InWesternCanada,itwasmainlyused asafibreformattresses,babydiapers, andsanitarynapkins.Itwaswovenwith Bryoriafremontii(below)forpoor qualityclothing,whenskinswere unavailable.Itwasofteninterwoven withwolfwillowbarktomakeitmore durable. TheHaidaGwaiicallitCrowsMountain GoatWoolorCrowsBlanket. Itwasalsousedtomakefalsewhiskers andhairfordecorativedancemasks. Recentstudiesindicatethatanewanti microbialdibenzofuranoidlactolcalled alectosarmentinhasbeenisolatedfrom thislichen.Thecompoundexhibits activityagainstStaphylococcusaureus, andMycobacteriumsmegmatis.Usnic andphysocidacidsinthislichenwere foundeffectiveagainstthesetwo bacteriaaswellasCandidaalbicans.

StudiesbyGollapudietal.(J.Nat.Prod. 57:7)attheU.ofKansasshowedfour antimicrobialcompounds,including usnicacid,physodicacid,8'0ethyl betaalectoronicacid,and alectosarmentin,thenewlydiscovered dibenzofuranoidlactol. Itcontainsayellowdye,andatonetime wasusedbydistillerstomakealcohol. Previousstudieshaveindicatedthe presenceofmannitolandarabitol, activeantitumourpolysaccharides. ThecloselyrelatedGrayWitch'sHair(A. nigricans),foundinthefoothillsand montaneofwesternAlberta,alsohas medicinalproperties.Althoughitlacks usnicacid,itdoeshavealectorialicacid. Anextractwasfoundtoexhibitnotable inhibitionofODCactivityinducedby12 0tetradecanoylphorbol13acetatein culturedmouseepidermal308cells. TheIC50valuewasonly2.6g/ml.Work byIngolfsdottiretal.(Pharm.Biol.38:4) foundthislichenactiveagainstleukemia celllinesandtoexhibitquinone reductaseactivity. GreenWitch'sHair(A.ochroleuca)was usedduringthe1930sinRussiatomake atypeofmolasses.Ityielded82%ofits dryweighttoglucoseandproduceda lightyellowsyrup.Italsocontains diffractaicacid(Llano,Econ.Bot.10:4). TheInuitcallitGreenbeardorCaribou Moss,orTINQAUJAIT,meaningwhat lookslikepubichair.Itisahandyfire starter.

BLACKTREELICHEN (Bryoriafremontii) EDIBLEHORSEHAIR (Bryoriaspp.) BlackTreeLichenwasmixedbythe InteriorSalishwithmudtochinklog cabins.Othersmadeafibrethatcould bemadeintoclothingsuchasvests, ponchos,shoesandleggings.Itwas twistedtogetherwithstrandsofWolf Willowbarkorotherfibrestogiveit strength. Northernflyingsquirrelsbuildtheircozy nestsfromit. Thislichenwascommonlyusedby nativetribesforfood.Someaboriginals sayittasteslikecandy,ifproperly prepared;whileothersmaintainitis strictlyasurvivalfood.IntheOkanagan, youngnativeswouldbringbacklichen fromvariousareastotheirgrandmother totaste.Ifsweet,thefamilywould claimtheareawhereitwasgrowing. Itcanbecollectedatanytimeofyear, andtheflavourisdefinitelyinfluenced bythetreeitgrowson. TheNorthernOkanaganpreferredthat growingonPonderosaorLodgepole Pine;whereastheSouthernOkanagan preferredtheDouglasFirorWestern Larch.Probablywhateverwasinyour area,Iimagine. Longpoleswereutilizedtopullthe lichenfrombranchesoryoungsters wouldclimbintothetreestothrowit down.Inagoodsite,fiveorsixtrees wouldyieldsufficientharvestforone familyfortheyear! Thefreshlichenislightandbulkyand wassoakedinwater;thencookedina steampit,createdbyputtinghotrocks atthebottomandcoveringwithgreen leavesandmassesoflichens.Itwasleft forthenight,removedaftercoolingin

themorning,andcutintojellylike loaves.Itcanbeeatenthenorstored forseveralyears,andsoakedbefore eating. Itcompactswithcooking,asa20cm thicklayerreducesto4cmafter steaming.Itisratherbland,soitwas oftencookedwithlayersofnodding onions,mixedwithSaskatoonberries, ordippedinberryjuiceaftercooking. TheOkanaganwouldalsocookitthe FalseSolomonSealrhizomes,while otherswouldsweetenitwithDouglas Firsugar. TheCarriermixeditwithflourand bakeditlikefruitcakeandbeforeflour withgrease. TheOkanaganalsousedanother methodforcookingBlackTreeLichen. Theywouldroastituntildryand crumbly,thenboilituntilmolasseslike. TheNlaka'pamuxstillprepareittodayin modernovens,andserveitasaformof taffy,calledWE'IA,withthetextureand flavouroflicorice. Thelichenisincrediblyrichiniron, containing8.3mgper100grams. Thedriedcakeswereusedforlong journeys.Pregnantwomendidnoteat this,astheybelieveditwouldmake theirbabiesdark.TheOkanagan Colvillemixedthedrylichenwithgrease andrubbeditonthenavelofnewborns topreventinfection.Theyalsogavea mixtureofSaskatoonberryjuiceand syrupofB.fremontiitobabiesafter weaning. NativesofthenorthernBorealforest heatthevarioushorsehairlichensintoa powderforburns.Furthersouth,the NezPerceuseditfortreatingdiarrhea andingestion.

Someblackspruceforestsofnorthern Saskatchewanproduceover500kgof horsehairlichenperhectare. HorsehairLichen(B.trichodes)isfound isolatedincentralSaskatchewan,butis commonineasternCanada.Therelated subspeciesamericanaisfoundinB.C. andinpartsofsouthernAlaska.Itwas gatheredandpiledonasickpersonin steambathstohelpholdinheat,and usedtostaunchbleedingwounds.The lichenwasalsogatheredandburned intoablackpowderforwoodpaint,as wasShinyHorsehairLichen(B.glabra). HorsehairLichencontainsfumar protocetraricacidandatranorin. Onerelatedlichen,InedibleHorsehair (B.tortuosa),whichlookssomewhatlike BlackTree,containshighconcentrations ofthepoisonousvulpinicacidandisa potentialtoxin.Thisismainlyacoastal speciesandnotpresenteastofthe Rockies. Onespecies,B.capillaries,foundon spruceandfirtreesoftheRocky Mountainfoothills,wastraditionally burnedintoablackpowderforpaintas above.TherelatedB.fremontiiwas eatenasfood,spunintofibrefor clothing,anddyecolour.Nativesof OregoncalleditWAKAMWA.They dried,powderedandaddedittosoups. Itissaidtotastelikeacorns. SPIRITUALPROPERTIESThecoyoteis thetricksterandtransformerofall thingsintheirpresentstate.TheBlack TreeLichenwasoriginallyderivedfrom Coyote'sHairbraidwhichbecame tangledonatreebranchhewas climbing. Hecuthimselflooseandfelltothe ground,withouthisbraid.Lookinguphe said"Youshallnotbewasted,my

valuablehair.Afterthis,youshallbe gatheredbythepeople.Theoldwomen willmakeyouintofood". Itwaschangedintolichenandhasbeen usedasfoodeversince. MOURNINGDOVE ALPINECORAL (Stereocaulonalpinum) EASTERLICHEN (S.paschale) StereocaulonisfromtheGreek STEREOS,meaninghardorfirm;and KAULOS,meaningstem;referringtothe firmbrittletexturewhendry. Stereocaulonalpinumisarosewhite greyishlichencommontoNorthern Albertainsubalpineforestfloors.Itis oftenconfusedwiththecloselyrelated S.tomentosum,whichissilverygrey. Severalstudiesindicatethattheactive ingredientofS.alpinum(methylbeta orsellinate)isasuperiorpreserving agenttocommonlyusedmethyland propylphydroxybenzoates.Itisanti fungalandshowssignsofgrampositive andnegativebactericidalactivity. Lobaricacidisolatedfromthislichenhas showninvitroinhibitoryeffectson arachidonate5lipoxygenase,similarto theflavonebaicalein,foundinScullcap (Bucaretal.,Phytomed.11:78). StudiesconductedinIceland,amecca ofpolarlichens,byOgmundsdottiretal. oftheIcelandicCancerSociety Laboratoryin1998showsomeexciting resultsintheJan.1998Journalof Pharmacology. Oncultured,humancells,three malignantcelllinesfrombreast carcinomasanderythroleukemia(K 562)weretested.Atconcentrationsof

20g/mL,significantcancercelldeath wasdetected. Incontrast,theproliferationand survivalofnormalskinfibroblastsand DNAsynthesiswasnotaffected. Theseresultsopenuptheopportunity forfuturestudiesofprotolichesterinic acidwithregardstoantitumourand antiinflammatoryproperties. Atranorinandlobaricacids,isolated fromthelichenalsoshowedactivity againstMycobacteriumaurum,anon pathogenicorganismwithsensitivity similartotheTuberculinumbacterium. WorkbyIngolfsdottiretal. (Phytomedicine4:4)showedthe presenceofanalkamide,called9cis octadecenamide.Thiscompound showedmoderateinhibitoryactivity againstcyclooxygenasefromsheep seminalvesiclemicrosomeswithanIC50 of64.3M,indicatinganti inflammatoryproperties. TherelatedRockFoamLichen(S. saxatile),GrandFoam(S.grande),and EasterLichen(S.paschale)contain lobaricacid,whileWoollyFoamLichen (S.tomentosum)containssticticacid. EasterLichenisusedinTraditional ChineseMedicine.InAlaskaand WesternCanada,itwasusedtostuff caribouskinsforrafts. EarlyworkbyBurkholderetal.(Bull. TorreyBot.Club72:2)showedactivity againstStaphylococcusaureus,Bacillus subtilis,B.mycoides,andSarcinalutea. SnowFoamLichen(S.rivulorum)usually containslobaricacid,withsomeareas containingperlatolicandanzaicacid, andothersonlyatranorin. TherelatedVariegatedFoamLichen(S. vesuvianum)isfoundonnewlyexposed rockintheRockyMountainsaswellas

throughoutthenorthernterritories.It containssticticandnorsticticacids. LICHENESSENCEVariegatedFoam Lichenessenceislikethelichen,thefirst planttogrowoncooledlava.Itgivesus thepowertobeginoveragain.It strengthensourresolvetomove forwardeveninsmallsteps. KORTEPHI ROCKSHIELD,SALTEDSHIELD,CROTTLE (Parmeliasaxatilis) SMOKYCROTTLE (P.omphalodes) SaxatilisisfromtheLatinSAXUM, meaningarock. Parmeliasaxatilisisalichenfound abundantlyonacidicrocksand outcroppingsinborealforestsofthe prairies.Itincreasesinsizebyan averageof3.4mm/year. Itcontainsbothaltranoricacid(0.5%) andsalazinicacid(3.1%),acompound withmyobacterialactivity.Instudies conductedbyIngolfsdottiretal.in Iceland,thecompoundshowedMIC valuesof125g/mL. Thismaybeofsignificanceinthe treatedoftuberculosisfromanatural source.VariousParmeliaspp.have beenusedtraditionallyinbothIndiaand Chinaformedicinalpurpose.InTCM,P. saxatilisisknownasSHIHHUA. Thislichenaccumulatestheraremineral Beryllium. InSweden,countrypeoplecallthisDye Lichen,orStoneMoss.Itiscollected fromrockseasilyafterarainwitha tableknife.Ityieldsvariousshadesof brown,dependedonthequantityused. InScotland,itisusedtodyewoolfor HarrisTweed,anddoesnotrequirea

mordant.ThescentofHarrisTweedis thatofthelichenitself,evenmore pronouncedwhenwet.In1850,a factoryinGlasgowcovered17acresand processed254tonnesoflichen annually.Humanurinewasusedfor ammonia,andrequiredcollectionof over13,000Ldaily. Thedriedlichenwassprinkledin stockingsinpartsoftheHighlandsto preventfootinflammationandpain fromlongjourneys.InpartsofIrelandit wasappliedtobadsoresunderthechin, aswellasburnsandcuts. SmokyCrottle(P.omphalodes)more oftenfoundinthenorthernterritories, wasalsousedtraditionallyfordyingthe deepredbrownsandrustyoranges prizedbyweavers.Thebrownshades producedareknownasCrottle,andthe redshades,Corkir.Studieshaveshown thatthedyeisproducedbyareaction betweenthefreeaminogroupsofthe woolwithaldehydegroupsonthe lichenacids.Thereisnocorrelation betweenthecolourofthelichenand thecolourobtainedonboilingwith wool.Lichensubstances,suchas gyrophoric,evernicandlecanoricacids, aswellaserythrinconverttoapurple compoundinthepresenceofoxygen andammonia. Italsocontainssalazinicacid, sometimesaccompaniedbylobaricacid. ConcentricRingLichen(Arctoparmelia centrifuga),hasbeenusedtraditionally inthenorthasaredbrowndyefor wool. WAXPAPERLICHEN,HAMMERED SHIELDLICHEN (Parmeliasulcata) SulcataisfromtheLatinSULCUS, meaningafurroworgroove.

AlsoknownasPowderedShieldLichen, thisisacommonbranchlichenondead sprucebranchesthroughoutthenorth. TheRufoushummingbirdsuseditto decorateandhidetheirnests. Thelichenwasrubbedonthegumsof teethingbabiestohelpmakethemless restlessandsleep. Thelichenacids,includingsalazinicand lobaric,areantiseptic. InItaly,variousspeciesofParmeliaare usedasacholagogue. Becauseitcontainssalizinicacid,itcan alsobeusedfordyeingwool. Thelichenshowsactivityagainst Aeromonashydrophila,Bacilluscereus, B.subtilis,Listeriamonocytogenes, Proteusvulgaris,Yersiniaenterocolitica, Staphylococcusaureus,Streptococcus faecalis,Candidaalbicans,C.glabrata, Aspergillusfumigatus,A.nigerand Penicilliumnotatum(Candanetal., ZeitschriftfrNaturforschung62:78; Rankovicetal.,Mikrobiologya76:6). Parmeliaentotheiochriacontains secalonicacidA,relatedtothe ergochromesfromergot. TherelatedP.andina,whichcontains lecanoricacid,isusedinpipemixtures forsmokinginthesouthernSahara. AlpineCamouflageLichen,previously knownasParmeliastygia,butnow movedtotheMelaneliagenus,isfound inthewesternmountainsand throughouttheformerNorthWest Territories. SpottedCamouflageLichen(M. olivacea)rangesthroughouteastern SaskatchewanandManitoba.Both havebeenusedpreviouslytoproducea browndyeinGreatBritain. Thegenuscontainslecanoric, fumarprotocetraric,sticticandperlatolic

acids,aswellasechinocarpicand galbinicacids. Parmeliaspp.exhibitastringent, resolvent,aperientanddiuretic properties. PLATEDROCKTRIPE (Actinogyramuhlenbergii) (Gyrophoramuhlenbergii) (Umbilicariamuhlenbergii) FROSTEDROCKTRIPE (U.vellea) (G.vellea) (U.americana) RockTripeisaflat,brown,circular lichenthatattachesitselftorockswitha cord. TheWoodsCreeofSaskatchewancallit ASINIWAKONanduseditforfoodby cleaningandbreakingsmallpiecesinto fishbrothtothickenit.Veryhotwater waspouredoverthepiecesandafter cookingfor510minutes,thepieces softenedandthebroththickenedasit cooled.Itwasconsideredgood nourishmentforthosewhoweresick, becauseitdoesnotupsetthestomach. TheChipewyanalsousedthis"rock dirt",orTTHETSI,asafoodsource.The flakeswerecleanedoffandboiledin soup,givingasour,mushroomflavour. Thesoupalsohelpstofattenupsled dogs. TheChipewyanalsoburnedittoash, andthenboiledittomakeasyrupfor tapeworms. Usuallythelichenisaddedtoboiling waterthatisdiscardedfirsttoremove someofthemoreirritatingandbitter acids.Ashesaresometimesaddedto thewatertoneutralizetheacidity;even bakingsodawillmakerocktripemore digestible.

Thelichencontainsgyrophoricacid. Onespecies,Umbilicariaesculenta,or "rocktripe",isconsideredadelicacyin Japan.Itissoldasadelicacy,underthe nameIwatakeandtakenaspartofa specialteaceremonyornaturalfoodin mountaininns.Thereissomeconfusion astotheexactidentityofthelichen, withDermatocarponminiatum sometimesidentifiedasthesame lichen.Itiseitherboileduntiltender, andthenseasonedwithricevinegaror sesamepaste;eatenasavegetablein soybeansoup;ordeepfriedasa tempura. ThelichenU.esculentacontainsan acylatedB16glucanthatshowsanti tumouractivityagainstbonecancer (sarcoma180). LeatherLichenorStipplebackLichen(D. miniatum)isfoundonlimestonerockin southernAlbertaandSaskatchewan.It isusedasasourceofashgreendyefor woolinsomepartsofEurope. InJapan,asulfateisolatefromrock tripeshowedaninhibitoryeffectonthe replicationofHIV1invitro.The compound(GE3S)appearstoworkina mannersimilartodextransulphateand heparin,preventingattachmentofHIV tothesurfaceofT4cells.Thispartially acetylatedpustulansulphateisonlyone offourpolysaccharidethatshowweak animaltoxicity,withGE3Sshowingno acutetoxicityinmiceatveryhighdoses (Chem.Pharm.Bull.37:9). Thelichenisactiveagainstgram positivebacteria.Asubstancesimilarto pustulan,anacylatedB16glucan,has shownantitumouractivityagainst sarcoma180. InScotland,rocktripewasusedtomake CORKIR,abrilliantreddyetocolour

tartans.Whentreatedwithurine,it yieldedpurple. Decoctionscanbeusedasagarglefor soothingcankersoresandbleeding gums. BothU.velleaandU.americanahave beenrecentlyseparatedintotwo distinctspecies.Thelaterlichenis foundinasweepingarcfromLake WinnipegtoGreatSlaveLakeinthe territories.WorkbySwansonand Fahseltin1997foundthatUVA increasedandUVBdecreasedthe contentofsecondarycompounds. TheInuitknowRockTripeas QUAJAUTIT,awordassociatedwith slipperyunderfoot.Theyabsorbblood forcleaningawoundandripeboils.A spoonfuloftheboiledlichenis consideredgoodforanyillness,butthe lichenisnoteaten.Thetripewasused toabsorboilfromthedriedskinsof babysealsonBaffinIsland. FIREDOTLICHENS (Caloplacaspp.) VariousCaloplacaspp.growonarctic alpinesoil,andothersonthebarkof aspen.Theyappearasorangey,rusty dotsonthebarkofpoplar,orgranite rocksandsidewalks. Afungusoccurringinthegenushas beenfoundtoproducephyscion.Thisis identicaltothemonomethylesterof emodine. WorkbyManojlovicetal.(Pharm.Bio. 43:8)onvariousCaloplacaspp.suggest bothantimicrobialandantifungal activity. GrayRimmedFiredotLichen(C.cerina) hasbeenfoundbythesameauthorsto possessantifungalactivity(Manojlovic etal.,Fitoterapia76:2).

LICHENESSENCESulphurFiredot Lichen(C.flavescens)leaflichenessence actsasanenergysupportfortheskin.It helpsuschangeorredefineourcontact withtheoutsideworld.Forpeoplewho aretoothinskinnedintheir relationships. KORTEPHI COMMONGOLDSPECK (Candelariellavitellina) Thefungusfromthislichen,aneggyolk colouredspecieswithscatteredand flattenedgrowthonacidandcalcareous rocksandtreebark,containsstictaurin. Theyallcontaincalycin,ayellow pigment. ROCKORANGELICHEN,ELEGANT SUNBURSTLICHEN (Xanthoriaelegans) Theserocklichens,areeasytonotice withtheirflat,fanshapeandbright orangecolourcontrastingagainsta limestonetyperock.Occasionally,they maybefoundonoldwoodorbones, buttheyseemtopreferthecarbonic environment. Infact,thislichenislookedforbyInuit hunterstolocatetheburrowsof animalssuchasthehoarymarmot.The nitrogenfrombirdormammalwaste encouragesitsgrowth. VariousnativetribesofBritishColumbia usedthepigmentforfacepaint. TheRockOrangeLichenwasfound growingonthegravesofcrewmembers ofFranklin'slastexpedition.Thelichens areslowgrowersandaftermorethan 100yearsonlygrew4.4cmindiameter, butthelichenishardy.Ithasbeen

foundonHimalayanrocksat7,000m altitude. WorkbyIngolfsdottir,mentioned above,foundthelichenshowed significantinductionofquinone reductaseagainsthepatomacells.The concentrationtodoubleactivitywas determinedtobeonly4.8g/mL.This issignificant,becausemanyplant constituentswithcytotoxicactivityare alsoharmfultohealthycells.Workby Gerhauseretal.(1997)foundsignificant inductionofQRactivityinanassay usingculturedHepa1c1c7hepatoma cells. Xanthoricacid,besidespossessing cytoxicity,isanticonvulsant,anti bacterialandantimycotic. AllXanthoriaspp.containvarious anthraquinonepigments,suchas parietin,andxanthroin. TherelatedWallLichen(X.parietina), wasthought,duetoitsorangecolour, ofuseforjaundice,basedonthe doctrineofsignatures.Thisisoneof manycases,whichdoesnotruntrue.It isnotfoundinourregionand sometimescalledMaritimeSunburst Lichen.Itisbrightyellowinsunny regionsandgreyintheshade, suggestingaprotectivemechanism fromUVradiation. Thelichenisusedaspartofhairpowder inIndia.ItisdecoctedinwineinSpain totreatmenstrualproblems,andsimply decoctedforkidneydisorders, toothache,andaspartofacoughsyrup. ThroughoutSpainitisknownasFlorde PiedraorRompiedra. Itcontainsbromoperoxidaseand significantamountsoftheelement vanadium;aswellasparietinicand atranoricacid.Parietinpigmentlevels

arestronglyinfluencedbyUVB radiation. TherelatedHoodedSunburstLichen(X. fallax),commonlyfoundonelmand poplaroftheprairies,contains fallacinal. ShrubbySunburstLichen(X.candelaria) isfoundinwesternAlbertaand elsewhere.ItiscalledtheCandleLichen inSwedenandusedtocoloranimalfat tomakecandles. LICHENESSENCEXanthoriaparietina essencefacilitatesanawakening, bringingwisdomandunderstanding.It canhelptorelievefears,nervousness andconfusion.Itisforthosewhowalk aroundincircles.Ithelpsbalancethe solarplexus,CNS,liver,skin,lungs,and nerves. SILVERCORD FRAGILESPHAEROPHORUS,FRAGILE CORALLICHEN (Sphaerophorusfragilis) ALPINESPHAEROPHORUS,CORAL LICHEN (S.globosus) FragileSphaerophorusisanarctic speciesthatgrowsindensecushions andhasveryfragilebranches.Alpine Sphaerophorushastwovariations,one var.gracilisthatgrowsonconiferous forestwestofthecontinentaldivide, andvar.globosus,ararertypethat growsonthegroundorinrockcrevices. Theybothcontainhypothamnolicacid, withCorallichensometimescontaining squamaticacid. Boththeselichensalsoexhibit significantinhibitionagainstthe estrogenprecursor,sulfatase.When

testedat40g/mL,theformershowed inhibitionof95%andthelatterof90% AlpineSphaerophorusalsoexhibited inhibitionagainstaromatase,another estrogenprecursor.Whileonlyat74%, thecombinedinhibitionofboth precursorsmakesthisapotentially excitingprospectforthefuture. HOODEDBONE,HOODEDTUBELICHEN, MONK'SHOODLICHEN,PUFFEDLICHEN (Hypogymniaphysodes) (Parmeliaphysodes) POWDERHEADEDTUBELICHEN (H.tubulosa) Thispalegreygreenlicheniscommonly foundonconiferousandbirchtreesin theborealforest.Researchshowsitis moretolerantofpollutionfromsulphur dioxidethanmostmacrolichens,butis stillusedasanindicatorofpollution. Itappearstobeabletobioremediate arsenic,bothbyarseniteexcretionand methylationofthetoxicmineral(Mrak etal.,Environ.Pollut.2007). Ithasbeenusedforbothfoodand medicine.ThePotawatomiuseditin soupandasatreatmentfor constipation. InSwedenandScotland,thelichenis usedtoyieldabrowndyeforwool. Vainshteinetal.(Mikologiyai Fitopatologiya26:6)studiedtheeffect ofwaterextractsofthelichen.They foundittoinhibitmanyofthecommon wooddestroyingfungi,suchas Heterobasidonannosum,Laxitextum bicolor,Schizophyllumcommune, Stereumhirsutum,andS.rugosum. Thisworkcouldleadtosomeinnovative inoculantsorantifungaltreatmentsfor woodlotmanagement.

Thetubelichenscontainatranorin, physodicacid,andoftenorcinol,aswell asbetaorcinoldepsidones,including protocetraricandphysodalicacids. Physodicacid,at612g/mLinhibits Mycobacteriumtuberculosus. Burkholderetal.(Bull.TorreyBot.Club 72:2)foundthelichenactiveagainst Staphylococcusaureus,S.albus,Bacillus subtilis,andSarcinalutea. In15thcenturyEurope,itwascombined withEverniaprunastriandEvernia furfuraceaincreatingthemixturelichen Quercinusvirides. PowderHeadedTubeLichen,common throughoutB.C.andintosouthern Alberta,contains3hydroxyphysodic acid. WorkbyYilametal.(Zeit.Naturforsch. 60:12)foundthiscompoundactive againstAeromonashydrophila,Bacillus cereus,B.subtilis,E.coli,Klebsiella pneumoniae,Listeriamonocytogenes, Proteusvulgaris,Salmonella typhimurium,Staphylococcusaureus, Streptococcusfaecalis,andCandida albicans. VarnishedTubeLichen(H.austerodes) containsoxyphysodicacid,physodic acid,andsometimes3hydroxyphysodic acid,inadditiontotheabove. SMOKYRIMLICHEN (Lecanoracenisia) SmokyRimLichenisarocklichenfound commonlythroughoutNorthAmerica, andcontainsatranorinandfattyacids, especiallyroccellicacid.Itsometimes containsgangaleoidin. TherelatedL.californicacontains norgangaleoidinandafattyacidknown asnephrosteranicacid.

GraniteSpeckRimLichen(L.polytropa), foundintheCanadianShield,contains usnicacid,zeorinandfattyacids.Itis foundworldwideincludingatthe24,000 feetlevelonthesouthsideofMakalu. WhiteRimLichen(Lecanorarupicola) containsatranoricacid,rocellicacid, andthiophanicacid;aswellas sordidone,eugenetinandeugenitol, mycobiontsnotfoundinthethallus. TherelatedL.esculentagrowsoncliffs oftheMiddleEast,andisbelievedtobe themannathatfedtheHebrewpeople fleeingfromEgypt,astoldintheBible. Mosestoldeveryonetogatheritup becausethisisthebreadwhichthe Lordhathgivenyoutoeattasting likewafersmadewithhoney.High desertwindssometimesscatterit,even tothisday,fallingonBedouin settlementslikerain.Itdoeshavea naturallysweetflavourandisedible, hencethespeciesname.Localscallit thefatoftheEarth,anditis sometimesflavouredwithaniseand honeyintoPanakarpian,atypeofbread popularinAlexandria. Threepartslichenandonepartmeal aremadeintoabreadcalledSCHIRSAD, andcantodaybeboughtinthebazaars ofTehrantoencouragebreastmilk production. In1829,duringthewarbetweenPersia andRussia,aCaspiantownwascovered withlichen,whichliterallyfellfrom heaven.Thiswasmadeintobreadand helpedstaveoffstarvation. GREENLIGHT,ARCTICKIDNEYLICHEN (Nephromaarcticum) POWDERYKIDNEYLICHEN (N.parile)

Greenlightisfoundintheextreme northfollowingtheCanadianShield, andontheextremetopsoftheRocky Mountains. PowderyKidneyLichenisfoundinthe subalpineregionandmountainsinto BritishColumbia,aswellasextreme northeasternSaskatchewan. NativesofAlaskacookedthelichenwith crushedfisheggs,oraloneasaninfused tonicafteralengthyillness.Thelichen waspickedinsummerandthenstored untilneeded. MustardKidneyLichen(N.laevigatum), foundonthewestcoast,containsusnic acidandnephrin. PowderyKidneyLichenhasbeenusedin Scotlandasabluedyeforwool. STIPPLEBACKLICHEN (Dermatocarponmoulinsii) Thisfairlycommonlichenisfoundon gravelinboththeextremenorthand southernpartsofAlberta.Whenwet, theupperpartturnsgreen,and becomestranslucent.Itcanbesoaked inwaterandthenchewedslowlyasa foodsource.Whenboiledforabout15 minuteswithalittlesalt,ithasaflavour reminiscentofmushroom.Itisagood additiontohelpthickenandflavour rocksoup. TUMBLEWEEDSHIELD (Xanthoparmeliachlorchroa) PEPPEREDROCKSHIELD (X.conspersa) TumbleweedShieldLicheniscommon totheGreatWesternBasinandinto centralAlbertaandSaskatchewan.The commonnameisduetoitsdetaching

fromrockandtumblingaroundwiththe wind. Itisanindicatorofgoodantelope grazingterritory. Theentireplant,calledGroundlichen bytheNavaho,wasboiledforared, brown,ororangedyeforleather, basketsandwool. Theyalsouseditmedicinallytotreat impetigo,possiblyduetoitscontentof salazinicandnorstiticacid.Itcontains 2%usnicacid,comparedto1.5%in Usneabarbata. PepperedRockShieldLichenispresent ineasternManitoba,withlimitedrange neartheAlberta/Saskatchewan boundarynorthofMedicineHat. IthasbeenusedinEnglandfordye, producingaredbrowncolourforwool. ThelichenisusedinsoutheasternAfrica formedicine,bothinternallyand appliedasapowdertotreatsnakebites andvenerealdisease,especiallysyphilis. Itcontainsasticiticacidcomplex includingcryptosticticacid,andvariable amountsofnorstiticacid. TherelatedX.taracticaiscommon throughouttheborealforest,on exposedrockassociatedwithgraveland slides.Thelichenisahyper accumulatorofzinc,andmaybea prospectingtoolforminingcompanies. TherelatedX.scabrosahasbeenfound toinducesmoothmusclerelaxationthat promotesarterialdilationandincreased bloodflow.Itisamainingredientina novelsexualstaminaformula,asortof naturalViagraapproachtoarousal. Otherinterestinglichensincludethe SnowLichens,suchasCurled

(Flavocetrariacucullata)andCrinkled(F. nivalis).Thefirst,previouslyclassified asCetrariacucullata,hasbeenusedin northernCanadaasacondimentforfish orducksoup. CurledSnowLichenhasbeenusedasa food,andwasusedbyRussiaduringthe SecondWorldWartoproduceglucose molasses,yielding71%bydryweight. Itproducesavioletdyewithadditionof ammonia. NearthePeruandBoliviaborder,the lichenisknownasBeardoftheRock andisinfusedinhotwaterasacardio pulmonarytonicforheartattackand altitudesickness. Itcontainsusnicandsometimesproto lichesterinicacid. CommonGreenshieldLichen (Flavoparmeliacaperata)isfoundnear LesserSlaveLakeinAlberta,and northeasternManitoba. Ithasbeenusedasanorangebrownto yellowdyeontheIsleofMan,andadry powderonburnsinMexico. Itcontainsusnic,protocetraricand caperaticacidsaswellasatranorin. EarlyworkbyBurkholderetal.found activityagainstStaphylococcusaureus, Diplococcuspneumoniae,Streptococcus hemolyticus,S.viridans,Bacillussubtilis, B.mycoides,andSarcinalutea. PowderedgedSpeckledGreenshield (Flavopuncteliasoredica)isfoundon barkinopenwoods,throughoutthe prairies.Itcontainsusnicandlecanoric acids. TheNavahoofNewMexicouseitto produceafleshcoloreddye.

GreenStarburstLichen(Parmeliopsis ambigua)iswidespreadandcontains divaricaticacid. Dusty,orChalky,Ramalina(Ramalina pollinaria)iscommonthroughout easternAlberta.Ithasalonghistoryof useinthepreparationofcosmeticsand perfumes. Itcontainsusninic,obtusatic,evernic, andsekikaicacids. DottedRamalina,orTheDottedLine,(R. farinacea)iscommonthroughout centralAlberta.Ithasbeenused traditionallyasalightbrowndyefor wool,andhasahistoryofusein cosmeticsandperfumesthroughout Europe. Thelichencontainsramalinolicacid, sekikaicacid,arabitol,mannitol,andd usnicacid. WorkbyTayetal.(Zeit.Naturforsch. 59)found(+)usnicacidfromthislichen activeagainstBacillussubtilis,Listeria monocytogenes,Proteusvulgaris, Staphylococcusaureus,Streptococcus faecalis,Yersiniaenterocolitica,Candida albicansandC.glabrata. Norsticticacidshowedactivityagainst alltheaboveexceptY.enterocoliticaas wellasAeromonashydriphila,and protocetraricacidshowedactivity againsttheyeasts. RockRamalina(R.intermedia)which resemblestheDottedinsomerespect, containssekikaicacid.Thislichenis morecommonlyfoundontheCanadian ShieldthroughoutManitobaand northeasternSaskatchewan. TherelatedR.bourgeanaisusedin Europetodissolvekidneystones.

BlueGreyRosetteLichen,or PowderbackLichen,(Physciacaesia) containsatranoricacid,haematommic acid,andzeorin.StarRosetteLichen(P. stellaris)containsatranorin. Asmentionedabove,Physciaspp.were previouslycombinedwithpineresinsto produceayellowstainingpaint. Thedistinctshinybluishgrey appearanceofthisgenusisduetoathin layerofcalciumoxalatecrystalsthat deflectlightandhelplichenssurvive extremeconditions. GoldEyeLichen(Teloschistes chrysophthalmus),foundthroughout southernManitoba,containsusnicacid thatshowsactivityagainstthearena virusesJuninandTacaribe(Fazioetal., Zeit.Naturforschung62:78). BitterWartLichen(Pertusariaamara)is foundintheRockiesandextreme southeastManitoba.Itcontains arabitol,mannitol,andemulsin,aswell aspicrolichenicacid. Itisextremelybitter,asthename suggests,isthebasisforitsmedicinal useintreatinghighfever.Thedecocted medicinewassaidtobeaquinine replacement.TherelatedP.communis wassaidmoreusefulformenthan women. Eightlichens,includingPlatismatia glauca,foundonlodgepolepineand whitespruce,werestudiedforcytotoxic activitybyBezivinetal.(Phytomedicine 10:67).Alldemonstratedactivityon humancancercelllines. Platismatiaglaucacontains protolichesterinicacid.TheHaidarefer tothelichenasRedCedarGoatWoolor LightClouds.

 YellowMapLichen(Rhizocarpon geographicum)isfoundinsouthwestern Alberta,aswellastheShieldof northeasternSaskatchewanandmostof northernManitoba. ThiswasapopularlicheninScandinavia forproducingabrowndyeforwoolens. Itcontainsthepigmentrhizocarpicacid, aswellasparellic,psoromicandrhizonic acid,andtetronicacidderivatives. Rhizocarpicacidandvariousdepsidones foundinvariouslichensareactive againstmethacillinresistantstrainsof Staphylococcusaureus.Kokubunetal. (PlantaMed.73:2)foundhybocarpine themostactivecompound. FineRockWool(Pseudephebe pubescens)derivesitscommonname foritsappearanceofblacksteelwool.It isfoundinthemountainsofAlbertaand west.TheHaislaofB.C.usedittomake ablackwoodpaint. CandleFlame,orLemonLichen, (Candelariaconcolor)contains callopismicacid,alsoknownas ethylpulvicacid;stictaurinordipulvic acid;barbaticacid,anddipulvic dilactone;aswellastetronicacid derivatives. TheDustLichen(Leprarialatebranum) containslepraricacid,andfuciformic acid,whileFluffyDustLichen(L. lobificans),foundinthemontaneand mountainsofwesternAlberta,contains atranorin,sticticandconsticticacidsas wellaszeorin. Siphulaceratitescontainssiphyulin.

OrangeChocolateChipLichen(Solorinia crocea)containssolorinicand norsolorinicacid,aswellmethyl gyrophorateandgyrophoricacid. Solorinicacidisananthraquinone. Asthenamesuggests,itisunmistakable withitsbrightorangemedullaandred bornapothecia.Commonthroughout themountainsandrestofB.C.,it containsatleasttwolacasses(Lisovet al.,FEMSMicrobiol.Lett.275:1). CraterLichen(Diploschistesscruposus) hasazinccontentupto9.34%ofitsdry weight,showingunusualabilityto absorbionsfromthesoil. WhitewormLichen(Thamnolia vermicularisvar.subuliformis)is frequentlyfoundontundraandarctic alpineareas.BirdsliketheGolden Ploverusethelichenfornesting material. ItisusedinNepalforitsantiseptic properties. Itcontainsbaeomycesicacid,abeta orcinoldepside,whichshowsweak inhibitionofplatelettype12(S) lipoxygenase(Ingolfsdottiretal., Phytomed.4). Therearetwodistinctstrains,one containingthamnolicacidandanother withsquamaticandbaeomycicacid,the formerfoundmorecoastalandthe latterintheRockyMountains. Omarsdottiretal.(J.Phytomed.13:9 10)identifiedthamnolanasoneofthe immunomodulatingpolysaccharides. BloodSpotLichen(Haematomma lapponicum)andotherspeciesofthis genuscontainporphyrillicacid,which showsantibioticactivity,aswellas divaricaticandusnicacids.Therelated

H.coccineumcontains20%usnicacid dryweight,aphenomenalamount. ThepoeticPepperSporeLichen, Rinodinaoreina(previouslyDimelaena oreina)containsgyrophoricand fumarprotocetraricacids. Everniaprunastri,mentionedbelow, containsevernicacid.Thiscompound showsactivityagainstmycobacteriumat ratessimilartousnicacid.Itwasused traditionallytoleavenbread,andasa hopsubstituteforbeer. Dermatocarponminiatumisapowerful antioxidantandwasidentifiedbyAslan etal.(Pharm.Biol.43:8). FlaccidJellyLichen(Collemaflaccidum), foundfurthereast,hasbeenfoundto possessantitumoractivity(Renzankaet al.,Nat.Prod.Res.20:10). PowderedLoopLichen(Hypotrachyna revolute)foundonVancouverIsland, containsbetaorcinolmetabolites hypotrachynicacid,deoxysticticacid, cryptostictinolide,and8methyl consticticacid. ESSENTIALOILSAlllichenswillgiveup acertainpercentageofessentialoils. Certainspecies,liketheoakmosslichen (Everniaprunastri),havebeenusedin Europeforcenturiesbytheperfume industryasfixativesandbassnotes.It wasshippedfromCyprusandGreeceto Egyptforpackingembalmedmummies. Fromthenorthernborealmuskegs, sprucemossorBorealOakmossLichen (E.mesomorpha)growsonthebranches andbarkofblackspruce,larch,and birch.TheChipewyancallitK'TSA"JU, orbirchlichen.Theywouldusea

cooleddecoctionofthelichenfrom birchtreesastreatingsnowblindness. Solventextractionsofsprucemosshave beenusedsincethe16thcenturyfor perfume. WestoftheRockies,E.prunastriisquite prominent,andagoodsourceof perfumefixativesaswellasusnicacid, andheteropolysaccharides. About9,000tonnesarestilltoday, shippedfromMacedoniatoFranceto produceOakmossabsolute.Itisoften mixedwithPseudoeverniafurfuracea, whichismorearomaticbutinferiorasa perfumefixative. Oakmossisusedtodayinaromatherapy foritsgroundingnature,andtocreatea senseofsecurityandpersonal prosperity.Ithelpsoneworkwith naturespiritsandpreventsslippingof secrets. OakmossLichenhasbeenusedinEgypt asabreadadditive,andbytheTurksto makeatypeofjelly. Overthecenturies,certainlichenshave beendriedandpowderedforthewhite powderedwigsofaristocratsandto repellice.Lichenextractsarealso foundinsoupsanddeodorants,duein parttotheirantibacterialactivity, whichinturn,helpsreduceunderarm odour. VariousRamalinaandParmeliaspp.are usefulfortheproductionofabsolutes byalcoholandaldehydefreepetroleum ethers.InthesouthernBorealForest andnorthernAspenParkland,both PuncturedGristle(R.dilacerata)and Dusty,orChalkyGristle(R.pollinaria) arequitecommon. Icelandmosshasbeendistilledand yields0.051%ofabrownishoilfrom whichunidentifiedcrystalsseparate

uponstanding.Itcontainscetrarine,a phenolketone. Lungwort(Lobariapulmonaria)also makesafineperfumebyalcohol extraction. DilutedLichenabsolutescanberubbed intotheforeheadandoversinusarea forpainrelief. Some,likeStictafulgininosa,havean oceanicorfishysmell,notappreciated byall. Consideringthevastexpansesofraw materialavailable,therearegreat possibilitiesforcreatingviablebusiness opportunities.Theyallpossessthe abilitytoretainscentandareused extensivelyinpotpourriforthis purpose. HYDROSOLThoseafflictedwithbloody fluxshouldboiltreemoss(E.prunastri) inwaterorredwineandtakethisin drinkthiswillprotectwomenfrom prematurebirth. SAUER PERSONALITYTRAITSLichenscanlive severalhundredyearsontreesandin harshhabitats,suchaswindravaged mountainrocks.Theyevenadapt happilytolifeongraveyardtombstones. Theydrawnutrientsfromdewand rainfall,andstorethefoodintheir bodiesforverylongperiods,releasing nourishmentgraduallyasneeded.The lichencanthussustainitselfalmost indefinitelyinatoughenvironment. Whatprovisionsdoyouneedtosustain youtomorrow?Acertainamountof food,money,clothingandhousehold goodsareonlyastart.Whataboutthe sustenancethatcomesfromfamily, friendships,andsoundvalues?It's nevertoosoontostockyourstorehouse

withthesetreasuresthatnourishovera lifetime. G.MOHAMMED I'vealwayslookedonthisfabulous forestfindastheelderstatesmanofthe woods.Perhapsit'sbecauseittakes monthsandmonthsoftheright conditionswithinathicketoftimberfor Usneatofullydevelop.Ormaybeit's becauseitresemblesaraggedbeardas ithangsstifflyfromtreebranches. Whateverthereason,Ihaveafeelingits longperiodofmaturationhasgivenita chancetosoakupthewisdom,energy andsecretsofalltheothertreesand plantsthatsurroundit. DEWEY IncertaindistrictsofScotland,as Aberdeenshire,almosteveryfarmor cotterhaditstankorbarrel(litpig)of putridurine(graith)whereinthe mistressofthehouseholdmacerated fromlichens(crotalsorcrottles)to preparedyesforhomespunstockings, nightcapsorothergarments.Theusual practicewastoboilthelichenand woolenclothestogetherinwaterorin theurinetreatedlichenmassuntilthe desiredcolour,usuallybrown,was obtained. Thistookseveralhours,orlessonthe additionofaceticacid,producingfast dyeswithoutthebenefitofamordant orfixingagent.Thecolourwas intensifiedbyaddingsaltorsaltpeter. ThismethodwasprevalentinIcelandas wellasScotlandforthosehomespuns bestknowntothetradeasHarris Tweed. GALLANO,1951

SPIRITUALPROPERTIESIhavealways feltlichensspoketotheessenceof unconditionallove.Theyconsistoftwo unrelatedlivingentities,afungusand analgae,dependentoneachotherfor nourishment,protectionandhabitat. Theirbiologicalsystemsbecomeso intermingledthattheyactasasingle livingentitywecallalichen.When speakingbotanically,thisispure symbiosis,inhumantermscoulditnot beunconditionallove? K.KEANE Usneaskeywordisclairvoyance.Usnea givesonetrustintheirhigher consciousness.Usneasupportsallthe extrasensoryperceptionsandheightens anykindofclairvoyance. MULDERS RECIPES TINCTURE12mlupto3xdaily.The mothertincturesoflungwort,Iceland Moss,Usneaandgroundliverwortare madefromthefreshthallusinalcohol. Generally,lichentincturescanbemade at1:5and50%.IpreferUsneatincture of1:3at90%,butheythat'sme.Let soakforuptotwomonths,longerifyou can. Hotalcoholtinctureisbestbutnottobe triedbytheamateur.ASoxletextractor isneededforthispreciseextraction. Usneatinctureiscontraindicatedduring pregnancy.Icelandmossmayaggravate gastricorduodenalulcers,andis contraindicatedincasesofexcessive catarrhormucouscongestion.Usneais acoldmedicineandoveruseforcolds, fluandinfectionscandamagespleenQi. COLDINFUSIONTakeoneteaspoonof thedriedshreddedlichentoonecupof

coldwaterandletsitovernight.Warm slowlybeforedrinking1oz.everyhour asneeded. DECOCTIONInordertoremovethe bitterprinciplesinlichens,aquickboil anddiscardingoffirstwatercanbe followedbyastandarddecoction. Whenthedemulcentandantiseptic propertiesareneeded,thisisagood idea.Bitterdecoctionsarebetterin casesofstomachdeficiency,vomiting, andnightsweats. SODIUMUSNATE30mg3xdailyor1.5 mg/kg/day.Takeoneweekoffevery twelveandcontinue. DYESVariousconstituentsoflichens decomposetoproduceorcin,thatinthe presenceofammoniaandoxygen produceorecein,andapurplecolour. CAUTIONAlllichenshavethe tendencytomold.Ifnothandled properly,thiscancreatebronchialor dermalirritationandallergies. AromaticlichenacidsareUVabsorbing substancesandseveralareevidently abletophotosensitivehumanskin. Atranorinisthemostfrequently involved.