Laryngorhinootologie. 1997 Mar; 76(3): 186-8.

[Icelandic moss lozenges in the prevention or treatment of oral mucosa irritation and dried out throat mucosa]

Kempe C, Gr�ning H, Stasche N, HÃ¶rmann K.

HNO-Klinik, Westpfalz-Klinikum Kaiserslautern.

BACKGROUND: Icelandic Moss (Cetraria islandica) has been used to treat inflammation and dryness of the pharyngeal mucosa in the naturopathy for many years. It contains substances with protective and antiinflammatory effects for the oral mucosa. The necessary concentration of Icelandic Moss and its therapeutic effectiveness were analysed in this clinical study. METHODS: Sixty-one patients who recently underwent surgery of nasal septum were evaluated for this randomized study. These patients suffer especially from dryness and inflammation of the oral cavity due to breathing only through the mouth while the nose is permanently closed by a nasal package. Three groups of patients treated with three different concentrations of the active substance were compared, Coating, dryness, and inflammation of the mucosa, lymph nodes, tongue, the tolerance of the drug, and symptoms like hoarseness and sore throat were documented. The oral application was performed from the first to the fifth day after the operation. RESULTS: The treatment with Icelandic Moss caused a direct reduction of the observed pathological changes. There were no significant differences between the three test groups. A dose of 0.48 g per day (10 Isla-Moos lozenges per day) is a sufficient treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Icelandic Moss is an advisable therapeutic opportunity without interactions and side effects for the treatment of inflammation of the oral mucosa occurring after nasal surgery, after intubation, and for simple infections of the throat.