| Club Moss was used, in folk medicine, for digestive, bladder, kidney, and menstrual
complaints, and for disorders that arise from excess uric acid. It was also used for
inflammation of the skin and mucous membranes, for joint pain and sore throat, and as a
remedy for enlarged prostate and impotence. Although Club Moss was documented in official
medical literature as recently as the mid-twentieth century, its value has not been verified
in human studies. It is seldom used today by Western herbalists, except in a highly diluted
homeopathic form. Homeopathic practitioners recommend Club Moss (referred to as Lycopodium)
for a host of complaints, mainly urinary, digestive, and dermatological, and for symptom
patterns in which the person is pale and feels weak, dry, and cold. Lycopodium is
particularly favored when these disease patterns are accompanied by states of emotional
sensitivity and a desire for company. However, like its folk uses, the herb's homeopathic
applications have not been verified by clinical trials. |