You’ve most likely seen usnea, also known as Old Man’s Beard, if you were ever out in the forest or woods. As somewhat of a nature girl, the curious usnea (lichen) was one of my favorites to collect as a kid (along with pinecones, acorns, and geodes) and display on my bedroom windowsill.
Little did I know that one day I would rely on super-medicinal usnea as an antibiotic for kidney and bladder infections.
Antibiotic Warnings
Antibiotic overuse for numerous childhood ear infections caused my body to seriously react to antibiotics (anaphylaxis and full-body rashes) while yet in nursing school, making it imperative to find effective, natural alternatives.
Since then, I’m blessed to have been spared the antibiotics I might have taken, such as dangerous fluoride-based Cipro and Levaquin, regularly prescribed for kidney, bladder and sinus infections with crippling results.
Antibiotics disrupt the balance of bacterial flora in our microbiome, adversely affect our immune system, and lead to cyclic infections or worse.
Let’s look instead at God’s natural resources so that we can unentangle ourselves from allopathic medicine and hospitals wherever possible!
The Hospital Protocol Is What Is Killing Covid Flu Patients
“Usnea healed my Covid pneumonia last month! My oxygen dipped to 84% but I refused to go to the hospital and be put on a ventilator. It pinged in my brain (thanks, Holy Spirit!) that Usnea was good for the respiratory system and I did some duck duck going about Usnea and pneumonia, started taking it that day and was back to normal less than 3 days later. For every ailment, God has given us a plant that cures it!” ~ M.M., a DRAH reader
Properties of Usnea
Usnea is a lichen, comprised of both Fungus and Algae that grow together on host trees (pines, oaks, and fruits trees) all over the world. You’ll see it hanging in long strands from conifers if you hike in the Pacific Northwest — and you might even be able to find it right in your own backyard. After storms, you frequently see usnea on fallen twigs or branches and can gather from there.
It’s out there if you look for it, but it is becoming endangered, so I recommend not harvesting unless it is on the ground after a storm! There are plenty of resources to purchase it (see below).
Usnea species can easily be identified by gently pulling a strand of the lichen apart. If it’s usnea, the green outside algae layer will break, exposing an unmistakable solid white fungal core inside. The fungal core provides strength, while the outer green algae gathers energy from the sun.
It’s ultra-sensitive to pollution, so it’s rarely found within city limits.
Antibiotic Properties
An antiseptic herb with excellent healing properties used for hundreds of years, it has a special affinity for:
• the urinary tract (kidney and bladder)
• gram-negative H. pylori bacteria (source)
• multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (source)
• staph
If you are collecting hardcopy books for preparedness in a crisis, I recommend you add “Herbal Antibiotics, 2nd Edition: Natural Alternatives for Treating Drug-resistant Bacteria” by Stephen Buhner.
Please, before you automatically take ANY antibiotic for a bladder or sinus infection, especially those in the deadly fluoroqinolone family like Cipro or Levaquin, consider other alternatives:
Resources: Alternative Antibiotic For Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
Back in the 70s, a fellow antibiotic-resistant nurse told me about synergistic usnea/uva ursi tincture and Herb Pharm Usnea, which worked consistently for me.
Taken early and repeatedly, a couple dropperfuls of tincture or a couple Nature’s Way Uva Ursi capsules always stopped a UTI by 24-36-48 hours depending on how bad it was. There’s also an alcohol-free glycerite blend with usnea and uva ursi.
SAFETY: When you need to use it, you start with a low dose and you work your way up until you get the results you’re looking for. Do not use usnea lichen continuously in large doses as it is a highly concentrated medicine. Only take as needed for specific problems.
Usnea and uva ursi herb, should be avoided in pregnancy because of few studies.
For bladder infections in pregnancy, you can safely use popular D-mannose.
Considerations in Pregnancy and Use of D-Mannose:
Studies show UTIs in women of reproductive age can significantly complicate the course of pregnancy.
“Antibiotic therapy during pregnancy is an extreme measure since it is associated with a high risk of fetal malformations. The use of D-mannose is an effective and safe treatment for UTIs, especially during pregnancy.” ~Obstetrics, Gynecological and Reproductive study
D-mannose, a simple sugar, hinders bacterial adhesion to the bladder wall. D-mannose spills into the urine through our kidneys, literally “coating” any E.coli present so it can no longer “stick” to the inside walls of the bladder and urinary tract.
The E. coli are literally rinsed away upon urination!
• Break the cycle of recurrent bladder infections by drinking a lot of water, urinating frequently, wiping from front to back, wearing cotton underwear, urinating after sex, as well as with probiotics, cranberry, D-mannose, and usnea.
• For SINUS infections, nebulize no-side-effect silver or hydrogen proxide.
Update: Another discovery recently is how well (and FAST) the use of homeopathic cantharis 200c works! See my personal story here.
This usnea spray can also be applied topically to the skin or gargled and then swallowed for strep throat. Consult an herbalist if you have any questions.
I am glad we have antibiotics for true emergencies. Work with a functional doctor and consider the vast array of other alternatives and learn what works for you.
“My child, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh.” ~Proverbs 4: 20-22
***For the Full Spike Protein Protocol to protect from transmission from the “V” and to help those who took the “V”, go here.
***If you found value in this writing, please share it, discuss it, and subscribe to my FREE newsletter. Independent, ad-free work like this spreads because of readers like you.
Also, please consider supporting my work by using my Amazon affiliate link when purchasing from there.
Censorship is real, so my Pinterest account was suspended; thankfully, a big part of my main board is still alive through this link!
You can also find me on Facebook, Gab, MeWe, X (Twitter), and Instagram.
©2026 Deep Roots at Home • All Rights Reserved
Julia
Thanks so much for all you share! I truly appreciate you!!
Jess
I highly recommend you look into Dr Hodge’s advice on UTIs! Looking at diagrams of a women’s insides show it can’t fully drain when we pee with our legs together and THAT is what causes UTIs. Peeing with her legs spread far apart was the ONLY thing that stopped my daughter from catching them and we had tried every tip.
Jacqueline
Thank you for that tip, Jess! I will check it out!!!! 😀 Appreciate you! ~J
Jeannette
Yet another helpful post! As soon as I read it, I sent it to my daughter. Her husband gets strep throat at least annually. She uses natural remedies whenever possible, so I thought she’d be interested. She immediately ordered some tincture to have on hand! If it weren’t freezing out, I would go look for some in our grove. Will have to wait til next summer. Thank you, friend!
Jacqueline
Jeannette, I am so thankful you have usnea growing nearby and that it can be helpful for your family.
I haven’t seen it locally here for several years. Now I am ordering yarrow seed to broadcast in a meadow near our home.
Enjoy, and stay well in the Lord, dear friend!
Sending peace,
Jacque
Nita
I read about usnea a few years back and bought it and just kept it in my medicine cabinet. Thank you for writing about it and shining more light on its benefits and uses!
Jacqueline
Nita, I have always been helped by usnea (and also uva ursi with it in combination). I am glad you have it on hand!
Belated Merry Chtistmas and Happy New Year, friend! ~Jacque
Diana
Will usnea and d-mannose work when you’ve had a UTI for several days already? My functional med doc said an a/b was the only way to treat my UTI. I had a bad side effect from the first a/b and not feeling too great on the 2nd started today.
Jacqueline
Hi, Diana,
I can’t say for sure, but I would sure try them and have them on hand for if there is a next time! b Please tell them ‘NO’ to any of the fluoroquinolone a/bs!!!!!! They can cripple after just 1 dose.
Read this: https://deeprootsathome.com/fluoroquinolone-antibiotics-cipro/
These a/bs work like chemo drugs. Despite antibiotics saving many lives, they can also have damaging effects on the body’s metabolism. Researchers found that ciprofloxacin stopped the normal functioning of mitochondrial DNA: https://deeprootsathome.com/your-dna-floxed-by-cipro-levaquin-they-act-like-chemo-drugs/
Also, think of using a homeopathic for UTI. I used CANTHARIS 200c a month ago bc I had heard about how helpful it was for a friend! It worked in less than 3 hours and never came back! it is widely use, but many don’t know about it!
It typically needs to be used early. Here is the remedy to look for: https://amzn.to/3rB8Qbw
You can usually find it at Whole Foods, Fresh Thyme, and other true health food stores.
I am praying for you!
Seanding peace,
Jacque
Diana
Thank you. I purchased d-mannose, usnea, and uva ursi for next time using your links. I don’t know I have a UTI early but will give these a try if this happens again.
Jacqueline
Diana, also have cantheris homeopathic on hand. I’m just learning SO much and cantheris 30 stopped it literally almost immediately!
I need to write about the experience!
Blessings,
Jacque
Diana
Do you take all 4 at once? I’d be interested in more detail about when to use what, for how long, how to know when UTI in is gone. Do you take for maintenance? Do those UTI test strips work? This is my second in a month, never had them before now. Don’t know I have it until my kidneys ache. Working with functional med for cause but not sure she’s committed to natural as I want as she said only an a/b would work.
Jacqueline
Hi, Diana,
No, I haven’t ever used test strips, just treat when I have one. It is rare now. This was the first in 2.5 years. All I used the last time was 1 CANTHARIS 200c. That would be my first attempt to treat now after such a quick turnaround. I would not take anything else and have no food or drink 30 minutes either side of remedy. No water… just throw it in your mouth, under tongue and let it dissolve!
I just know it is gone bc there is no urgency or burning at all.
Don’t repeat at all – it is rebalancing something behind the scenes and we can disrupt progress with repeating on this 200c dose…
What happened exactly is I had the sudden onset, needed to void repeatedly with only a trickle. It was right before bed and i needed to sleep badly. I had just been reading about that rememdy while studying homeopathy and was SURE it would be a rough night.
I slept loke a baby and almost thought I was dreming that i had had those harsh symptoms the night before.
Like I said, it has never come back after just 1 dose.
Hope that helps!
Laura
Hello! I believe I have strep 🙁 sore throat for three days. I had been taking colloidal silver and drinking hot honey/lemon water. I want to try what you suggested. My big problem is I have a 16 month old who I’ve been kissing, before I considered I could have strep 🙁 I feel horrible. He hasn’t shown signs of strep, but if so, what do you recommend for a little one this age?
He’s never been on antibiotics and I dont want to have to use any on him.
Jacqueline
Laura, in a pinch like that I recommend nebulizing with either HP or nano-silver. Either way, he will be treated and also know about the nebulizer if there is another real threat like is being planned again.
Read both of these and see if this is something you think can be done (and a picture is worth a 1000 words!):
https://deeprootsathome.com/nebulizing-nanosilver-glutathione-for-lung-ailments-the-how-to/
https://deeprootsathome.com/dr-mercola-nebulized-peroxide-the-single-most-effective-early-strategy/
You can also use saline as per this post. You have a lot of choices; https://deeprootsathome.com/nebulizing-saline-or-hydrogen-peroxide-for-lung-ailments-rsv/
If you want to go a less for-sure route, you can see if you can spray this way back into his mouth: https://amzn.to/3WljtLK
This would be even better, IMO: https://www.iherb.com/pr/boiron-throatcalm-sore-throat-relief-60-quick-dissolving-tablets/76209 It is homeopathic, so he can take it even though he’s 16 mo., but instead of every 15 minutes, just give 2 every 4-6 hours x 2, and I bet it will not develop into anything! We’ve used it with a grandchild (toddler) and it worked perfectly! They melt almost instantly and cannot choke them!
I am praying for you now! Sorry for the delay, as I just saw this!
Sending peace,
Jacque