Lungwort Lichen: Harvest, Tincture and Tea Making

[@kekedream]

Thanks for this information, I purchased some (dried, store bought) lungwort first time today and look forward to trying it as a tea.

[@MtnManLucas]

I live in Arkansas and there is something that looks almost just like that growing on rocks that stick out of the water in creeks.

[@dr.mindya.curryndpassionfo7590]

Could be!

[@pwilly1212]

Thank you for this video! I been searching for info about this lungwort. Finding it everywhere at my home, wind has been very strong and giving me plenty to collect along with usnea

[@dr.mindya.curryndpassionfo7590]

Gather what is freely given!

[@NadineMcSpadden]

Thank you for this video. We have a ton of lungwart in our area and I have been harvesting it as a dyer but looking forward to trying it as a tea or tincture

[@dr.mindya.curryndpassionfo7590]

You’re welcome! I’m sure you’ll find it effective!

[@ashtree3006]

Great video!!

[@dennissitter2242]

Dr. Curry. Thanks for the video. I have heard many talk about this plant. Yet you were the one that showed it to all of us. Also makes us realize that we might need to look up while we are out in the woods. Is this a plant that you find in the hills or one you find in low ground?

[@dr.mindya.curryndpassionfo7590]

Lungwort has worldwide distribution, growing best in moist climates. The Pacific Northwest is home to six Lobaria species, of which L. pulmonaria is the most widespread. It is more likely to thrive in old-growth forests, sheltered narrow valleys and riparian zones, growing on young and old hardwood trees, less often on conifers. It may be found growing on tree trunks, in humid tree canopies, on shrubs, and on mossy rocks. It is sensitive to atmospheric pollution and is considered a good indicator of a rich, healthy, unpolluted forest. Look for it on the ground after winter storms. This way you won’t harm growing lichens, just taking ones that would die anyway.

[@joannemarks3501]

thanks for this video Dr Curry could you add in quantities say of water you used to make for the Lungwort tea just for beginners thanks

[@dr.mindya.curryndpassionfo7590]

That’s not really how I make teas. If I need it strong, I add more herb. If it’s better weaker, say for a child or frail person, then I add less. A handful of herbs into a medium pot seems about right. Use more in a cauldron.

[@mariemosier9805]

Can I dehydrate lungwort? I live in Washington State and after a storm, there is so much of it. Love your videos. Thank You

[@dr.mindya.curryndpassionfo7590]

Sure! Dehydration is just a quick way of drying it. Just avoid drying it with too much heat, as that can prematurely degrade some constituents. Those storms do provide! I have some land in Washington too.

[@nagygrizli3806]

Dear dr Mindy! Thank you for the video. Iam so grateful for it. May i ask You to write down the Lungwort tea ingredients.?I don't understand spoken English well enough and I don't recognize them, write me the ingredients pls :)

[@dr.mindya.curryndpassionfo7590]

Respiratory Formula Tea: Lungwort lichen Fennel Seeds Rosemary Usnea lichen Mullein leaf Monk fruit leaf powder (sweetener) Add to boiling water, cover, turn low and let it steep for at least 10-15 minutes. Enjoy better health!

[@oh2465]

another question: does lichen: usnea have the same medicinal effect?

[@mizzkathryn7]

A nice video thank you for sharing your incredible knowledge with all of us Dr Curry.

[@dr.mindya.curryndpassionfo7590]

Thanks for watching Kathryn!

[@oh2465]

Hello, so I have a question: do you have any dye for sale because I'm looking for some and can't find it. If you sell some I will be willing to buy some from you. Can you tell me if you sell and deliver to Paris? and if not can you direct me to a sales site because I can't find anything. thanking you in advance madam

[@earthsmoke9450]

Can Pulmonaria cultivars (specifically the ‘Diana Clare’ cultivar) be used medicinally, or is it just the “Officinalis” that has medicinal properties? Thanks in advance.

[@dr.mindya.curryndpassionfo7590]

This video is about lungwort lichen Lobaria pulmonaria. This is very different than the plant Pulmonaria. One is a lichen, the other is a plant. Lungwort plants (members of genus Pulmonaria), especially Pulmonaria officinalis, have been used as medicinal plants in folk and traditional medicine. It is now known that lungwort plants, like one of its sister plants in the borage family, comfrey (Symphytum officinale), may contain toxic pyrrolizidin alkaloids (PAs) making its internal use, especially over a long period of time, no longer recommended (out of an abundance of caution). Some studies suggest P. officinalis contains far less or negligible PAs than other varieties. Unless you can actually find a study about PA content in the Diana Clare, probably best to stick to external use. Choose P. officinalis if you’re wanting to use lungwort plant internally.

[@earthsmoke9450]

@@dr.mindya.curryndpassionfo7590 Hi Dr Mindy and thanks for getting back to me. Yeah, I know that lungwort is a lichen but it’s a very endangered species of lichen, at least here in Europe. Cultivars are quite common, however, and regularly pop up in garden centres, and the like, so I was just wondering if a more sustainable solution was at hand. Guess not then… thanks again anyway! (Great Mahonia video btw…)

[@sunnytaylor7669]

How much lichen in weight goes into the jar and what volume of vodka? What's the dosage of the completed tincture or how much lungwort and how many times daily?

[@dr.mindya.curryndpassionfo7590]

This tincture was made in the traditional way and was not measured by weight or volume. These numbers don’t matter much for home use, unless you’re using a toxic drop dose herb. This isn’t that. Just add enough herb to fill your jar to a “springy” fullness. If the herbs are too tight, they might not be preserved by the alcohol and not extract well. If too little herb, then you’re just making flavored vodka. The volume of vodka is whatever you need to fill the jar completely covering the herb. Dosing is much more individual and also depends on if it’s a single or part of a lung formula. You should consult with a Naturopathic Doctor or at least a local trained herbalist to figure out your needs. Some people are very sensitive to herbs, use them as drop doses. Others need full physiologic doses (teaspoons), and frequency will depend upon the urgency of your situation and what you are treating.

[@dupre7416]

The place you are collecting lungwort from looks very beautiful. Who is that handsome man in the background at 1:40 and 3:45?

[@dr.mindya.curryndpassionfo7590]

It’s a lovely place and indeed has a very handsome man to work on it with!

[@abbysaur]

Hi! I made a Lungwort Lichen tincture recently and I am wondering if your turns a dark almost black color while macerating? It turned totally black in just two days or so! I am wondering if it might be because I used a high proof alcohol, or if it’s just normal? I couldn’t find any information about it online. Thanks for your help!

[@dr.mindya.curryndpassionfo7590]

That sounds normal enough. As I recall it looks rather dark brown.

[@ashtree3006]

Can tea and tincture be made from dried out lungwort, or does it need to be fresh and bright green?

[@dr.mindya.curryndpassionfo7590]

Both can be made well with dried lungwort! I prefer to fresh tincture, since the vodka or even Everclear, is still an aqueous solution. But you can certainly buy dried herb and make tinctures. Some major herb companies use a lot of dried herb for tinctures, especially for imported herbs. For most herbs I find fresh tea is best, but dried herbs stay effective as medicine for up to about a year, at which point their effectiveness diminishes. Store in a cool, dry, dark place preferably vacuum sealed for best results. Being a nice thick thing, whole dried lungwort will last well for quite a while longer than other leafy herbs. Grinding into a powder will increase the degradation over time, so powders should always be used promptly or preserved in tincture or glycerite or vinegar.

[@ashtree3006]

@@dr.mindya.curryndpassionfo7590 thank you!!!

[@duckysgarden]

ozonium??

[@dr.mindya.curryndpassionfo7590]

Huh? Isn’t ozonium a hairy orange shag carpet looking mycelium mat formed by Coprinellus species? I don’t think I saw any…?

[@duckysgarden]

@@dr.mindya.curryndpassionfo7590 I’m sorry I was trying to figure out what that ingredient in the tea was,, sounded like you said “ ooznium “. The ingredients just before the mullein… ? Could you make a list of the ingredients you used please?

[@onemadmudder9686]

@@duckysgardenI believe she said lungwort, Rosemary, MULLEIN, fennel seed & passion fruit to help wit the taste. I believe it’s MULLEIN that she said not ooziium. Hope that helps

[@Oceanmotion7]

If you are dealing with herbs, a trained herbalist is the first person you should see. Seeing a naturopath ‘who was also trained in herbalism’, second (most were not trained in whole herb/herbalism. Isolates are not the same). And your MD, will know nothing about it.

[@dr.mindya.curryndpassionfo7590]

I agree that most naturopaths don’t know herbs outside their pill bottles. There is a significant number of NDs that started as herbalists, or get additional herbal training once they realize that the curriculum doesn’t teach live plants. They do offer elective courses that include outside herbal teaching at the truly fabulous campus herb gardens.