This is Starwest's nitrogen-flushed double wall silverfoil pack.

Used as a decoction and tincture.

The 1997 Commission E on Phytotherapy and Herbal Substances of the German Federal Institute for Drugs recommends Icelandic Moss for:

''(a) Irritation of the oral and pharyngeal mucous membranes and accompanying dry cough.

(b) Loss of appetite.

Average daily dosage: 4 - 6 g of herb; equivalent preparations.

Mode of Administration:
(a): Comminuted herb for infusions and other galenical formulations for internal use.
(b): Comminuted herb, preferably for cold macerates and other bitter-tasting preparations for internal use.

Actions: Soothing; Mildly antimicrobial''

Although Iceland moss is abundant in Iceland, it is not a moss at all, but a lichen. Like all lichens, Iceland moss is made up of two types of symbiotic plants, a fungus and an alga.

Centuries ago Iceland moss became known as a remedy for many kinds of respiratory ailments. Iceland moss consists of large amounts of a starch called lichenin, and when boiled, it forms a mucilage-like substance that is especially soothing to irritated mucous membranes of the respiratory tract.

Iceland moss also contains bitters, which stimulate the appetite. This, together with its food value, accounts for its use as a tonic for convalescents. Because of its high carbohydrate content, Iceland moss has sometimes served as a food, particularly in cold northern countries where the lichen flourishes. When used as a food, the boiled extract was sometimes flavored with wine, sugar, or lemon to make it more palatable.

Strongly demulcent, Iceland moss soothes the mucous membranes of the chest, counters congestion, and calms dry and paroxysmal coughs, being particularly helpful as a treatment for elderly people.

Iceland moss is also very bitter and, within the gut, has both a demulcent and bitter tonic effect -a combination almost unique in medicinal herbs. It is thus of value in all kinds of chronic digestive problems -for instance, irritable bowel syndrome. Iceland moss also gently expels worms, and, in view of recent European research, could prove useful for certain digestive infections.

As a soothing demulcent with its high mucilage content, Iceland moss finds use in the treatment of gastritis, vomiting and dyspepsia. Iceland moss is often used in respiratory catarrh and bronchitis. In addition its nourishing qualities contribute to the treatment of cachexia, a state of malnourishment and debility.

Grieve's classic 'A Modern Herbal':

In spite of its name is not a Moss but a lichen. Found in Great Britain in barren stony ground, abundant in the Grampians, and in the Welsh hills, in Yorkshire, Norfolk, etc.

Medicinal Action and Properties: Demulcent, tonic, and nutritive when deprived of its bitter principle. Excellent in chronic pulmonary troubles, catarrh, digestive disturbances, dysentery, advanced tuberculosis. Decoction, B.P. 1885, 1 to 4 oz. Ground, it can be mixed with chocolate or cocoa.

King's American Dispensatory, 1898:

Preparations.—ICELAND MOSS JELLY (Gelatina lichenis islandici). Washed Iceland moss 3 parts, water 100 parts. Make a decoction, strain, add white sugar 3 parts, and evaporate the whole to 10 parts. Official in Pharmacopoeia Germanica.

DRIED SACCHARATED ICELAND MOSS (Gelatina lichenis islandici saccharata sicca).—Iceland moss 10 parts. Deprive the lichen of its bitterness by heating to 100° C. (212° F.), in a small amount of water, express, and wash with cold water. Boil the residue in water an hour, strain and decant the decoction, mix with sugar 10 parts, evaporate, dry and pulverize. This gives a grayish-brown product. This is official in the French Codex.

To deprive Iceland moss of its bitterness, the Pharmacopoeia Germanica directs, Iceland moss 15 parts, to be macerated in tepid water 90 parts, containing carbonate of potassium 1 part, for 3 hours. The product is subsequently thoroughly washed with cold water.

Action, Medical Uses, and Dosage.—Demulcent, tonic, and nutritious. Excessive doses may induce nausea and looseness of the bowels, while ordinary doses improve the appetite, digestion, and general nutrition. Constipation is not produced by it, and the circulation is unaffected.

Its nutritive qualities are undoubtedly due to its starch. The bitterness of cetrarin may be detected in the nursing mother's milk.

Used as a demulcent in chronic catarrhs, chronic dysentery and diarrhoea, and as a tonic in dyspepsia, convalescence, and exhausting diseases. Boiled with milk it forms an excellent nutritive and tonic in phthisis and general debility.

It relieves the cough of chronic bronchitis. Its tonic virtues depend on its cetrarin, the bitter principle which, if removed, renders the lichen merely nutritious.

Dose in powder, 30 to 60 grains; of cetrarin, 1 1/2 to 3 grains. The jelly and decoction are most generally employed.