Medicinal Lichens: the Final Frontier by Brian Kie Weissbuch, L.Ac., RH (AHG)
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J A H G Volume 12 | Number 2 Journal of the American Herbalists Guild 23 MATERIA MEDICA MATERIA Medicinal Lichens: The Final Frontier by Brian Kie Weissbuch, L.Ac., RH (AHG) erbalists of myriad traditions article discusses recent scienti!c research Brian Kie Weissbuch L.Ac., AHG, is an acupuncturist have explored the healing indicating important uses for well-known lichens in private practice since properties of life-forms from at (Cetraria islandica and Usnea spp.) as well as less 1991. Brian is a botanist least !ve kingdoms: Monera familiar species (Flavoparmelia caperata and and herbalist with 44 years (bacteria)*, Protista (algae), Lobaria pulmonaria ). experience, and is co- Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia *Recall the ancient Nubians’ crafting of founder of KW Botanicals H Inc. in San Anselmo, CA, (the latter being primarily the domain of TCM medicinal beers, rich in tetracycline from the providing medicinal herb practitioners, who use gecko, snake, oyster shell, soil-borne Streptomyces bacteria found on the brewers’ formulae to primary health various insects, and other animal-derived grain (Nelson et al 2010). This medicine was given to care practitioners since 1983. substances). Nevertheless, with few exceptions, children as well as adults. He provides continuing herbalists have neglected an important life-form in education seminars to our medicines: the symbiotic intersection of algae Cetraria islandica, C. spp. The Iceland acupuncturists, and classes in herbal medicine for herbalists and fungi with a history of over 600 million years Mosses and health care practitioners. on our wayward planet —the lichens. Any discussion of edible and medicinal lichens He can be reached at brian@ How little we know of this symbiotic life- must begin with Cetraria islandica and allied kwbotanicals.com. form, the pioneer community on bare rock that Cetraria species, better known as the Iceland begins the process of soil creation, creating an mosses. These include Cetraria chlorophylla and environment for deep-rooted organisms! Beatrix Cetraria platyphylla, growing here on the northern Potter attempted to introduce her research on California coast at low altitude. The common lichens, suggesting algae’s symbiotic relationship name throws us a curve ball, as these are not with fungi, to the Linnaean Society over 100 years mosses at all. Mosses are true plants, albeit ago; they wouldn’t entertain the then-radical primitive, without vascular tissue, bearing spores notion of symbiosis, and certainly would never but no seeds. Nor are these lichens necessarily allow a woman to present a technical paper before from Iceland or points north in the Arctic. Rather, this solidly male organization. The Linnaean these are temperate and arctic lichens, with various Society posthumously apologized to Ms. Potter species growing throughout the Northern about 10 years ago. (Rejected but thankfully not Hemisphere. C. islandica itself can be found dejected, Beatrix gave us Peter Rabbit and friends.) throughout northern Canada and Alaska, into the As we learn more about the medicinal southern Rockies, New England, and south into properties of the lichens, I believe this oft- Appalachia; and on to Great Britain, Ireland, overlooked life-form will achieve greater Scandinavia, and of course, Iceland. This is the prominence in our herbal pharmacopoeia. This primary winter forage of caribou, and is a staple in 24 J A H G Volume 12 | Number 2 Journal of the American Herbalists Guild Cetraria is a great Yin tonic, replenishing "uids and vital substance for those recuperating from chronic or serious illness, yet addresses chronic MATERIA MEDICA MATERIA diarrhea via an atypical astringency. It improves digestion, stimulates appetite, and allays dyspepsia. Its bitter antibiotic principle makes it well suited to inclusion in formulae treating Helicobactor pylori (Ingolfsdottir et al 1997). Cetraria was an important ingredient in HIV+/AIDS formulas I created in the early 1980s. It was one of the herbs that showed promise as an antiviral in laboratory and clinical studies, and had demonstrated e$cacy in reducing replication of the AIDS virus (Pengsuparp et al 1995). Protocetraric, cetraric, lichenostearic, and other organic acids are the bitter components responsible for the Damp Heat-clearing, anti- microbial activity of this lichen (Igoli et al 2014). Cetraria was also a component of formulae I made for AIDS patients with MAI (Mycobacterium avium intracellulare complex, also known as MAC), an antibiotic-resistant close relative of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. That MAI, an opportunistic infection Iceland moss, “Cetraria northern latitudes, being mixed with "our to bake once most commonly seen in patients with severe islandica 290808” by Bernd bread or make porridge. immune de!ciencies, is now seen in patients Haynold, CC BY SA 3.0 As medicine, Cetraria !lls an important without HIV or cancer, may mean that either MAI niche. It’s a wonderful pectoral, allaying cough, is becoming more virulent, or people are becoming and soothing sore throat and bronchial irritation. more immuno-compromised. MAI has been found Its polysaccharides provide a strong anti- lurking in the majority of shower heads tested microbial, anti-in"ammatory, and immune- (Feazel et al 2009)! I’m treating patients stimulating/immune-modulating remedy experiencing this condition with increasing (Freysdottir et al 2008; Kramer et al 1995). frequency. As with many herbs, concern over such Lichens: Paving the Way for Life on Earth The first life-forms of planet Earth evolved in to secrete acid to dissolve bare rock and anti-oxidants, the fungus protects itself the sea. Formation of landmasses challenged initiate soil formation, needed a partner and the algae or bacteria so well that these primitive oceanic organisms to adapt to provide energy; photosynthetic algae this partnership ages slowly; lichens can to this dry new environment. First came provided that sustenance. In return, fungi attain an age of 9,000 years living in harsh the fungi, emerging from their marine gave algae protection, as well as a continuous environments (Liebes et al 1998). Over environment to take up residence at the source of water via fungal water storage time, lichens dissolve rock, and in concert terrestrial edge of fresh and salt water, during dry spells, and a constant supply of with rain, freeze and thaw, sunlight, and utilizing dead material as a food source. Next minerals. The product of this symbiosis is the oxygen, begin to render that which makes came the algae, developing thickened cell organism we commonly know as “lichen.” our lives possible: the soil. So when we walls as a vital adaptation to avoid dessication And oh how they do thrive together! think of “be fruitful and multiply,” we can on dry land. Then something remarkable Over 25,000 free living fungal species have thank this ancient pioneer community happened: the two life-forms teamed up to allied with algae and cyanobacteria to form from two divergent kingdoms of life. create a composite organism. Fungi, able lichen. Elaborating colorful terpenoids as J A H G Volume 12 | Number 2 Journal of the American Herbalists Guild 25 MATERIA MEDICA MATERIA radicals and superoxide anions, and have anticancer activity against melanoma and colon “Flavoparmelia caperata carcinoma, and antimicrobial activity (Manojlović 240112” (left) by Jason Hollinger, CC BY-SA 3.0. et al 2012). Usnea spp.: Pharmacognosy, Clinical Uses, and Toxicology A global perspective of the genus Usnea requires taking a step back, and observing the order Lecanorales, suborder Lecanorineae, families Lecanoriaceae and Parmeliaceae (the latter including the genera Usnea and Cetraria). Humans have a long history of economic usage of lichens in this suborder. Lecanora esculenta is believed to be the Biblical “manna from heaven” (Exodus 16) as biblical quantities of this edible lichen can blow upon the wind, depositing thick mats in Middle Eastern deserts. In times of famine, Lecanora provides sustenance by way of carbohydrate pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic calories and some mineral and amino-acid interactions as induction and suppression of nutrients until a source of protein can be secured. cytochrome P450 (CYP) hepatic enzymes, Among genera in the suborder Lecanorineae, P&Glycoprotein (P-gp), and organic anion- families Parmeliaceae, Ramalinaceae, and transporting polypeptides (OATPs), and receptor Lecanoriaceae, we !nd that many species of binding, led to discontinuation of these formulae Cladonia, Lecanora, Ramalina, Evernia, Parmelia, with the advent of the pharmaceutical “triple cocktail.” Usnea longissima (left) has been categorized as rare and Flavoparmelia caperata endangered in some localities The Common Green Shield Lichen of northern California, Oregon, and Washington (Parmeliaceae family) state. Unless you know this Despite the word “common” being part of its species is locally common and name, this is a lesser known, perhaps even widespread in your area, do downright obscure lichen, likely one few botanists not harvest! It’s best to walk with a lichenologist to get an or herbalists would recognize in the !eld. overview of lichen ecology, (Depending upon its habitat, Flavoparmelia can morphology, and taxonomy. vary from pale yellow-green, to blue-gray-green, to Note that all Usnea spp. have bright lime green. For a botanical description of a tri-layer structure: an axis which is elastic (critical for this lichen, visit http://eol.org/data_ keying out), and a cortex and objects/10547609.)