Herbs & Botanicals

Usnea / Old Man’s Beard Lichen (Usnea spp.): Traditional Use, Usnic Acid, Research & Liver Safety
Usnea is a genus of fruticose beard lichens with a long traditional-use history and genuine antimicrobial chemistry, especially around the lichen metabolite usnic acid. This guide explains lichen identity, identification, traditional use, the limits of modern evidence, and the serious liver-safety history of concentrated oral usnic acid. Read more...
Turkey Tail Mushroom (Trametes versicolor; syn. Coriolus versicolor): PSK/PSP Research, Traditional Use & Safety
Turkey Tail is a widespread wood-decaying polypore used traditionally in East Asia and studied through standardized extracts such as PSK and PSP. This guide separates the whole mushroom from proprietary extracts, reviews human oncology evidence without overstating it, and covers identification, look-alikes, safety and product quality. Read more...