Medical Uses for Seaweed

Seaweed is a saltwater-dwelling marine algae used throughout history for medicinal purposes. The Romans used it to treat rashes, burns and wounds, while 18th-century Scottish doctors used it to drain abscesses on the abdominal wall. For centuries, the Chinese and Japanese cultures have used seaweed to treat cancer and glandular problems. Because of its high nutritional content, seaweed is also widely accepted as a food throughout Asia. Most seaweed is categorized as either the red, green or brown species and is still researched and used today for a variety of medical applications.

Managing Wounds

• Alginates are the naturally occurring polysaccharides found in brown seaweed and are commonly used in wound dressings. Dr. Michael Zapf from Zfootdoc.com states that dressings made from seaweed can absorb much of the moisture found in a healing wound. In addition, the fibrous gel that is formed from the wound fluid and alginate promotes wound healing. Alginate derived from seaweed is also used to manufacture biodegradable, highly absorbent calcium alginate wound dressings.

Anti-Hypertensive Qualities

• According to Drugs.com, seaweed preparations were shown to lower the blood pressure among mildly hypertensive middle-age patients in a double-blind crossover study. Their blood pressure was reduced through an ion exchange mechanism in the seaweed preparations. Because it hasn't been proved to reduce mortality, however, seaweed is not yet a recommended treatment for hypertension.

Anti-Cancer Qualities

• Laminaria, a polysaccharide from edible brown kelp seaweed, has been shown in research to slow the development of a variety of induced cancers. This compound is thought to enhance the immune system's response to the substances that cause cancer.

Precautions

• Seaweed is rich in iodine. Be cautious when taking dietary supplements that contain seaweed, as you could easily exceed the maximum recommended intake of iodine (1,000 mcg/day), depending on the concentration. An excessive amount of iodine in the diet may cause thyroid problems. Taking too much dried seaweed can also cause carotenodermia, a yellowing of the skin. Compounds found in seaweed are effective in the ripening and dilation of the cervix, but there is a significant risk of maternal and neonatal infection associated with this type of use.