Moss

[Marmot]

Having had my post "keeping pans clean" ripped apart with surgical precision i got over my hurt feelings with the wonderings of what other uses you can use moss for.

So far we have;
Cleaning pans
and my favourite...spagnum moss, the natural alternative to carrying around toilet roll. Spagnum moss in particular contains an antiseptic which will leave you with rosie cheeks

anybody else have any other uses for moss?

[Ollie]

Of course if it's around in copious amounts, you can gather a small pile under your tent to make your natural 'matress' that little bit more comfortable. Having said that, by the time I've reached the site and gotten ready to pitch, I'm usually so tired I'll sleep on anything. And of course, after a few nights it'll be so dead and flat that it won't make the slightest difference.

Ollie

[Marmot]

Suppose it could work as an absorber for leaking wounds too...

[Oli-picka]

reindeer moss - a food for desperate people

[Digby]

and my favourite...spagnum moss, the natural alternative to carrying around toilet roll. Spagnum moss in particular contains an antiseptic which will leave you with rosie cheeks

If using it for that purpose, be sure to use the top and not the gritty bit underneath. Mind, either way you will have rosy cheeks. :(

Dick Byford

[Hillwalker]

Marmot is right, due to its absorbancy and antiseptic qualities it was collected and used for dressing wounds in the Crimean War.

[Flutterby]

isn't it moss that you're meant to rub on skin if you get stung by nettles?

[Ollie]

I think you're thinking of 'doc' leaves there, although I believe that's more of a placebo than anything else to be honest.

However, I think the last time I got badly stung was when I was six, so I could well be wrong :)

Ollie

[Marmot]

Doc leaves are effective, tho am not sure how theyd work against nettle tea.

[Oli-picka]

i reckon with doc's its more of a mental thing

[Marmot]

Thats what hurricane meant with placebo, its a drug given to patiants which does nothing chemically to the person, but often makes the patient feel better.

[Ollie]

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=placebo

Also a pretty decent band, but that's for another thread :)

Can someone clear this up for us? Does it actually do anything or is it an old wive's tale that just makes people think it's doing something?

Ollie

[Oli-picka]

no its true