Evidence supporting the use of: Lichen (unspecified)
For the health condition: Fungal Infections

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Lichens have a long history of use in traditional medicine across various cultures, including those in Europe, Asia, and North America. Historically, certain lichens, such as Usnea (commonly called "old man's beard"), have been used topically and sometimes internally to treat wounds, skin conditions, and presumed fungal infections. Ethnobotanical records suggest that their use was based primarily on observation of their antimicrobial effects, likely due to the presence of secondary metabolites like usnic acid, which has demonstrated some antifungal activity in laboratory studies.

However, while in vitro research has shown that extracts from various lichens can inhibit fungal growth, these findings have not been robustly translated into clinical use or validated in human studies. The evidence remains largely preclinical, and there is limited documentation of lichen preparations being used as standardized antifungal treatments in modern medicine. Therefore, the use of lichens for fungal infections is primarily justified by traditional usage, rather than strong scientific validation. As such, the evidence supporting their efficacy for this purpose is modest (rated 2/5), reflecting anecdotal and historical practices rather than rigorous clinical research.

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