Icelandic moss - medicinal properties and contraindications. How to brew Icelandic cough moss? The use of Icelandic moss in folk medicine What makes Icelandic moss in terms of gynecology

Icelandic moss is widely used in folk medicine in different countries. Initially, the plant was positioned as an antiemetic or antitussive agent. However, the fusion of the traditions of the populists in combination with different methods of traditional medicine made it possible to expand the scope of the plant.

Botanical characteristics of lichen

Icelandic moss (Cetraria) belongs to the Paramelia family. It is a lichen growing up to 10-15 cm in height. The body of the moss is represented by the thallus, which is attached to the bark of trees with the help of rhizoids. The branches are always curved, the width is 2 cm. Habitat:

Favorite places - sunny area on forest edges and plains. The plant also grows in Russia. The upper segment of the plant is colored in different shades of the green palette. The bottom is always brown.

The healing composition of Icelandic moss

Researchers began to actively engage in Icelandic moss, discovering new amazing qualities of this plant. Since this is not a herb or tree, but an unusual form of lichen, the chemical composition of the plant is also interesting. Moss contains many of these components:

The last component has special properties - it neutralizes the pathological activity of the causative agent of tuberculosis. Acids have an intense antimicrobial effect. Phyto products based on moss are used in the fight against staphylococci and streptococci.

Special qualities of Icelandic moss

Based on the components that form the composition of the plant, we can conclude how popular Icelandic moss is, the indications for the use of lichen are quite wide. The mucus itself is prized for its anti-inflammatory and enveloping qualities.

Brew lichen recommended for inflammatory processes of the upper respiratory tract.

Bitterness, which is especially rich in moss extract, improve the digestive process. Against the background of the normalization of the main processes in the gastrointestinal tract, appetite is stimulated, food habits are corrected.

Moss based drug applications

Icelandic moss was most often given to children as an antitussive drug, and to adults as an anti-vomiting drug. All plant fragments are suitable for therapeutic purposes. The main effects of lichen:

The medicinal qualities of moss make it possible to solve several problems at once. For example, you can take a syrup or brew dry moss as a tea for a cough. This will also stimulate the immune response at the cellular level.

Icelandic moss is a popular ingredient in many herbal teas used to solve a variety of problems.

The benefits of lichen are invaluable. The combination of its key therapeutic qualities allows it to be incorporated into a wide variety of wellness regimens. This is one of the few drugs, the effectiveness of which is recognized by the representatives of official medicine.

What diseases does Icelandic moss treat?

Lichen-based medicine, as a rule, contains starch, as well as a number of substances with pronounced anti-inflammatory qualities. This combination helps to quickly get rid of burns and skin rashes, accelerates the healing of ulcers.

Other indications:

In some schemes, cetraria is used as a remedy to combat excess weight. It is noteworthy that you can drink a lichen-based decoction or syrup, both to stimulate appetite (when necessary) and to suppress excessive hunger.

Active medicinal components help to normalize eating behavior, adjusting it in accordance with the needs of the body.

In dentistry, cetrasept and other tinctures with the addition of an extract are actively used to relieve mucous membranes.

Yagel, parmelia, tsetraria are lichens that are actively used by the modern pharmaceutical industry for the production of medicinal products.

The most famous preparations based on Icelandic moss

Moss thallus can be purchased at the pharmacy. This is a good raw material from which a decoction, tincture, extract is prepared. Ready-made pharmacological products are also available for buyers:

Live moss is not used due to the impracticality of such raw materials. In dried form, it is sold in almost any pharmacy. There are no contraindications to the use of any form of Icelandic moss. An exception is the individual intolerance of the components that form the composition of a particular medication.

How to make your own Icelandic moss medicine

Decoctions, infusions, teas, ointments are prepared from dry lichen thallus at home. Preparation of medicinal products can be quite simple. However, everyone gets the opportunity to drink a fresh medicinal product at any convenient time. Basic cooking methods:

All of the options listed above can be used for adults and assigned to children. The alcoholic recipe is only relevant for patients over 18 years of age. The preparation method is simple - 40 grams of dry Icelandic moss is poured with 250 ml of alcohol (60%). Infuse the mixture for a week. Take the remedy 10-15 drops a day.

Icelandic moss analogs

Preparations based on Icelandic moss are most often used in the fight against colds, to weaken coughs and protect mucous membranes. All drugs are mid-priced drugs.

Some products are positioned as expensive products with an exclusive composition and completely natural origin. They are trying to replace ready-made pharmaceutical products with Icelandic moss with available analogues.

The healing properties of Icelandic moss, recipes, reviews on the use were first described in the folk herbalists of Sweden, Norway, Iceland. The Scandinavian peoples used cetraria for colds, indigestion, to strengthen the body after exhaustion. Also, infusions were used to treat skin for burns, cracks, wounds. In the twentieth century, the antibacterial properties and anti-tuberculosis effect of lichen were discovered. It is included in the pharmacopoeia of many countries, including Russia. It is used to prepare syrup, lozenges, creams and balms for external use.

Features of Icelandic moss

What is Icelandic lichen? How to procure it correctly and where to collect it? What are the beneficial substances and pharmacological properties of this plant? Does he have any contraindications?

Botanical characteristic

Icelandic cetraria. Botanical illustration from the book "Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen", 1887.

From a botanical point of view, the correct name for this plant is lichen, not moss. In fact, it is a living organism that consists of green algae and mushroom filaments. It is a small bush no more than 15 cm high - forked, with a leaf thallus, curved, grooved blades resembling deer antlers. The color of the thallus can be different: olive green, brown, greenish gray, brown, light brown, with white blotches. It depends on weather conditions and area. Thallus are attached to tree trunks, old stumps or the ground with special hairs (rhizoids). Refers to polymorphic species, that is, its color, the size of the blades depends on light and humidity.

Cetraria moss grows slowly and only in an ecologically clean area. Lichen reacts to contaminated soil, water, air. This is a kind of indicator of environmental cleanliness. If the natural ecosystem is disturbed, Icelandic moss does not grow and gradually dies out.

Area

What is the distribution area of reindeer moss? Loves high-mountain tundra, forest-tundra, peat bogs, swamps, coniferous forests with open sunny areas. It takes root on rocky soil. In addition to the Eurasian continent, it is found in Africa, Australia and North America. Where does it grow in Russia? Most often it can be seen in the forest-tundra zone of Siberia, in the tundra of the Far North, in the Far East, in the highlands of Altai and Sayan. In the European part, lichen can be found in the Leningrad, Arkhangelsk, Kostroma and Bryansk regions (Russian Polesie), in the forests of Karelia.

Blank

Icelandic cetraria forms thickets, often grows with other lichens. Due to the fact that this valuable species is slowly growing and dying out due to unfavorable ecology, a sparing collection is recommended. How to carry it out?

Time . Best harvested in summer or autumn. It is important that the weather is dry. Wet lichen is extremely difficult to dry. Some healers believe that the plant can be harvested all year round.
Way . It is necessary to choose dense thickets (layers) of lichen, but you should not remove everything completely. Moss is picked by hand, it breaks off quite easily from the soil or stump, then it is well cleaned of sand and earth. Do not wash before drying!
Drying. Dry moss must be dried quickly in order to preserve useful substances in it as much as possible. Healers advise drying the lichen in the wind and open space. However, excess sunlight negatively affects the healing properties of the plant. Dry in verandas and attics in humid weather.

Raw materials are laid out in linen bags, protected from sunlight and dampness, stored for 2 years.

pharmachologic effect

The healing properties of Icelandic moss:

antibacterial;
enveloping;
expectorant;
calming;
emollient;
choleretic;
fortifying;
tonic;
appetizing;
wound healing;
immunostimulating;
cleansing.

Useful material:

carbohydrates;
mineral salts and trace elements;
mucus (lichenin, isolichenin);
bitterness;
fats;
wax;
volatiles;
organic acids.

The nutritional properties of lichen are attributed to its high glucose and galactose content. It is not only a medicine, but also an energetically valuable food that can save you from hunger in the tundra. In addition, the plant is famous for its high content of enzymes, vitamins B and A, iodine. Usnic organic acid in its composition is a natural antibiotic.

Indications

When is Icelandic moss treatment most effective? For what diseases is it most often prescribed?

Icelandic cough moss... This is the main use of lichen, recognized not only in folk but also in scientific medicine. Usnic lichen acid prevents the growth of tubercle bacilli, therefore it is the most effective herbal remedy for tuberculosis. It can also be taken for chronic bronchitis, bronchial asthma, whooping cough. Tsetraria softens obsessive cough, relieves its attacks. In addition, it can suppress staphylococcal, streptococcal activity, helps with a cold of a viral and bacterial nature.
For digestive disorders... Icelandic cetraria contains a lot of mucus, which has an enveloping, soothing effect. Therefore, it is useful to drink it with inflammation of the digestive tract, indigestion. An effective remedy for stomach ulcers, infectious diarrhea. Acts as a choleretic agent, improves digestion due to the high content of enzymes and bitterness, increases appetite, stimulates intestinal motility.
External use of Icelandic lichen... In case of sore throat (sore throat, pharyngitis, laryngitis) and oral mucosa (stomatitis, gingivitis), rinse procedures are prescribed. Also, decoctions and infusions are used to treat purulent wounds, burns, cracks, cuts, boils, skin rashes with allergies.
Benefits for men... In folk medicine, lichen is drunk to increase potency. They are also treated for bacterial prostatitis and other bacterial infections of the genitourinary tract.
For women . The folk remedy is not widely used in gynecology, however, with bacterial colpitis, it can be included in complex therapy. Also, the remedy is taken with mastopathy.
For kids . It is useful to drink for bronchitis, whooping cough, to relieve attacks of severe coughing. However, a doctor's consultation is required before use. It can also be used for topical treatment - skin treatment for atopic dermatitis, wounds, burns.
General tonic... Laboratory studies have shown that usnic acid also has immunostimulating properties. The tool strengthens the immune system, it is prescribed after operations and serious illnesses to restore the body and fast tissue regeneration.

What are the contraindications for Icelandic moss? These include autoimmune diseases, individual intolerance. Although children's age, pregnancy and lactation are not included in the list of contraindications, mandatory medical advice is required before use. It is also important to remember that usnic acid is a toxic substance. In case of an overdose, a long course, digestive disorders, pain in the liver are possible.

Preparation of home remedies and pharmaceutical preparations

What is the use of Icelandic cetraria at home? What medicines can be bought at the pharmacy? What dosage forms can you prepare yourself?

Pharmacy preparations

Decoction

Used internally and externally. Drink for all of the above diseases. For external use, more concentrated decoctions are acceptable.

Preparation

Take 1 tbsp. l. dry raw materials.
Pour 2 cups boiling water over.
Boil for 5 minutes.
Strain.

Take warm in the form of 1 tbsp. spoon 3 to 5 times a day. Also, the broth is taken for weight loss.

How to brew Icelandic moss for a cough

Take 2 tsp. raw materials.
Fill with a glass of cold water.
Bring to a boil over low heat.
Strain.

You can drink 1 glass 2-3 times a day. It is useful to take this tea with honey or prepare it in milk instead of water. Also, when coughing, it is recommended to drink a mixture of herbs in equal parts: Icelandic moss and coltsfoot. It is especially useful to drink in the morning: it relieves coughing attacks, promotes the discharge of stagnant sputum. For whooping cough, it is recommended to prepare tea from cetraria and thyme (1: 1); for stomach ulcers - with flax seeds (1: 1); with impotence - with lemon balm, orchis, toadflax; for joint diseases - with melissa, linden, birch, lemon balm in equal proportions.

Infusion

How to prepare Icelandic cough moss without boiling it? For this, the raw materials are poured with cold water and only brought to a boil. Infusions are recommended to be taken for diseases of the respiratory and gastrointestinal tract. They are also drunk as a tonic, tonic and sedative.

Infusion recipe

Take 4 tbsp. l. raw materials.
Pour in ½ liter of water.
Bring to a boil.
Insist 10 minutes.
Strain.

You can take 1 tbsp. l. 3-5 times a day. When cooled, the infusions and broth turn into a jelly-like mass (jelly).

Tincture

It can be used internally for diarrhea, gastrointestinal diseases, severe coughing fits, to strengthen immunity and normalize appetite. Topically used as an antiseptic for the oral cavity and skin.

Preparation

Take 50 g of dry crushed raw materials.
Pour a glass of alcohol 60 or 70%.
Insist in a dark place for 7 days.
Strain.

You can take 15 drops, 3 times a day. Alcohol tincture is contraindicated for children.

Cosmetology

What is the use of Icelandic moss in cosmetology? This remedy is prescribed internally in the form of decoctions or infusions for problematic skin of the face: acne, acne, boils. Cetraria is prized for its antiseptic, tonic, emollient and antibacterial properties. Water infusions for problem skin can be used as a lotion. The lichen contains a huge supply of vitamins and minerals - vitamins of group B, A, iron, nickel, manganese, zinc, boron, molybdenum, copper. Therefore, it is useful to drink tsetraria decoctions to strengthen hair.

Cetraria (Icelandic moss) is a natural antibiotic and antiseptic. It is most often prescribed for respiratory diseases - bronchitis, bronchial asthma, tuberculosis, whooping cough. In addition, the remedy helps with inflammation of the digestive tract, quickly recovers strength after a serious illness, and strengthens the immune system.

Icelandic moss (Icelandic tsetraria) is a lichen of the Parmelia family. Grows in wetlands on the surface of the soil in well-lit areas.

Icelandic moss instantly reacts to changes in the ecosystem and acts as an excellent indicator of environmental pollution. This lichen was formed as a symbiosis of a fungus and green algae.

It grows in the wetlands of Russia, in particular: Siberia, Karelia, the Caucasus, Altai, Leningrad and Bryansk regions. Also found in other territories in Asia, Europe, Africa and Australia. As soon as the groundwater level decreases, the lichen dries up and goes into a state of suspended animation (a deep state of sleep with all signs of renewal of life), where it can stay for up to several years and, with the flow of moisture, renews itself in a few hours.

Icelandic moss grows on stumps, in swampy pine forests, on the soil surface, in forest tundra. As soon as the level of pollution of the external environment exceeds a certain mark, the lichen begins to die out. Even in ancient times, the Eskimos knew the healing properties and contraindications of Icelandic moss and prepared medicinal infusions and decoctions from it. Due to its bitter taste, it was added as a spice to dishes (fish, baked goods), used as an additive to alcoholic beverages.

If you soak moss in a baking soda solution, dry it and grind it into powder, you get an excellent flour for baking bread. To improve the taste, the powder was diluted in equal proportions with rye flour.

Icelandic moss medicinal properties and contraindications were the first to be noticed and used by the Scandinavian peoples for diseases of the respiratory tract, colds, for general strengthening of the body and disorders of the digestive system. For superficial treatment, it was used for burns, cracks and wounds on the skin. Already in the twentieth century, scientists discovered antibacterial properties and treatment of tuberculosis in Icelandic moss. Then lichen was introduced in many countries as a medicine with pharmacological properties. Various ointments, infusions, syrups for surface and oral treatment began to be prepared from it.

Morphological description

Lichen (forked branched) 10-15 cm high forms a rather dense cover on the soil surface. With the help of rhizoids (instead of roots) it is attached to the soil (tree stumps), through which it receives all the nutrients.

Cetraria consists of flat, grooved-rolled blades. The surface comes in different colors depending on the terrain, lighting and humidity: brown, olive green, gray-green, light to dark brown with white blotches. The underside is light (white). Growth is very slow, freezes with a decrease in humidity. The brown fruits are formed on the last lobes and are flat in shape with a diameter of 1.5 cm.

Chemical composition

Lichen is rich in vitamins and minerals:

carbohydrates (isolichenin, sucrose, glucose, galactose, lignin)
molybdenum, starch, fats, proteins, bitterness, aromatic volatiles
minerals such as: molybdenum, manganese, sodium, iodine, nickel, titanium, copper, chromium, boron
iridoid cetrin
enzymes
acids: usnic, lichesteric, protolichesteric, fumarprotocentric
it contains up to 70% mucus

The high nutritional properties of Icelandic moss are achieved thanks to the high amount of glucose and galactose.

In the USSR, studies of a drug based on Icelandic moss were carried out, which showed a positive result in the treatment of tubercle bacillus. Later, the process was stopped and no more scientific research was carried out.

In the mid-90s, a number of studies were carried out by foreign scientists in America, Japan, Austria, Iceland.

So Japanese scientists were able to find a positive effect after taking moss in combination with green tea, in particular for the treatment of cancer, thanks to the acids contained in lichen, which suppress enzymes and are actively involved in the metabolism of cancer cells.

It has also been proven to have a rejuvenating effect on the body, which slows down the aging of skin cells.

Icelandic moss - medicinal properties and indications

Today, Icelandic moss is widely used for internal and external treatment.

The plant possesses:

antiseptic,
expectorant
tonic,
antibacterial,
antimicrobial,
enveloping
laxative
wound healing
anti-inflammatory,
choleretic effect.

Due to this, Icelandic moss is recognized by traditional medicine and is widely used as a main additive to medicines.

Due to its expectorant properties, Icelandic moss is used to treat severe coughs, bronchitis, and bronchial asthma.
Medicines are used to treat pneumonia, pleurisy, whooping cough, and suppresses staphylococcal and streptococcal infections.
The usnic acid (a natural antibiotic) contained in the composition affects the tubercle bacillus. The syrup helps to heal various bacterial diseases, especially those associated with the respiratory system, throat (tonsillitis, laryngitis, pharyngitis).
Rinse is prescribed for inflammation of the oral mucosa (stomatitis, gingivitis).
Icelandic cetraria has a beneficial effect on the influenza virus, rhinovirus, adenovirus, cytomegalovirus.
Lignin eliminates inflammatory processes, affecting the very cause. Lignin extract stimulates the synthesis of the cytokine IL-10.
Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. It is recommended to take the drug for gastritis and stomach ulcers, it has a beneficial effect on intestinal disorders, diarrhea, constipation, creating an enveloping effect due to the presence of a high concentration of mucus, bitterness and enzymes.
The medicine is prescribed for inflammation of the stomach (intestines).
For various skin diseases: boils, purulent inflammation, acne, trophic ulcers, burns, the broth is used superficially.

Application in traditional medicine

Icelandic moss is used in folk medicine as a general tonic for poor appetite, dystrophy, general depletion of the body, and premature aging. It is recommended to undergo a recovery course after serious illnesses, operations, etc.

Icelandic moss is allowed for children and is prescribed for whooping cough, bronchitis, asthma, burns and rashes.
For men, traditional medicine recommends taking decoctions and infusions to increase potency, treat prostatitis and bacterial infections of the genitourinary system.
For women for the treatment of mastopathy, weight loss.

Icelandic moss is used as a food supplement as a herbal collection with chamomile, thyme, calendula, sage, elderberry. More than 70% of mucous substances, which include lichenin and isolichenin, are starch. Components are extracted from raw materials by heating, then cooling until a gelatinous mass is formed.

Even in ancient times, it was eaten as a supplement with honey. Moss was boiled in sheep's milk to obtain a thick jelly. This jelly cleanses the blood, lymph, promotes digestion, and acts as an anti-inflammatory agent. Poultices were used to quickly heal wounds. For children, moss served as a diaper substitute.

Instructions for the use of Icelandic moss, dosage forms

The drug is available in several forms and is provided in the form of syrup, cream, lozenges and dry raw materials. Instructions for use include the course of treatment, dose and possible contraindications. Let us consider in detail each of the forms of the pharmaceutical drug.

Syrups (Herbion, Pectolvan)

The composition also includes a number of herbal active ingredients. It is often prescribed to children after 4 and 12 years of age, depending on the drug for dry cough, respiratory tract infections. The syrup acts as a sedative, enveloping, analgesic and expectorant.

It is prescribed to children after 1 year of age with a number of contraindications (the postoperative period associated with the gastrointestinal tract, or the urinary system, with heart and kidney disease, inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract). The dosage and duration of treatment is recommended to be taken after a doctor's prescription.

Daily dose:

1-4 years - 10 ml
5-10 years old - 20 ml
10-16 years old - 40 ml
After 16 years 60 ml

This rate is divided into 3-4 doses throughout the day. The syrup is washed down with water or warm tea. On the 5th day of the course, there should be a noticeable improvement in the condition.

His admission is allowed for children over 12 years old. The composition includes plant components that have anti-inflammatory effects. Prescribed for bronchitis, pneumonia, ARVI. Drops according to the instructions for use are dissolved in 50-100 ml of water and taken 3 times a day after meals.

Dosage, daily dose:

12-14 years old - 30 drops
14-16 years old - 60 drops
After 16 years - 90-100 drops per day.

The average course of treatment is 2 weeks. But there are contraindications described above.

Absorbable Lozenges (Isla-moos)

They are used for dry cough, bronchitis, inflammation of the upper respiratory tract, inflammation of the mucous membrane and vocal cords, sore throat and as a general tonic. Allowed for adults and children over 4 years old.

The tablets must be slowly absorbed and do not drink liquids after 30-60 minutes.

4-10 years old - no more than 3 tablets per day, every 4-5 hours, half a tablet
10-16 years old - 1 tablet every 4 hours, no more than 5 tablets per day
From 16 years old - 1 tablet every 3 hours, no more than 8 pcs. per day

No contraindications were noted except for individual intolerance or hypersensitivity to the drug.

Topical skin cream with local heating effect

The composition includes: honey, beeswax, calendula, eucalyptus, bear fat.

It is prescribed for coughs, joint pains, colds, various bruises, dislocations, wounds and cracks. The cream is applied to the surface of the skin and rubbed thoroughly. For colds, the cream is applied and rubbed into the chest area. For back problems, the cream is applied and rubbed along the spine.

In pharmacies, you can buy a dry modified form as raw materials. It is often used in folk medicine for the preparation of various decoctions and infusions, as well as compresses, which include various herbal preparations.

Crystalline powder (sodium usninate)

Powdered crystals of cetrarium. They can be found on sale in the form of alcohol and oil tinctures and are intended for superficial treatment of wounds with burns, cracks, ulcers. The tincture is used as a wound healing, disinfectant and anesthetic.

Traditional medicine recipes

Icelandic moss whose medicinal properties are widely used in folk medicine in the form of decoctions of infusions and tinctures. Next, we will take a closer look at the preparation of recipes.

Making a decoction based on Icelandic moss

The decoction is applied orally and superficially for the use of various diseases described above.

Preparation:

1 tbsp. lies. Pour dry raw materials with 2 cups of water.
Put on low heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
Strain and drink 1 tbsp. lies. 3-5 times a day.
This broth is an excellent means for losing weight.

Broth for stomach ulcers

Ingredients:

dry Icelandic moss
crushed marshmallow root
flax seeds

Preparation:

Mix all ingredients in equal proportions.
2 tbsp. l. collecting pour 500 ml of water
Bring to a boil and boil for 10 minutes.
Cover and let it brew for 20 minutes.
Strain and drink 100 ml 3 times a day before meals for 30 minutes.

Icelandic cough moss

For children and adults, you can make a simple tea recipe and drink it warm throughout the day.

Preparation:

2 tbsp. l. Pour 1 liter of dry raw materials with water.
Boil for 20-30 minutes.
Strain and drink warm in a glass 5-6 times throughout the day.

Tea recipe for children

Often small children refuse to drink tea because of the bitter taste. But the broth can be prepared in milk.

1 tbsp. lies. pour 200 ml of milk.
Boil for 20 minutes.
Strain, cool and let the child drink warm in a glass (100 ml) in the morning and before bed.
The taste of the broth is sweet and the baby will happily drink it.

Pregnant women and children under 1 year old have not seen contraindications and addictions, but consult your doctor first.

Whooping cough treatment

Ingredients:

Icelandic moss
thyme

Preparation:

Take moss and thyme in equal proportions.
1 tsp collection, pour 250 ml of water.
Boil for 5 minutes, let cool, strain and drink this container warm.
Consume 3 times a day after meals.

Recipe for cleansing blood vessels

Decoction preparation:

Pour 200 g of boiling water over one teaspoon of chopped dried herbs.
Close tightly and let sit for at least 3-4 hours.
Strain and consume one tablespoon 3 to 5 times throughout the day.

Herbal decoction to cleanse blood vessels

Ingredients:

chamomile leaves
yarrow
Icelandic moss

Mix all components in equal proportions and pour boiling water over.
At 4 st. lies. collecting 250 ml of boiling water.
Close tightly and leave for 1 hour.
Strain and consume 1 tablespoon 3 times a day.
The course of treatment is 2 weeks.

Universal alcohol tincture

Cooking recipe:

Pour 2 tablespoons of dry raw materials with 200 ml of medical alcohol (in some cases use vodka), close tightly and leave for at least 1 week in a dry, dark place, periodically shake off the container.
Strain and take one teaspoon 3 times daily before meals, diluted in a glass of water.
The tincture is taken orally for indigestion, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, diarrhea, allergic cough, bronchitis with coughing fits, poor appetite and to strengthen the general condition of the body.
When applied externally, it is used as an antiseptic. Tincture gargle and rub the damaged skin.

Reception of tincture for children is strictly prohibited, there is a high probability of intoxication of the body.

Tuberculosis treatment

For treatment, an infusion of dry herbs is used.

Preparation:

Pour 2 tablespoons of the herb with a glass of boiling water.
Cover tightly and leave for 2 hours.
Strain and consume 3 tbsp. l. 3 times a day before meals, warm.
For children, take one teaspoon of infusion 3 times daily before meals.

Bronchitis treatment

Pour 1 tablespoon of dried raw materials with a glass of milk.
Bring to a boil, then close tightly and let sit for 30 minutes.
Drink this container warm before going to bed.

Preparation of a universal infusion

Cooking method:

4 tablespoons of raw materials pour 500 ml of boiling water
Cover and let it brew for 20 minutes until a thick, jelly-like consistency forms.
Strain and drink 1 tablespoon 5 times a day.

The infusion is especially effective for diseases of the respiratory and gastrointestinal tract. It also acts on the body as a tonic and sedative.

Icelandic moss for weight loss

To prepare the broth, you must:

Pour 1 tbsp. l. dry moss with a glass of boiling water, boil for 5 minutes.
Strain and drink warm in a glass in the morning at lunchtime and in the evening before meals.
The duration of the course has no restrictions, but it is better to alternate a two-week intake of a decoction with a few days off.

This is a great way to lose weight. The decoction is not essential in achieving the result, but along with the correct diet and exercise, you will undoubtedly get the desired result.

Treatment of prostatitis

Decoction recipe:

5 tbsp. l. dry Icelandic moss pour 1 liter of boiling water.
Cover and let it brew for 2 hours.
Then add 1 tsp. baking soda, stir and leave for 10 minutes.
Strain and add boiling water again to the previous volume.
Boil for 20 minutes, drain and let cool
Drink warm, dividing this container several times throughout the day.

Stomach atony

Decoction recipe:

Icelandic moss 4 tbsp. spoons pour 1 liter of water.
Boil for 30 minutes and let cool.
You should get a homogeneous thick consistency.
Take a glass 3-5 times a day before meals.
The course of treatment is 1 week.

Constipation treatment

Extract preparation:

100 g pour 1 liter of raw materials with boiled cooled water.
Cover and leave for 1 day.
Strain and simmer in a water bath until the capacity is halved.
Drink a glass 3 times a day 20 minutes before meals.

Pneumonia

Recipe:

Icelandic moss 2 tbsp. l. pour 0.5 liters of water.
Boil for 20 minutes, cover and leave for 30 minutes.
Strain and drink half a glass 3 times a day 30 minutes before meals.

Herbal collection for (chronic) rhinitis

Ingredients:

Icelandic moss
St. John's wort
sage
japanese sophora

Preparation:

Take 1 tbsp. a spoonful of dry raw materials of St. John's wort, sage, Japanese sophora and moss and pour 1 liter of boiled water.
Bring to a boil and leave for 1 hour.
Cool and strain before use.
The broth is used to rinse the nose, use a pear before going to bed, or gargle.
With the help of a decoction, inhalation is done. While simmering, breathe over a saucepan with steam for 10-15 minutes.

Allergy remedy

Preparation:

2 tbsp. l. dry moss, pour 250 ml of water and leave for 2 hours.
Drain and add 250 ml of boiling water, simmer over low heat for 20 minutes.
Strain and drink half a glass on an empty stomach.
The broth relieves puffiness, shortness of breath, helps with seasonal allergies.

Treatment of oncology with a collection of herbs

According to Japanese scientists, green tea cetraria is an excellent medicine for treating cancer and cleansing the body after chemotherapy.

Ingredients:

St. John's wort
Icelandic moss
knotweed
celandine
plantain
water pepper
nettle leaves
green tea

Preparation:

Take 2 parts of St. John's wort, Icelandic moss, knotweed, celandine and 3 parts of plantain, water pepper, nettle leaves.
4 tbsp. l. ready collection pour 1 liter of boiling water.
Boil for 20 minutes and drain.
Then mix with brewed green tea 1: 1 and drink a glass in the morning and evening before meals.

Icelandic moss for varicose veins

Varicose veins are one of the insidious and dangerous diseases; with the help of moss, puffiness can be significantly removed.

Ingredients:

Icelandic moss
horsetail arrows

Preparation:

4 tbsp. l. moss and horsetail shooter pour 1 liter of boiling water.
Boil for 10 minutes, drain and cool.
The broth is used to wipe the affected areas, it is also used for burns, wounds, cuts. Regular rubbing will make your skin supple.

Icelandic moss in cosmetology

Pour 1 tbsp. l. Icelandic moss 250 ml boiling water.
Boil for 5 minutes.
Strain, cool and can be used for superficial and oral treatments.

The prepared broth is used as a lotion for wiping problem areas of the skin, in particular for the treatment of wounds, after burns, purulent lesions, (adolescent) acne.

The broth is applied every day, several times. It is recommended to use after washing off cosmetics, rinse hair to prevent dandruff, lice, eliminate skin aging.

Collection and procurement of raw materials

The lichen harvest time is summer - autumn. Choose days without precipitation, wet moss is more difficult to dry. It is believed that Icelandic moss can be harvested all year round.

When you find moss, choose thick layers that are easy to separate from the soil or tree stump. Then it should be thoroughly cleaned of dirt and sand.

Icelandic moss is dried quickly to maximize its beneficial properties. A place for drying is chosen well ventilated, with shelter from direct sunlight. Blown verandas or attics work well. The lichen is laid out in one layer and periodically turned over during drying.

On cold gray days, you can use electric dryers, but the temperature should not exceed 50 degrees. Store dry raw materials in linen bags, protecting them from moisture and direct sunlight. Shelf life is no more than 2 years.

Contraindications

Icelandic moss has practically no contraindications, but still there are some restrictions.

These include:

Severe attacks of bronchial asthma
Intestinal hypertonicity
Ulcerative colitis, cholecystitis, pancreatitis
Inflammatory gastritis in the active phase
Hyperthermia over 39 degrees
Spastic constipation
Diseases associated with immunity
Individual intolerance
Children under 1 year old, up to 5 years old and up to 12 years old, depending on the drugs

Does not apply to contraindications:

Pregnancy
Lactation period
Allergic reactions to other drugs

In any case, be sure to first consult with your doctor before taking medications, or using traditional medicine recipes. Be healthy! And let the disease pass you by.

Many interesting plants are used in herbal medicine and pharmacology. One of them is Icelandic moss. It contains a lot of useful substances, which allows the plant to be used in the treatment of a wide range of diseases. Icelandic moss, the medicinal properties and contraindications of which have been thoroughly studied, is officially recognized as a pharmacological raw material. It is also successfully used for the manufacture of some pharmaceutical drugs.

Characteristic signs

Icelandic cetraria is the correct botanical name for Icelandic moss. Contrary to popular belief, cetraria is not a moss, but a lichen, from the Parmelia family. It is a low-growing shrub, greenish-brown in color. Depending on the growing conditions, it can have both a straight and creeping, branched stem. The lichen has no leaves; they are replaced by narrow leathery lobes framed by cilia. On the seamy side, each blade is covered with white spots through which the cetraria absorbs air. At the base of the blade is matte, bright red. A fully formed lichen is called a thallus. Its appearance is shown in the photo.

Biologically, Icelandic moss is not really a plant. It is a symbiont of microscopic fungi and algae. Cetraria is an epiphyte, that is, it does not have a pronounced root system. The plant is able to change the color and shape of the thallus. With a lack of moisture or light, the lichen acquires a dark brown hue, the blades stretch out and become narrower.

IMPORTANT! There is a common name mistake. Icelandic moss is often called Spanish, which is not true.

Habitat and features of growth

The plant is distributed throughout the world, but is more common in the northern regions. It grows in all climatic zones except arid regions. Cetraria also grows in Russia, in fairly large areas. You can meet her both in the central region and in Siberia, the Far East and the Caucasus. In Ukraine, Icelandic moss is found in the left-bank part of the country.

The lichen prefers sandy soils, on which it forms whole thickets. Prefers well-drained soil and lighting, does not tolerate drought. Placed on the border of forests, in open tundra areas and on peat bogs. He especially loves to settle in pine forests.

Icelandic moss, like any other lichen, is a kind of indicator of the ecological situation. It grows only in those areas where there is no pollution of water and soil, and harmful emissions into the atmosphere are minimal. If the pollution increases, the lichen dies out quickly.

Blank

Self-harvesting Icelandic moss does not require special skills, but must meet some requirements:

It is recommended to harvest the plant in late summer and until mid-autumn, during the dry period.
You need to choose large, fully formed thalli. Plants pluck by hand, breaking off only part of the thallus, without damaging the main stem and root system. Collect selectively so that no bald spots remain in the array.
It is necessary to dry the moss in a shaded, well-ventilated place. During the drying process, it must be protected from water ingress. For quick results, you can use a special thermo-dryer. Suitable for drying and oven, where raw materials must dry at a low temperature. Moss is not washed, only dust and large debris is shaken off. It is better to do this with a brush.
It is recommended to store dried moss in linen bags in a dark, cool place. Dry grass is stored for no more than 2 years, after which it loses most of its medicinal qualities.

ATTENTION! As Icelandic moss grows very slowly, the harvest must be gentle and gentle.

Chemical composition

Icelandic moss grows for a very long time, so biological elements are gradually concentrated in it. During the growth process, the following substances accumulate:

Carbohydrates (mucus), about 80%. These are polysaccharides (lichenin, isolichenin), as well as sugars (glucose, galactose).
Vitamins C, B 12.
Trace elements (lead, zinc, silicon, cadmium, tin).
Organic lichen acids (bitterness). These are lichesteric, usnic, proto- and paralichesteric, cetraric, proto- and fumaroprotocetraic acids. They have antibacterial and antiseptic properties, enhance immunity and stimulate the gastrointestinal tract.
Chitin. Promotes the normalization of peristalsis in the gastrointestinal tract, is a biological sorbent.
Gum.
Wax.
Protein.
Fats.
Pigments.

INTERESTING! Icelandic moss can be eaten as it contains a large amount of easily digestible carbohydrates. In 1918, in Moscow, the tsetraria was part of rye bread.

Therapeutic action and methods of treatment

What is useful and does the Lisland moss have medicinal properties? The recipes, reviews of which you have heard, have an effective effect for various diseases and pathologies. In folk medicine, it is used as an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory agent, recipes are in the form of tea, decoctions and tinctures. Icelandic moss is used, the indications for the use of which are quite extensive, in the following cases:

With broncho-pulmonary diseases

Usnic acid, found in lichen, is a powerful natural antibiotic. It is even effective against Koch's bacillus, the causative agent of tuberculosis. In folk medicine, a decoction is used, which softens cough, contributing to the thinning of phlegm and facilitates expectoration. It is used as part of complex treatment for bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma, whooping cough and tuberculosis.

Remedies for pathologies of the respiratory system

Recipe 1. To ease the patient's condition with bronchitis, pneumonia or during the treatment of bronchial asthma, a decoction of Icelandic moss will help. How to brew a plant correctly? The traditional broth is prepared as follows:

2 tbsp. l. dry moss pour 400 ml. boiling water.
Boil slowly in a water bath for at least 5 minutes.
Cool the finished broth for 30 minutes, then strain twice.

It is necessary to use a decoction of moss in a warm form. Drink 3 times a day, before meals, 100 ml. The course of treatment is from 5 days to 1 month.

Recipe 2. Icelandic moss helps against cough, emphysema and pulmonary tuberculosis, when the broth is prepared using the following technology:

2 tbsp. l. grind dry raw materials thoroughly, add 400 ml. milk, 1 tbsp. l. honey and 1 tbsp. l. butter.
Bring the mixture slowly to a boil in a water bath.
Strain the broth and drink warm, in the morning and before bedtime, in an amount of 200 ml (1 glass). Continue treatment for no more than 15 days.
Tea with tsetraria and coltsfoot can cure even a strong cough. It is good to drink it for whooping cough and obstructive bronchitis. Brew in a glass (boiling water) ½ tsp. moss and ½ tsp. mother and stepmother. After 10 minutes, strain and dilute with 200 ml. boiled water. You need to drink in small sips, with each coughing fit.

With inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract

The mucus found in Icelandic moss envelops the damaged lining of the stomach or intestines, facilitating digestion and promoting healing. The antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties of the plant make it possible to treat stomach and duodenal ulcers. In case of toxicosis, a decoction of cetraria envelops the stomach, preventing vomiting. Usnic acid allows you to get rid of gastritis by destroying its causative agent - the Helicobacter pylori bacterium. The bitterness of the Cetrara group stimulates appetite and digestive activity.

Treatment and prevention of the gastrointestinal tract

Recipe 1. For the treatment of gastritis, stomach ulcers or duodenal ulcers, take a decoction. It is prepared from both dried and fresh moss. 4 tbsp. l. cetraria are poured into 600 ml. water and simmer for 10 minutes, with the lid closed. The broth is drunk before meals, during the day, dividing it into 3 parts.

Recipe 2. Icelandic moss jelly will help to stimulate digestion and peristalsis. It is brewed like this:

3 tbsp. l. dried moss and 1 tbsp. l. honey is poured into 700 ml of cold water.
The mixture is infused for 1.5 hours, then slowly brought to a boil.
The ready-made jelly is immediately filtered and drunk warm during meals.

Recipe 3. For diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and diarrhea, you can resort to using alcohol tincture. To prepare it, 200 ml of medical alcohol is added to 40 g of cetraria. Insist the product in a tightly sealed container, for at least 10 days in a dark, cool place. Take the tincture before meals, no more than 15 drops.

With external damage to the skin

The use of Icelandic moss in folk medicine can effectively treat skin affected by burns, or in the presence of wounds, ulcers, acne, dermatitis. Icelandic moss polysaccharides have a starch fraction. When applied to the skin, polysaccharides, in combination with mucus and usnic acid, provide an enveloping, antiseptic and healing effect. The damaged skin is washed with a traditional decoction of cetraria. Compresses and lotions regularly applied to the affected areas also help well.

With inflammation of the mucous membranes of the oral cavity and nasopharynx

The antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effect of Icelandic moss is used to treat stomatitis, tonsillitis, laryngitis and rhinitis. For this, a remedy is prepared with which the nose is washed, 3 times a day. The composition of the liquid, in addition to cetraria, includes St. John's wort, sage and Japanese sophora. All ingredients are taken in equal proportions (1 tablespoon each), the mixture is poured with boiling water and cooked for 20 minutes, over very low heat. The broth is cooled and filtered thoroughly.

To strengthen the immune system

Icelandic moss helps to restore strength, providing a general strengthening effect, enhances the antiviral response of immune cells, when viruses and allergens penetrate. As a preventive measure, it is recommended to take 10 drops of tincture from cetraria once a day.

In case of malfunction of the thyroid gland

It normalizes and restores the functions of the thyroid gland, with the daily use of a composition based on honey and kefir. For its preparation, take 1.5 tbsp. l moss and 1.5 tbsp. l honey. Add 250 ml of yogurt or kefir, mix in a blender. This remedy should be used for thyroid , drinking it completely in the morning before eating.

With mastopathy

Has a resorbing effect on the nodes formed in the mammary glands. To get rid of the problem, it is recommended to use a decoction of Icelandic moss every day, as well as use a decoction for compresses.

With oncological diseases

Icelandic moss contains substances that have an antioxidant effect and resist the penetration of free radicals into the body. This helps to inhibit the growth of cancer cells.

For acute and chronic prostatitis

Usnic acid completely destroys bacterial microorganisms that are causative agents of infections and inflammatory processes in the genitourinary organs. The enveloping, antiseptic and wound-healing properties of the plant help stop the development of prostatitis and restore the body during the rehabilitation period.

For prostatitis, a decoction of Icelandic moss, pine pollen, nettle, sage and horsetail has proven itself well. All ingredients are mixed in equal proportions (½ tsp each), 500 ml of boiling water are poured in, and heat treated for 20 minutes in a water bath. The broth is cooled and filtered. They drink such a remedy for 1 tbsp. l 3-4 times a day for 2-3 months.

ADVICE! Tsetraria activates digestion and normalizes the endocrine system. It is very effective for weight loss.

Pharmacy products

Several medicines are produced on the basis of Icelandic moss:

Cough syrup Herbion, Pektolvan. Contains a concentrated extract of Icelandic moss mucus. They have antitussive, immunomodulating, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects. Relieves dry cough and hoarseness.
Cetrasept tablets and Isla-moos pastilles. Designed for resorption. Relieve spasms of the bronchi with dry cough, help in the treatment of laryngitis, pharyngitis and bronchitis.
Icelandic moss cream. It has a healing warming effect, both for colds and for joint diseases.
Eosin ointment. Antiseptic, effectively heals burns, wounds, eczema.
Pharmacy fee. Used for the preparation of decoctions and tinctures.

A detailed description of the drugs is given in the instructions attached to each drug.

Contraindications

There are very few contraindications for the use of Icelandic moss. It is recommended to use it with caution in the treatment of pregnant and lactating women. It is not advisable to use alcohol-based folk remedies for children. In the presence of autoimmune diseases, drugs based on cetraria are contraindicated. In case of violation of the dosage or individual intolerance, an allergic reaction may occur. Therapy is allowed only after consulting a specialist.

Icelandic moss, or Icelandic Cetraria

What is Icelandic moss and how to use Icelandic moss for treatment

The name "Icelandic moss" is now, I think, on hearing with many, because today this lichen is experiencing a peak in popularity: it is used not only for treatment, but even in cosmetology. In science, Icelandic moss is called the Icelandic tsetraria; it is a typical representative of ground lichens growing in pine forests, swamps, in the tundra of northern Europe and North America. The people also call it lichen, deer moss, lobe, birch, dry-bearded and hazel-grouse moss.

There are many biologically active substances in the cetraria: these are carbohydrates, sugars, and various trace elements, including iron, copper, manganese, titanium, chromium, iodine and nickel, ascorbic and folic acid, vitamins A1, B1, B2 and B12, proteins and fats ... It also contains rare usnic acid, which has a strong antibacterial effect against staphylococci, streptococci, subtilis bacteria, mycobacteria. Usnic acid sodium salt has bacteriostatic properties even at a dilution of 1: 2,000,000! And in a more concentrated form, it even kills tuberculosis bacteria. Back in the 19th century, this plant was officially recognized as one of the "outstanding medicines".

The cetraria bush looks like antlers

The Cetraria thallus outwardly looks like a loose, low spreading bush (up to 10 cm), formed by flat, in places groovedly curled, lobes resembling deer antlers. The upper surface of these lobes is brown or greenish brown, shiny. The lower surface is lighter in color, it is light brown, almost to white, with numerous white spots and breaks in the bark, which serve for air penetration.

In folk medicine from different countries, cetraria is used to treat mastopathy in women, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, against cough, skin diseases and diaper rash, various problems with the thyroid gland, anemia and hemorrhoids, as well as an active immunomodulator. It has been proven that Icelandic moss, or Icelandic cetraria, increases the production of protective proteins, has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and expectorant effects.

To prepare medicine 1 table. a spoonful of Icelandic moss is poured into 200 ml of boiling water, insisted for 2 hours, filtered and taken 1/3 cup 3 times a day.

Icelandic moss is harvested in late summer and autumn, carefully plucking the whole plant, air-dried, and stored in a dark place. Icelandic moss is used to add to teas or to prepare medicines and medicinal drinks.

Icelandic moss for coughs and colds

The northern peoples have long been treated with cetraria for coughs, colds, and intestinal problems. For this they prepared special "jelly" from Icelandic moss , or "jelly": 100 g of fresh Icelandic moss was poured into a liter of water, crushed into pieces or into powder, the mixture was infused for two hours, a teaspoon of baking soda was added. Then the water was drained, the moss was again poured with 0.5 l of boiling water and boiled for half an hour, filtered, cooled. This remedy was taken for a long time to heal stomach and duodenal ulcers, get rid of coughs, remove toxins from the body, and restore strength after physical overload and serious illnesses.

Icelandic moss decoction prepare as follows: 1 table. a spoonful of crushed raw materials are brewed with 0.5 liters of boiling water or milk, boiled over low heat or in a water bath for 5 minutes, allowed to stand for 30 minutes and strained. The broth is drunk a day in three doses 30 minutes before meals. The course of treatment depends on the complexity of the disease. Can be taken for 3 months without interruption, if necessary, continue treatment after a month's break.

For outdoor use, a decoction of Icelandic moss is prepared only in water. For purulent wounds, microbial skin lesions, pustular rash, burns and boils, lotions and washing are made. The bandage is changed 3-4 times a day.

The use of cetraria for treatment

Cetraria Icelandic (Icelandic moss) is also used to treat other diseases:

For wounds, boils, ulcers 1 table. pour a spoonful of dry crushed raw materials with a glass of boiling water, cook over low heat for 30 minutes, cool, strain. Make lotions, wash 3-4 times a day.

With chronic bronchitis, emphysema of the lungs, tuberculosis 1 table. pour a spoonful of dry moss with a glass of milk, boil under the lid, cool and strain. Drink hot before bed. In the morning on an empty stomach, you will need to drink tea from Icelandic moss and coltsfoot in equal parts: 1 table. Brew a spoonful of the mixture with a glass of boiling water, leave for 15 minutes.

When coughing bring a glass of milk to a boil, add 1 table. a spoonful of chopped moss, boil for 3-5 minutes, strain, drink warm 2-3 times a day.

For constipation a glass of chopped dry moss pour 2 liters of cold water, leave for 24 hours, then add water to half the volume. Take 0.5-1 cup 3 times daily before meals. The course of treatment is 10-15 days.

Cleansing the body of toxins and toxins : take 2 table. tablespoons of fresh cetraria, pour a glass of apple cider vinegar and leave for 2 days. Drink 1 tsp at night. a spoonful of infusion, diluted in a quarter glass of warm water for two weeks.

You can also make a special burn lotion - pour a glass of dry moss with a liter of water, leave for 20-30 minutes, then pour out the water and cook the moss for another 30 minutes. Then squeeze the moss, pour the mixture into a bowl and refrigerate. Wipe your face with this lotion.

From age spots got rid of the broth: pour 2 table. spoons of moss 0.5 cups of boiling water, cook for 10 minutes, cool, strain, take 1/3 cup after meals. For acne, they drank a different decoction: 2 table. tablespoons of dry moss pour a glass of boiling water, cook for 10 minutes, insist, take 0.5 cups 3 times a day.

Most importantly, Icelandic moss has practically no contraindications: the substances contained in it (if there is no individual intolerance) do not cause negative side effects.

Icelandic moss in cooking

More than three hundred years ago, Icelanders began to actively add dried moss to bread - it turned out tasty and healthy. Their reindeer moss can also be cooked with marmalade, soft gelatin can be obtained. In Karelia and Finland, thick jelly and jelly are cooked from a decoction of tsetraria with berry juices.

Healing kissel from Icelandic moss: 3 cups of chopped cetraria, 2 cups of cranberries, 0.5 cups of sugar, 1 liter of water. Wash the moss and boil for two hours. Strain the broth, add cranberry juice, sugar and bring to a boil. Serve hot or cold. Instead of cranberries, you can use another berry, pounded with sugar.

Icelandic moss snack: Boil 1 kg of moss in a liter of water for two hours. Wash the mushrooms, saffron milk caps or chanterelles, sprinkle with salt and stand for 2 hours, then pour over them with cooked hot broth. Chill in the refrigerator to form a jelly.

Swamp healers - sphagnum and cuckoo flax

Sphagnum (above) and cuckoo flax have many medicinal properties.

Other types of moss are also used for medicinal purposes, for example, common sphagnum moss- Magellan sphagnum, papillous and marsh. This moss has long been used in medicine as a dressing material, since it is many times more hygroscopic than cotton wool. In addition, sphagnum has a bactericidal effect against the microflora of purulent wounds, perfectly absorbs pus from them, contributing to their quickest tightening and healing. The bactericidal properties of sphagnum are determined by the presence of a special substance in it - sphagnol, which inhibits the growth and vital activity of Escherichia coli, Vibrio cholerae, Staphylococcus aureus, etc. In everyday life, dried sphagnum can be used to store vegetables and fruits. It is necessary to be friends with sphagnum and flower lovers. The bactericidal properties of sphagnum greatly increase the likelihood of rooting, survival and preservation of the plant, which is especially important when breeding capricious, rare and new varieties. When a plant decays from waterlogging, you can remove the damaged area by sprinkling the cut with activated carbon, and then boldly plant the dying plant in live cut moss.

Well known to most of us cuckoo flax - a pretty moss with flax-like "hairs" sticking out upstairs, which are actually boxes with seeds, - an inhabitant of wet forest huts and swamps. Since ancient times, cough has been treated with an aqueous infusion of this moss in folk medicine. But its main strength is "cosmetic": it is an excellent remedy for hair loss.