Usnea - Old Man's Beard


I never would have thought growing up that those little fuzzy things on trees were anything that I would ever diligently search for. They were so common we didn't even see them. But I guess that's part of the experience of growing up in Appalachia.

Blessings are abundant here.

When I first started researching Usnea, or Old Man's Beard, it seemed that they were considered a little bit rare, so imagine my surprise when I walked outside and found the yard literally full of them from a rainstorm the night before.

I scooped up a bunch and brought them in.  I'm not gonna lie to you, Usnea is a pain to prepare.  It needs heat, but it also needs alcohol to bring out the best medicinal properties.  I don't like boiling anything, to be honest, because it seems way too harsh for God's beautiful creation, so I always opt for the slower method.  I put my usnea in a crock pot for three days and tend it like a baby so it won't burn.  Then I dump the goop into a jar and tincture it in ethanol for a good six weeks, shaking every day.  Like I said, it's a bunch of trouble.

But the result is so totally worth it that I can't imagine living without Usnea.

Usnea tends to be our go-to when there's an infectious skin condition, especially that's fungal in nature.  Usnea is a great anti-fungal as well as anti-bacterial and anti-viral.

We have used it with much success for urinary tract infections, and hubby uses it regularly anytime he starts to feel his diverticulitis act up.  I believe it has saved us quite a few trips to the hospital, since pre-usnea he always wound up going to the ER when the diverticulitis decided to strike.

Like berberine, Usnea doesn't easily cross the stomach/intestinal lining to get into the bloodstream, so you have to put usnea where you need it to work.  That means making a vaginal douche for vaginal yeast or bacterial infections, wound washes for skin infections, or just taking it by mouth for stomach bugs or kidney/urinary tract problems.


***This blog is intended for encouragement and educational purposes only. It is not an attempt to diagnose or treat any condition or disease. As always, please check with your physician before trying any new medication, herbal or otherwise, or treating any disease process.***

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