Few excerpts "Many female herb collectors informed that Kai (Lichen) can be used in dry from in treatment of Diarrhoea particularly in case of Diarrhoea in small children. This is considered as simple as well as useful treatment. I have mentioned in previous articles that in many parts of Chhattisgarh, Kai is used externally as aphrodisiac."
Source: http://botanical.com/site/column_poudhia/publish/journal.cgi?folder=journal&next=528 *"SOME FORGOTTEN TRADITIONAL FORMULATIONS OF CHHATTISGARH, INDIA. 446. Undkosh Ke Sujan Ke Dawa. (The remedy for swelling in scrotum).* MAJOR INGREDIENTS: Chandan (Santalum album) wood powder and Kai (Lichen). METHOD OF USE: Both ingredients are mixed and an aqueous paste is applied externally on affected part. REMARKS: The use is continued till complete cure. " Source: http://www.botanical.com/site/column_poudhia/publish/journal.cgi?folder=journal&next=2442 "In order to get more unique and secret formula, I have disclosed the use of Mucuna roots and Trombidium mite for this purpose. After long discussion, I have noted some formula and after coming back, I searched the reference literature but not got the references. According to this herb collector, during rainy season a special type of Kai (Lichen) appear on the rocks, which smell like rotten egg, is very useful in increasing the sexual desire. " Source: http://www.botanical.com/site/column_poudhia/30_one_night.html regards Pankaj Oudhia On Wed, Jan 19, 2011 at 10:52 AM, Inderjeet Sethi <[email protected]>wrote: > Dear All, > This is a portion of information about lichens as food. The attached pic > was taken in a local market selling masala ingredients. > > Lichens for food: There are records of lichens being used as food by many > different human cultures across the world.Lichens are eaten by people in > North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa, and perhaps elsewhere. Often > lichens are merely famine foods eaten in times of dire needs, but in some > cultures lichens are a staple food or even a delicacy. Two problems often > encountered with eating lichens are that they usually contain mildly toxic > secondary compounds, and that lichen polysaccharides are generally > indigestible to humans. Many human cultures have discovered preparation > techniques to overcome these problems. Lichens are often thoroughly washed, > boiled, or soaked in ash water to help remove secondary compounds. > > In the past *Cetraria islandica* (Iceland moss) was an important human > food in northern Europe and Scandinavia, and was cooked in many different > ways, such as bread, porridge, pudding, soup, or salad. *Bryoria fremonii*was > an important food in parts of North America, where it was usually pit > cooked. *Cladina rangiferina*, or reindeer lichen , is a staple food of > reindeer and caribou in the arctic. These lichens provide an important > component of the ground cover grazed by animals and are also used by > Laplanders to make hay for their animals. Northern peoples in North America > and Siberia traditionally eat the partially digested lichen after they > remove it from the rumen of caribou that have been killed. It is often > called *'stomach icecream'*. In India, and other centers of curry powder > production, *garam masala sauce* contains certain lichens used as bulking > agents. > > Many invertebrates (insects, mites and sluges) also use lichens as food. > They may also be eaten by a number of large hoofed mammals. > > > -- > ~ik~ > Dr.Inderjeet Kaur Sethi > Associate Professor > Department of Botany > SGTB Khalsa College > University of Delhi > Delhi-110007 > M: 9818775237 >
