Whole herb.
Club mosses were the dominant land plants during the Carboniferous period, which was 360 million years ago, flowering plants had not yet arrived on the evolutionary scene and club mosses grew to enormous sizes as they were the only land plants around. Club mosses are primitive vascular plants and even though the name may suggest a relation with the mosses, the plants are not true mosses. A variety of the club moss called stone pine is grown as an ornamental potted plant in China. One of the commercial uses of the club moss spores, as already mentioned, lies in using the highly water resistant spores of the plant in powder form to coat pharmaceutical pills, this keeps the pill from sticking to each other when they are packed together, and the use of the club moss spore coating also disguises the taste of the pill. Before electricity was discovered and put to use, the very flammable club moss spores were utilized in producing fireworks as well as to produce special effects in theaters of the old days. In traditional medical systems of Europe, club moss was used for treating kidney and bladder related disorders, the whole club moss plant was subjected to drying, it would then be chopped, and then used in the preparation of a herbal tea for the patient to drink. Disorders such as diarrhea and dysentery, rabies induced hydrophobia, problems such as gout, the scurvy, and rheumatism began to be treated using the club moss spores in the early 17th century. Lycopodium is the name given to the homeopathic remedies prepared from the club moss; this remedy is made by triturating the club moss in a lactose solution until the spores begin to disintegrate and the oily contents escape into the sugar solution. Disorders such as constipation, the chronic lung and bronchial disorders affecting patients, conditions such as aneurysms, and a persistent fever are homeopathically treated using this club moss based remedy. A potent anti-spasmodic, a sedative as well as diuretic actions are evident in the club moss; these qualities of the plant are especially effective in the treatment of chronic urinary complaints and disorders in the urinogenital system of patients. Disorders such as persistent indigestion and gastritis can also be treated using the herbal remedy based on the club moss. Itchy, irritated areas on the skin can also be protected and alleviated by application of the prepared club moss spores as a topical herbal treatment.
The club moss is a plant found mainly in comparatively colder latitudes and is not found in the tropics. Wild populations of the club moss are all concentrated in the temperate regions of the world, lying in the northern hemisphere - the club moss grows in the wild in all temperate areas in the northern regions of the world. The plant also inhabits higher altitudes, and elevated mountains and grassy areas in highlands often have wild populations of the club moss. Summer is the season for the collection, sorting and harvest of the club moss from the wild - the club moss is not cultivated.
Club moss contains about 0.1-0.2% alkaloids (including lycopodine), polyphenols, flavonoids, and triterpenes.
Dosages of different preparations made from the club moss differ and depend on the patient as well. An infusion prepared from the club moss by boiling small cut pieces of the plant in about one oz. to pint boiling water can be used for treatment. A single cupful of this herbal club moss infusion taken once during the day, one large mouthful every dose for the entire duration of the treatment period is sufficient for most people.
