PDR for Herbal Medicines

HERBAL MONOGRAPHS ICELAND MOSS 415

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: Preparations of Hyssop herb are used for the

gentle stimulation of circulation, for intestinal catarrhs, for

diseases of the respiratory tract, colds, chest and lung

ailments.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

General: No health hazards are known in conjunction with

the proper administration of designated therapeutic dosages.

Isolated cases of tonic-clonic spasms have been observed

among adults after intake of 10 to 30 drops of the volatile oil

over a number of days (2 to 3 drops for children).

Pregnancy: Not to be used during pregnancy.

DOSAGE

Mode of Administration: Hyssop herb preparations are

available as capsules for internal use.

How Supplied:

Capsules — 445 mg

LITERATURE

Joulain D, (1979) Riv Ital Ess Prof Piante Off Ar Sap Cosm

48:479.

Kern W. List PH, Horhammer L (Hrsg.), Hagers Handbuch der

Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 4. Aufi., Bde. 1-8, Springer Verlag

Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1969.

Leung AY, Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used

in Food. Drugs and Cosmetics, John Wiley & Sons Inc., New

York 1980.

Madaus G, Lehrbuch der Biologischen Arzneimittel, Bde 1-3,

Nachdruck, Georg Olms Verlag Hildesheim 1979.

Opdyke DU, (1978) Food Cosmet Toxicol 16 (Suppl. 1):787.

Hyssopus officinalis

See Hyssop

Iberis amara

See Bitter Candytuft

Iceland Moss
Cetraria islandica
DESCRIPTION
Medicinal Parts: The medicinal part is the dried thalius
commonly known as Iceland Moss.

Flower and Fruit: Cetraria islandica is a lichen that grows on

the ground and has a stiff, curling thalius. The thalius is from

2 to 6 cm high, erect, dichotomously branched, with a 1 to 10

cm wide section. The upper surface is olive-brown-green or

brown, the underside is whitish to light brownish. The

margins are covered in 0.5 mm long papilla, which contain

the reproductive parts.

Characteristics: Iceland Moss tastes bitter, and when wet,

has a smell reminiscent of seaweed.

Habitat: Grows in the boreal, alpine and Arctic regions of

the Northern Hemisphere and in some regions of the

Southern Hemisphere.

Production: Iceland Moss consists of the dried thalius of

Cetraria islandica as well as its preparations. It is collected in

the wild, then air-dried, moistened, cut and re-dried.

Other Names: Iceland Lichen, Cetraria. Eryngo-Leaved

Liverwort

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Mucilages, glucans (50%): lichenan (lichenan). isolichenan

(isolichenan)

Aromatic lichen acids (2-3%): fumarprototcetraric acid,

protocetraric acid, cetraric acid

Aliphatic lichen acids (1.0-1.5%): esp. protolichesteric acid

EFFECTS

The bitter organic acids have an antibiotic effect. It is also a

demulcent and a mild antimicrobial.

The drug has an demulcent effect due to the sesquitering

action of the polysaccharides. An ethanol precipitation of the

aqueous extract containing lichenan and isolichenan demon-

strated an antitumoural effect in animal tests.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Approved by Commission E:

• Cough/bronchitis


• Dyspeptic complaints


• Inflammation of the mouth and pharynx r


• Loss of appetite

Unproven Uses: Iceland Moss is also used for irritation of

the oral and pharyngeal mucous membranes; loss of appetite

and gastroenteritis (the bitter organic acids). In folk medi-

cine, the drug has been used for lung disease, kidney and

bladder complaints, gastric conditions, nausea and vomiting

(in particular in pregnancy and with migraine), bronchitis,

whooping cough and diarrhea. It is also used externally for

poorly healing wounds.