Seaweed
Synopsis of seaweed
Seaweed is a general term for various marine macroalgae, including brown (e.g., kelp, Laminaria), red (e.g., dulse, Palmaria palmata), and green (e.g., sea lettuce, Ulva) varieties. Rich in minerals, vitamins, and unique polysaccharides like alginates, carrageenans, and fucoidans, seaweed is a highly nutritious and medicinal marine plant. It provides iodine—essential for thyroid hormone production—as well as magnesium, calcium, potassium, B vitamins, vitamin C, and antioxidants like astaxanthin and phlorotannins. Due to its nutrient density and bioactive compounds, seaweed is used in traditional and modern herbal medicine for detoxification, immune support, cardiovascular health, and endocrine balance.
Medicinally, seaweed is especially valued for its ability to bind to heavy metals and toxins in the gut, supporting natural elimination processes. Its iodine content plays a pivotal role in supporting thyroid function and preventing goiter. Polysaccharides in brown seaweeds such as fucoidan and laminarin are being studied for their immune-modulating, anti-inflammatory, and potentially anti-cancer effects. Externally, seaweed is used in poultices and baths for skin health, wound healing, and soothing joint pain.
Historical Use:
The use of seaweed in medicine and nutrition dates back thousands of years across coastal cultures. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, seaweeds such as Kun Bu (kelp) and Hai Zao (sargassum) have long been used to soften hard masses (like goiters and tumors), clear heat, and promote urination. These seaweeds were especially prescribed for thyroid swelling due to their natural iodine content.
In Japanese Kampo medicine, seaweed has been a dietary and therapeutic mainstay, used to promote vitality and digestive balance. In ancient Japan and Korea, seaweed soups (like miyeok-guk) were traditionally given to postpartum women to restore nutrients and support lactation.
European coastal populations, particularly in Ireland and Scotland, used seaweed (such as dulse and bladderwrack) to supplement diets during times of famine and as traditional remedies for joint problems, goiter, and sluggish digestion. In the 18th and 19th centuries, kelp was burned to extract soda ash and iodine, leading to early pharmaceutical applications. Seaweed baths became popular in Victorian spa culture for treating rheumatism, eczema, and fatigue.
Seaweed is used for these health conditions
Acne (Scientific)
Anemia (Scientific)
Arthritis (Scientific)
Asthma (Traditional)
Blood Clots (prevention of) (Scientific)
Breast Lumps (Traditional)
Bronchitis (Traditional)
Bruises (healing) (Traditional)
Cancer (natural therapy for) (Scientific)
Cancer (prevention) (Scientific)
Cancer Treatment (reducing side effects) (Scientific)
Cholesterol (high) (Scientific)
Circulation (poor) (Traditional)
Cirrhosis of the Liver (Traditional)
Colds (prevention) (Traditional)
Constipation (adults) (Traditional)
Constipation (children) (Traditional)
Diabetes (Scientific)
Digestion (poor) (Scientific)
Edema (Traditional)
Fatigue (Traditional)
Fatty Liver Disease (Scientific)
Gastritis (Traditional)
Goiter (Scientific)
Hair (loss or thinning) (Traditional)
Hangover (Traditional)
Heart (weakness) (Traditional)
Hemorrhoids (Traditional)
Hepatitis (Scientific)
Hypertension (Scientific)
Inflammation (Scientific)
Liver Detoxification (Scientific)
Memory and Brain Function (Scientific)
Menopause (Traditional)
Osteoporosis (Scientific)
Psoriasis (Traditional)
Radiation Sickness (Traditional)
seaweed is used to support these body systems
Arteries (Scientific)
Blood (Traditional)
Brain (Scientific)
Circulatory System (Scientific)
Digestive System (Scientific)
Gastrointestinal Tract (Scientific)
Glandular System (Scientific)
Hair (Traditional)
Immune System (Scientific)
Intestinal System (Scientific)
Joints (Traditional)
Kidneys (Traditional)
Large Intestines (Colon) (Scientific)
Liver (Scientific)
Nails (Scientific)
Reproductive System (Traditional)
Skeletal System (Bones) (Scientific)
Skin (Scientific)
Small Intestines (Traditional)
Spleen (Traditional)
Stomach (Scientific)
Thyroid Gland (Scientific)
