Usnea - Old Man's Beard
I never would have thought growing up that those little fuzzy things on trees were anything that I would ever diligently search for. They were so common we didn't even see them. But I guess that's part of the experience of growing up in Appalachia. Blessings are abundant here. When I first started researching Usnea, or Old Man's Beard, it seemed that they were considered a little bit rare, so imagine my surprise when I walked outside and found the yard literally full of them from a rainstorm the night before. I scooped up a bunch and brought them in. I'm not gonna lie to you, Usnea is a pain to prepare. It needs heat, but it also needs alcohol to bring out the best medicinal properties. I don't like boiling anything, to be honest, because it seems way too harsh for God's beautiful creation, so I always opt for the slower method. I put my usnea in a crock pot for three days and tend it like a baby so it won't burn. Then I dump the goop into a ja...