For some ailments, herbal remedies can already help to relieve. For example, Iceland moss has a healing effect that has been known since the 17th century. Because of its medicinal properties, it used to be increasingly called lung moss.
Occurrence and cultivation of Iceland moss
The more sun rays Iceland moss is exposed to, the darker the plant becomes due to the storage of a specific pigment that serves as a sunscreen. The name of the Iceland moss can be perceived as misleading. In fact, in the end it is not a moss at all, but a lichen that prefers to spread on rocks and on the ground. It consists of a symbiosis of a fungus and a green alga. Iceland moss originates mainly from Scandinavian and Eastern European regions, but nowadays it can also be found in many other European countries. In the southern regions, the lichen grows exclusively at high altitudes. Otherwise it can be found on bogs, in sparse pine forests, in lowlands and in tundra. The plant reaches a height of 4 to 12 centimeters, its shoots are usually branched and rigid. Its upper side is brown-green in color, while the lower side has a white-green color. The bands are three to six millimeters long and regularly shaped. Depending on the incoming light from the sun, the plant’s hues differentiate. The more it is exposed to sunlight, the darker it becomes due to the storage of a specific pigment that serves as a sunscreen. Nordic countries used the plant for a long time against lung diseases. It was processed into a flour and then baked into a bread. Two species of the genus are recommended for medicinal use: Cetraria islandica and Cetraria ericetorum. Because it is not possible to grow Iceland moss, it is collected in its wild form.
Effect and application
Iceland moss can be consumed in several ways. The plant is especially common as a tea or lozenge. Both products can usually be purchased at the pharmacy. In order for Iceland moss to exert its healing effects, it must come into contact with the mucous membrane in the mouth and especially the tonsils and throat. Accordingly, capsules for swallowing can not be recommended. Often the plant can be found in cough remedies in combination with other medicinal plants. These include, in particular, lime blossoms, thyme and primrose flowers. Those who suffer from cough or gastrointestinal catarrh can thus prepare a tea. This should consist of about four to six grams of Iceland moss per day. About one teaspoon of the plant can be used for each cup. If an existing cough irritation is to be relieved, the infusion with warm water is sufficient. Those who want to promote the expectoration of phlegm can resort to hot water. After about 10 to 30 minutes, remove the remaining components of Iceland moss. Depending on taste, the tea can be sweetened. If there is a lack of appetite, make a cold extract from the plant. The Iceland moss is placed in cold water and left to steep for about three to five hours. In this way, the bitter substances dissolve, so the taste is often perceived as more pleasant. The daily dosage should be about one to two grams. After the infusion time, the Iceland moss is removed. If necessary, the tea can now be warmed. It should be drunk half an hour before the next meal. Iceland moss can either be collected by yourself or bought in specific stores. However, some experts advise against collecting the lichen on one’s own. After the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, radioactive contamination of Iceland moss was detected. Products from the pharmacy are tested for residues before purchase. Only the vegetation body (thallus) is suitable for medical use. This is all the components of the plant that are above ground.
Importance for health, treatment and prevention.
Iceland moss has numerous medicinal effects. These are based, first of all, on its ingredients, which include mainly mucilage in a concentration of about 50 percent. In addition, lichen acids can be found in the tapes. Iceland moss is used, for example, for mucous membrane irritations. The inflamed region is enveloped by the mucilage.In this way, all the sore spots that often cause pain during a sore throat are under a kind of seal. The irritation can calm down and subside. Due to the sealing and antibiotic properties of the plant, the pathogens cannot multiply further. Instead, their population is greatly restricted, which contributes to faster healing. The decisive factor here is mainly the usnic acid of the Iceland moss. In addition, the immune system is strengthened because it does not have to fight the germs alone. Overall, Iceland moss has a supportive effect on irritation of the mucous membranes. Dry irritated cough can be alleviated in a similar way with the plant. Irritated coughs are more noticeable in the case of inflamed respiratory tract. Sometimes it manifests itself in the form of coughing attacks. The mucilage forms a veil over the irritated and inflamed regions. Foreign bodies that pass through the throat during breathing are much less likely to get stuck in the affected areas, which relieves discomfort. In the context of loss of appetite, Iceland moss can also help. The bitter-tasting lichen acids lead to an increased production of digestive juices. Already in the mouth begins a greater production of saliva. The stomach prepares for the arrival of food by moving its muscles faster. In this way the appetite is stimulated. There are no known interactions or side effects due to the use of Iceland moss.
