Is there a medicinal use for moss?

Traditional herbalists list many uses for moss, both the whole plants (sometimes used fresh, sometimes dried and ground) and the spores. Consult a good herbal book, such as A Modern Herbal by Mrs. M. Grieve, for details. In herbal medicine, moss is most commonly used as a diuretic or as a cure for coughs, depending on how the moss is processed and which moss is used. Irish moss is used for its mucilaginous and nutritional qualities. Sphagnum moss has been used since ancient times as a dressing for wounds.