Skull lichens: A curious chapter in the history of phytotherapy

Lichens growing on skulls were known in late medieval times as usnea or moss of a dead man's skull and were recommended as highly beneficial in various diseases. They were, in addition, the main ingredient of Unguentum armariun, a liniment used in a curious medical practice: the magnetic cure of wounds. We can place this chapter of the history of phytotherapy within the wider cultural context of the period, which saw the definition of nature become increasingly more fluid and open to a variety of novel interpretations.

Graphical abstractDifferent lichen species growing on a jawless skull.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide