PDR for Herbal Medicines

778/TISSILAGO FARFARA PDR FOR HERBAL MEDICINES

Tussilago farfara

See Colt's Foot

Ulmus minor

See Elm Bark

Ulmus rubra

See Slippery Elm

Uncaria species

See Gambir

Uncaria tomentosa

See Cat's Claw

Urginea indica

See Indian Squill

Urginea maritima

See Squill

Urtica dioica

See Stinging Nettle

Usnea

Usnea species

DESCRIPTION
Medicinal Parts: Research into this species is not yet
complete, making it difficult to establish which lichens are
used for the extraction of which drug, and which lichens
have been described by earlier botanists.

Flower and Fruit: Mycelia flourishes on a variety of trees

(on the trunk, branches branchlets) as a whitish, reddish, or

black lichen.

Habitat: Usnea is found worldwide in cool, damp places.

Production: Usnea consists of the dried thallus of Usnea

species, primarily of Usnea barbata, Usnea florida, Usnea

hirta and Usnea plicata.

Other Names: Tree Moss, Old Man's Beard, Beard Moss

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Lichen acids (polyketides): including among others (+)-usnic

acid, thamnolic acid (hirtellic acid), usnaric acid (salazinic

acid), lobaric acid, stictinic acid, protocetraric acid, everninic

acid, barbatinic acid (rhizonic acid), diffractaic acid (dirhi-

zonic acid), barbatolic acid. The lichen acid spectrums of the

different species vary from one another, with usnic acid the

chief constituent.

Mucilage

EFFECTS

The drug is antimicrobial.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Approved by Commission E:

• Inflammation of the mouth and pharynx

Unproven Uses: The species are used for mild inflammation

of the oral and pharyngeal mucosa.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction

with the proper administration of designated therapeutic

dosages. Following overdosage, signs of poisoning could

appear. These signs have yet to be described.

DOSAGE

Mode of Administration: The drug is available as lozenges

and equivalent solid forms of medication.

Daily Dose: The daily dose is 600 mg. For lozenge

preparations, use the equivalent of 100 mg of herb; take 1

lozenge 3 to 6 times daily.

LITERATURE

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

Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 4. Aufl., Bde 1-8: Springer Verlag

Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1969.

Okuyama E et al., Usnic acid and diffractic acid as analgesic

and antipyretic components of Usnea diffracta. In: PM

61(2): 113-115. 1995.

Roth L, Daunderer M. Kormann K. Giftpflanzen, Pflanzengifte,

4. Aufl.. Ecomed Fachverlag Landsberg Lech 1993.