The use of Iceland Moss is an old tradition in Iceland
Icelanders have used Iceland Moss through the ages. The plant was believed to be a wholesome and nutritious food, rich of minerals esp. iron, calcium and dietary fiber. Iceland Moss was prepared in different ways like Iceland Moss milk, pudding, in bread and as tea.
Healing effects
As medicine, Iceland Moss was mostly used for respiratory complains like respiratory catarrh, chronic bronchitis, asthma and tuberculosis. Also for digestive and stomach disorder like gastritis, dyspepsia, constipation and as an appetite stimulant. It was also used on dry skin, excema and slowly healing wounds.
Active compounds
Iceland Moss contains high proportion of water-soluble polysaccharides as well as special Lichen acids that are only found in lichens. Much scientific work on these compounds has been performed. The main results (in vitro) are the following:
• antioxidant activity
• antibacterial activity
• antiviral activity
• antitumour activity
• stimulation of the immune system
Our history indicates that the Icelandic people have used Iceland Moss as food and medicine from the time of the settlement of the country in 874. Reports of collection trips can be read in the old Icelandic Sagas. Good fields of Iceland Moss were regarded as important assets and that increased the value of the land.
Collection Trips
All farms that owned Iceland Moss fields in the mountains sent a group of people to collect the plant for winter storage. Usually the group consisted mostly of women and teenagers. The trip was made in June and lasted 6-14 days.
The group left the farm on horses, equipped with tents, food and skin bags for the collection.
In the mountains the tents were raised near a creek, a fireplace was built and moss and heath was collected in order to make beds in the tents for the collectors. The collection started in the evenings or early nights. People used all night to collect. From the midnight sun in Iceland, the nights are bright in June and the ground is dewy. The dew makes the lichen soft and easy to collect and separate from other vegetation.
In the mornings, people went back to the tents. The Iceland Moss was dried if the weather allowed so. After eating the group spent some time entertaining themselves and each other by singing and riming in the Icelandic traditional way. Stories of trolls, elfs and outlaws were always popular.
When the collection period was over the yield was transported by horses back home. At the farm the Iceland Moss was dried in the sun and shaken for cleaning. For winter supply, it was kept in bags or barrels in a dry place.
Traditional usage of the Iceland Moss
Following descriptions give an idea of how people used the plant:
Water porridge
Iceland Moss watered and cut
Poured with warm water
Wheat or rice added.
Eaten with milk
Iceland Moss milk
Whole plants of Iceland Moss boiled in milk.
Iceland Moss tea
Iceland Moss boiled in water. Filtered and the extract used as tea.
This drink was meant to be very healthy and was frequently used
for respiratory complains like respiratory catarrh, chronic bronchitis, asthma and tuberculosis,digestive and stomach disorder like gastritis, dyspepsia, constipation and as an appetite stimulant.
Iceland Moss on skin
Iceland Moss was watered and laid on dry skin, eczema and wounds that were healing slowly.
Iceland Moss today
The society in Iceland has changed a lot from the descriptions above. The population is not as subjected to the nature as it was before. The majority lives in the capital and the preparation of food has changed dramatically. Still some people collect Iceland Moss during summertime and use it in bread, as tea or in warm milk.
Iceherbs is a company that wants to build on the tradition, the history and the believe of our ancestors that Iceland Moss is beneficial for the well being of people. In order to do so Iceherbs has developed health products that we believe are accessible for modern people in a community where the demand for health care products are steadily increasing.
