Reindeer Moss

The Homœopathic Proving of

Cladonia Rangifera

Introduction

Introduction

Pharmacy

Time and dates

Provers

Classification of symptoms

Introduction

Cladonia rangiferina

Reindeer Moss, Caribou Moss, Reindeer Lichen.

Reindeer Moss is a lichen, an organism consisting of a fungus and unicellular algae in symbiosis. The tubes and outer structure of the fungus provide shelter - a protected environment for the algae that photosynthesises and produces the carbohydrates that feed them both. As in any symbiotic relationship, the cooperative function of each is necessary for the survival of the whole organism.

Reindeer Moss grows on rocks or on the ground and looks like a spongy, grayish mass up to 4 inches thick. Closer inspection reveals a branching structure of filaments which resemble nothing as closely as bronchial tissue. The body and filaments are speckled dull green – the green being internal colonies of algae. It has no roots but absorbs moisture from the air. This means it can grow where other plants cannot. (It also makes it extremely vulnerable to airborne pollution.) Although it is found as far south as Florida and the Mediterranean its ability to thrive in conditions where other plants cannot survive means it is most common in mountainous areas and on the Arctic tundra. The specimen used for the proving was gathered in the summer of 1999 from areas of exposed Canadian shield in the Georgian Bay area of Ontario, Canada.

Caribou or Reindeer feed extensively on the moss during the winter months when very little other food is available. Reindeer Moss is extremely high in Carbohydrates up to 94%, which the Reindeer need to provide the energy that keeps them warm. They have special microorganisms in their digestive tracts that remove the strong fumarprotocetraric acid in the lichen. Very few other animals can digest lichens. The Reindeer can smell the moss through the snow and paw the snow away to get at it. It has been observed that during severe winters, the otherwise peaceful Caribou may fight over this valuable food source. Just as the reindeer are dependant on the moss, so in turn the Laplanders and the Innuit are dependant upon the reindeer. In the extreme Arctic conditions such relationships are absolute and any failing in them would undoubtedly result in annihilation. (Note the relationship to partners evidenced by the two provers quoted below.)

The lichen can withstand very low temperatures and dry out and become dormant if there is no moisture. Exposed upon rocks when snows melt, the moss bakes during long summer days. It desiccates and can then be crumbled between fingers, disintegrating into a gray-green powder. Moisture quickly rehydrates it, in the manner of a bath sponge becoming pliant once again when wetted. (One of the reasons we thought to carry out this proving was based upon the capacity of this organism to thrive under such extreme fluctuating conditions.) These lichens prefer acid soils as low as pH 4.5. If there is sufficient light the lichen is able to grow even when the temperature is as low as -10 c.

The lichen is made up of a thallus, or main body, with podetia growing from it. The plant is incredibly long lived. The first stage of growth of a podetium can last 25 years. It then enters a stable period in which new growth at the tip is equal to die off at the base; this period can last 100 years. There is then a period of degeneration in which die-back exceeds growth, but this period too can last 100 years. Growth is extremely slow. Areas, even lightly, grazed by Caribou can take several years to recover. Areas destroyed by fire or severely over grazed can take a century to return to a their earlier state. Reproduction is by spores blown on the wind but most dispersal occurs through breaking off of thallus fragments. An overriding feature of this proving was a sense of tedium, a slowness of pace, a chronicity of symptom development – and then the monotonous lingering of that state. Several provers used their cut and paste tools to duplicate yesterdays symptoms onto today's page!

Humans can eat the lichen if it is boiled to remove the acids. In Scandinavia the lichen is processed into a powder which is used to thicken soups. The acids in the lichen can be used to tan reindeer hides. Native American make a tea from the lichen that is used to treat diarrhea. It has also been used as a laxative and a cough suppressant to assist blood formation and to treat loss of appetite, gastritis, inflammation of the mouth, the pharynx and the intestines. It has also been used to treat gastric and intestinal catarrh. This proving confirmed these uses for it brought out physical symptoms with a focus upon the respiratory and digestive systems. Cup Moss (Cladonia pyxidata) in an expectorant and a valuable herbal remedy for whooping cough. Iceland Moss (Cetraria islandica) has been extensively used herbally in chronic pulmonary troubles and advanced tuberculosis. Lungwort (Sticta pulmonaria) is used to subdue rheumatic inflammation and for its healing effect in pulmonary complaints with dry secretions and hay fever. Homeopathically all of the above remedies have been used for catarrh and inflammation particularly of the respiratory and digestive tracts. Usnea barbata, another lichen, is used in severe congestive headaches.

Why carry out this proving? As we have written, one reason was based upon the capacity of this organism to survive the extremes of arctic winter as well as desiccating summer conditions. It alternates between moist, living phases and dry, dormant phases. It looks like bronchioles and, as detailed above, shares many bronchial symptoms with related lichens. Another reason for doing it, was the dependency of Caribou upon it. We could not picture exactly how this aspect would translate into human psychology, although being a sole winter food source should create a distinctive picture of dependence and possessiveness. Endurance issues should also be paramount. As it turned out, money and other survival issues arose strongly for some provers.

Yet another reason for doing it was that, from an evolutionary perspective, Lichens occupy a position between fungus and mosses. In this sense, they are a transitional species. They are forerunners as is Lycopodium (here between moss and fern) and could, therefore provide us with insights into evolving plant psychology. Yes, we did write psychology, not only because plants have 'group souls', but also because the experience of plants translates into human life with psychological as well as physiological symptoms. Transitional species have a particular position in terms of human psychology because as a species we find ourselves in constant (self created) transition. We knew that when we undertook the proving we would acquire an in-depth insight into the psychology of the Lichen group of organisms which hitherto had only enjoyed perfunctory provings.

However, we had not considered the aspect of symbiosis of fungus and algae. This is an added twist upon the Caribou/Deer Moss relationship. This came vividly to light during the proving, translating into symptoms of jealousy. As on prover put it, 'there's only room for two'. It is an essential part of the definition of symbiosis that without the symbiant, the organism cannot survive.

Yondercott 23.11.01 The following symptoms remain unchanged and unabated in the two provers given below since the proving was undertaken two years ago:

M's account: Jealousy - unfounded and foolish. (New symptom since the proving, still as strong as ever.) The feeling is, 'there's only room for two (him and me)' Jealousy with a pain in the centre of the chest. Heaviness in chest area. Suspicious of other's motives – someone is waiting to jump in my shoes. Suspiciousness is worse on Sundays – I feel suicidal.

C's account: Jealousy, still as bad as ever. Anyone who interferes in my relationship poses a threat to me, even the cat. I feel that my husband likes the cat more than me. I couldn't bear life without him. Suspicious – I feel that plans are being hatched – traps are being laid. I feel suffocated, breathless, my heart feels heavy. My emotional state is worse on Tuesdays – I feel suicidal. Desolation, total loss. Since the proving I have felt even colder than before – icy hands and feet. Not all authors have held that the relationship between the fungus and the algae is a symbiotic one.

We are grateful to Frans Vermeulen for the following quote from M.C. Cooke - Romance of Low Life Amongst Plants - London 1893. In which another view of the relationship is expressed. This interpretation, being the reverse of the symbiotic, illuminates the symptom, 'suspicion that plans are being hatched, that traps are being laid,' (and as we will see later in the proving) the feeling of being used and abused. Either way, the symptoms arose in the proving and vividly portray important aspects of sharing of vs. possessing of the other. "As the result of my researches, all these growths [lichens] are not simple plants, not individuals, in the ordinary sense of the word; they are rather colonies, which consist of hundreds and thousands of individuals, of which, however, one alone plays the master, whilst the rest in perpetual captivity prepare the nutriment for themselves and their master. This master is a fungus of the class Ascomyces, a parasite which is accustomed to live upon others' work; its slaves are green algae, which it has sought out, or indeed caught hold of, and compelled into its service. It surrounds them as a spider its prey, with a fibrous net of narrow meshes, which is gradually converted into an impenetrable covering; but whilst the spider sucks its prey and leaves it dead, the fungus incites the algae found in its net to more rapid activity; nay, to more vigorous increase."

This currently disreputed view of parasitism, is an interesting take on the phenomenon of sharing for the master and the slave both survive. Today we call this symbiosis. The basic cell itself may be understood as an originally symbiotic assemblage of previously discrete micro-organisms. This basic unit of all higher life-forms is wrought out of sharing organelles and their disparate functions for mutual benefit. From the perspective of the organelle, separation from the safe environment of the cell would be disastrous. From the perspective of the whole, cooperation in favour of isolation offers the best survival option.

Pharmacy

The sample of moss was gathered in the summer of 1999 from areas of exposed Canadian shield in the Georgian Bay area of Ontario, Canada. It was run up into the 30th potency in the Hahnemannian, single vial manner by Helios Homśopathic Pharmacy.

Time and dates

Times given are the actual time of day, not time from taking the remedy. XX.XX indicates no specific time was noted.

Days are numbered from 1, the day the remedy was taken. Day 0 indicates a symptom that was general and not tied to a particular date.

Provers

Information from provers who did not take the remedy are included and clearly indicated. The reasons for this are outlined in Group and Proving Phenomena, Observations by Misha Norland, An Article published in Issue 72 of The Homoeopath, Winter 1999. The reader should make up his or her own mind as to how to treat these symptoms.

Classification of symptoms

NS A new symptom never before experienced.

OS An old symptom previously experienced, but not in the preceding year.

RS A recent symptom experienced within the last year.

AS An altered symptom, one previously experienced but with at least one quality changed.

CS A cured symptom, a symptom that was removed during the proving.

IOS An old symptom that is felt with significantly greater intensity than before.

Copyright The School of Homœopathy 2003
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