Lichen islandicus

Authors: Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer, Prof. Dr. med. Martina Bacharach-Buhles

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Last updated on: 13.03.2024

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Synonym(s)

Cetrariae lichen; Cetraria islandica; Cramp Tea; Icelandic moss; Iceland moss

Definition
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Lichen Islandicus, also known as Iceland moss , is a drug used in herbal medicinal products for the treatment of irritation of the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat or loss of appetite.

HMPC monograph: Traditiona-use: irritation of the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat, dry irritating cough, intermittent loss of appetite
ESCOP monograph: dry cough, inflammation of the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat.
Commission e-monograph: irritation of the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat, dry irritating cough; loss of appetite.

Empirical medicine: Roborans to stimulate appetite during convalescence

Ingredients
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Lichen Islandicus contains about 50 % of water-soluble mucilage, whose main components are lichenin and its isoform isolichenin. Further ingredients are usnic acid and bitter-tasting lichen acids such as cetraric acid and fumarprotocetraric acid.

Effects
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Lichen Islandicus has soothing appetite stimulating, weak antimicrobial, antiphlogistic and immunomodulating effects

Field of application/use
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Icelandic moss is used to treat irritation of the mucous membranes in the mouth and throat or for loss of appetite. For cold-related throat and swallowing problems, Isla junior® preparations are available for children from the age of 4.

Dosage
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The daily dose of the drug is between 4 and 6 g, depending on the preparation. The drug is taken in the form of infusions or pastilles.

Undesirable effects
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No undesirable effects are known.

Contraindication
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Due to lack of data, do not use during pregnancy or lactation and do not use in children under 18 years of age.

Interactions
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There are no known interactions with other active ingredients.

Literature
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  1. Harmens H (2010) Heavy metal and nitrogen concentrations in mosses are declining across Europe whilst some "hotspots" remain in 2010. Environ Pollut 200:93-104.
  2. Schilcher H (ed.) in, Leitfaden Phytotherapie, Urban & Fischer Verlag (2016) Munich, p. 166 f.
  3. https://arzneipflanzenlexikon.info/islaendisches-moos.php
  4. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/final-european-union-herbal-monograph-cetraria-islandica-l-acharius-sl-thallus-first-version_en.pdf
  5. Wenigmann M. (2017) Phytotherapy medicinal drugs, phytopharmaceuticals, application. Urban & Fischer, pp. 133-134