Abstract
Lichens are used in traditional
medicines by cultures across the world, particularly in temperate and
arctic regions. Knowledge of these medicinal uses is available to us
because of the contributions of traditional knowledge holders in these
cultures.
The traditional medicinal uses of
52 lichen genera are summarized in this paper. Cultures in different
regions of the world tend to emphasize different lichen genera in their
traditional medicines, with Usnea being the
most widely used genus. The folk taxonomy of lichens within a given
culture is not synonymous with the scientific taxonomy and reflects the
cultural value of those lichens and the traditional method of their
identification. Even within western science the identity and taxonomy of
lichens have not remained constant throughout history.
Lichens
in traditional medicine are most commonly used for treating wounds,
skin disorders, respiratory and digestive issues, and obstetric and
gynecological concerns. They have been used for both their secondary
metabolites and their storage carbohydrates. The European uses of
lichens have been exported worldwide and sometimes influence the use of
lichens by other cultures. These European uses started in the fifteenth
and sixteenth centuries and arose from interpretations of Ancient Greek
uses, as well as the application of the doctrine of signatures
