Usnea: Immune System Tonic
Our Usnea Extract may help your body heal from pneumonia, bronchitis, strep throat, colds and flu, and kidney, bladder and urinary tract infections. Usnea may also benefit people with chronic illness due to depressed immunity like chronic fatigue, reoccurring skin disorders, herpes and HIV.
At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, I started harvesting more Usnea than normal and making extra Usnea Extract. This is because Usnea’s antiviral and antibiotic properties are specific to excess fluid in the lungs.
Usnea is an immune system tonic. It can be used along with or instead of Echinacea. Usnea is more specific for strep and staph infections than Echinacea, and its antibiotic properties are most specific to the respiratory and urinary systems. Use it to help heal respiratory and sinus infections, bronchitis, pneumonia, strep throat, colds, flues, as well as urinary tract, kidney, and bladder infections.
Our Usnea Extract may benefit women with yeast infections, trichonomosas, bacterial vaginosis, and chlamydia. It can be helpful for people with chronic fatigue, HIV, herpes, and other chronic conditions related with depressed immunity.
Our Usnea Extract has properties that are both water and alcohol soluble. First I fill a jar with fresh fallen Usnea and pour 100 proof vodka on top. I let it mascerate for at least six weeks before straining the plant material from the alcohol. Next I take the same plant material and put it in a pot on my stove with a small amount of water and let it simmer for about 20 minutes. This is called a decoction. To complete the process, I take my usnea extract and usnea decoction and combine them at a 4:1 ratio and am left with a powerful yet gentle herbal antibiotic and immune tonic. I can use my Usnea Extract both internally and topically. Our Usnea Extract has no contraindications and is safe for children, adults, and pets.
