Clubmoss

(Lycopodium clavatum L., and allied species, Lycopodiaceae)

Also called: Vegetable Sulphur, Wolf's Claw.

Description: Plants creeping, much branches, at times forming a carpet.
Stems erect up to 1 5cm (6in) high, densely covered with small, elongated leaves terminating in a hair.
At the apices of many branches are cylindrical masses of yellow sporangia within which are numerous small spores.
Spores mature in July and August.

Part Used: Mainly the spores; rarely, dried entire plant.

Habitat and Collection: In central and northern Europe, on marshy ground, pastures and heaths; in Britain more common in the north than in the south.
In order to obtain the spores the sporangia are collected shortly before maturity and are allowed to dry on sheets of paper; they are then shaken on a sieve to separate out the spores.

Constituents and Action: The spores contain about 50% of fixed oil and probably small quantities of more active constituents.
Externally they relieve irritation of the skin; internally they relieve the pain arising from inflammations of the bladder (uncertain).
The herb, which contains alkaloids, is mildly diuretic and soothing for inflammations of the bladder. In large doses it is toxic to the central nervous system.

Usage: Spores used principally as a dusting powder for irritations of the skin, especially for children because of the soothing effect.

For internal use it is mixed with 9 parts of sugar and administered as a sedative for inflammation of the bladder (a knife-pointful of this mixture, 3 times a day with a little bearberry tisane).

The herb is used internally as an infusion (1 teaspoonful in 0.5 litre (1 pt) of cold water, raise to the boil) in the treatment of inflammation of the bladder and pyelitis.

The action on the bladder and kidneys appears to be inconstant.