[expand]
Harvesting
Both lichen and moss were gathered with respect for sustainability. Overharvesting could destroy a resource that took years to regrow—particularly lichen, which grew extremely slowly. The practice was to take only what was needed, to harvest from multiple locations rather than stripping one area, and to leave enough for regeneration.
Gathering occurred during appropriate seasons. Moss was best collected when dry, making it easier to clean and store. Lichen could be gathered year-round but was often collected during autumn when other gathering activities brought people to appropriate locations.
Storage
Dried lichen and moss stored indefinitely if kept dry. They were hung in bundles from rafters in longhouses, safe from moisture and accessible when needed. This long-term storage was crucial—medical emergencies did not wait for gathering season. A family needed supplies ready for immediate use.
Preparation Methods
Iceland moss required soaking and boiling. The healer broke dried lichen into pieces, soaked it in cold water overnight, discarded the soaking water, then boiled the lichen in fresh water to create medicinal tea. The process was time-consuming but necessary for effective, non-irritating medicine.
Usnea was used dried—either crumbled into powder for sprinkling or soaked briefly and applied as compress. No complex preparation required, making it ideal for field treatment of injuries.
Sphagnum was used fresh when possible, gathered from bog and applied directly to wounds. Dried sphagnum was rehydrated before use, regaining its absorbent properties when wetted.
[/expand]