RJ Homestead

A huge thank you goes out to a couple of amazing friends from our Grow, Gather, Heal Facebook page! We have been completely unable to locate any Usnea around our property here in Maryland, and they were incredibly kind enough to send us a package of dried Usnea to use. I am absolutely thrilled to finally include this powerhouse in our homestead inventory!

If you aren’t familiar with it, Usnea (often called Old Man’s Beard) is a fascinating pale-green lichen that grows on the bark and branches of trees. But we aren’t just interested in it for its looks—Usnea is a profoundly potent medicine.

🔬 The Science of Usnea

When we dive into the phytochemistry, Usnea is famous for a specific compound called usnic acid. This compound acts as a heavy-duty, broad-spectrum antimicrobial and antibacterial agent. It is particularly famous for fighting off stubborn respiratory and urinary tract infections, and it even shows strong activity against Gram-positive bacteria like Staphylococcus and Streptococcus. Beyond fighting infections, Usnea is packed with polysaccharides that help regulate the immune system, making it an incredible ally during cold and flu season or for healing stubborn exterior wounds.

⚗️ The Great Vodka Debate

We did some deep-dive research before starting our extractions, and there seems to be a massive split in the herbal community about what proof of alcohol is needed to pull that stubborn usnic acid out of the lichen. Some prominent herbalists swear by standard 80-proof vodka, while others insist you need 100-proof (or higher) to properly break it down.

So, in the spirit of homestead science, we went ahead and are doing both! We are making a double-extraction tincture using 80-proof for one batch and 100-proof for the other. We will let them both sit in a dark, cool place for 6 to 8 weeks before we strain them and move on to the second part of the double extraction (the hot water decoction).

I also had plenty of dried Usnea left over to start a pint of infused oil, which we will eventually turn into a powerful wound-healing salve. This oil will also sit and infuse for at least 6 weeks. Once everything is ready, we will do a follow-up post showing the final steps for both!

If you want to start your own batches alongside us, here is exactly what we did today:

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🌿 Recipe: Usnea Double-Extraction Tincture (Part 1)

Note: Usnea requires a “double extraction” because its immune-boosting polysaccharides are water-soluble, while its antibacterial usnic acid is strictly alcohol-soluble.

What you need:

• Dried Usnea
• 80-proof OR 100-proof Vodka
• A clean Mason jar with a tight-fitting lid

Instructions:

1. Chop it up: Usnea is tough! Use heavy scissors, clippers, or a coffee grinder to chop the dried lichen into the smallest pieces possible. This exposes more surface area to the alcohol.
2. Pack the jar: Fill your clean Mason jar about halfway to two-thirds full with the chopped Usnea.
3. Add the alcohol: Pour your vodka over the lichen until it is completely submerged by at least an inch or two of liquid.
4. Seal and shake: Cap the jar tightly, give it a good shake, and label it with the date and the proof of alcohol used.
5. Wait: Store the jar in a cool, dark cabinet for 6 to 8 weeks, shaking it every day or two. (Stay tuned for Part 2 in a few weeks, where we will strain the alcohol and boil the leftover lichen in water!)

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🌻 Recipe: Slow-Infused Usnea Healing Oil

What you need:

• Dried, finely chopped Usnea
• A carrier oil of your choice (we prefer olive oil or sweet almond oil for salves)
• A clean Mason jar

Instructions:

1. Prep the lichen: Just like the tincture, chop your dried Usnea as finely as possible to break the tough outer fibers. You can even pulse it in a blender with a little bit of your oil to really break it down.
2. The Ratio: Place the chopped Usnea into your jar. A good rule of thumb is to use 1 part herb to 2 parts oil (for example: 1/4 cup of chopped Usnea to 1/2 cup of oil).
3. Cover with oil: Pour your carrier oil over the lichen, ensuring all the plant material is completely submerged so it doesn’t mold.
4. Seal and store: Cap the jar, label it, and place it in a warm, sunny windowsill (or a warm spot like the top of your fridge).
5. Wait: Let it infuse for 6 to 8 weeks, shaking gently every few days. Once the time is up, we will strain out the plant matter and use this golden, antibacterial oil as the base for our first-aid salves!

Are you trying any new medicinal extracts this spring? Let us know in the comments below!

Also, please stop by our facebook page and give us a “like” there. We post some additional content there, and we’re always happy to respond and answer any questions you may have! You can also find me on GAB, https://gab.com/jungerer!