Herbs & Herbal Remedies @ Green Papaya

Protector from the Sea

Family: Fucaceae; (includes other Seaweeds)

Genus and Species: Fucus Vetsiculosus and species of three other genuses: Laminaria, Macrocystis, and Nereocystis

Also known as: Bladderwrack, Seawrack, Fucus, Bladder Fucus, Cutweed, and Sea Vegetables; in Japan, Wakame, Arame, Kombu, and Hijiki

Parts used: Stemlike and leaflike parts

Kelp, as a source of iodine, used to be the treatment of choice for goiter-a thyroid enlargement caused by iodine deficiency. A few modern herbals still recommend kelp for the thyroid. But today kelp is more known as a protector from radiation, heart disease, and toxic heavy metals.

Fisherman’s Friend

Kelp is a type of seaweed, specifically long-frond brown algae, which grows to lengths of 200 feet off Japan, Europe, and North America.

Ancient seafarers were well acquainted with the kelp beds off England and France. Early fishermen burned the plant for fuel and wrapped, baked, and ate fish in it. Unlike the Japanese, who eat a great deal of seaweed, Europeans never developed much taste for kelp. But l Sth-century physicians noticed that people who lived along the Atlantic coast rarely developed goiters-the large growths in the neck that were later shown to be enlarged thyroid glands.

Iodine: The Weight-loss Connection

In 1750 a British physician introduced a cure for goiter-charred kelp in a vegetable-oil base, It worked, but no one knew why until 1812, when chemists identified iodine in the plant and physicians learned goiters were caused by iodine deficiency.

For several decades, Europeans and North Americans harvested kelp for its iodine. The fronds were cut off exposed rocks at low tide, hence one popular name, cut weed. Eventually other iodine sources replaced kelp, and the harvesting ceased.

During the 1860s, British and French physicians observed that people taking iodine for other reasons seemed to lose weight more easily. The iodine stimulated their thyroid, which boosted their metabolism, and they burned calories faster. Kelp gained a reputation as a treatment for obesity, which it retains to this day.

America’s 19th-century Eclectics had no use for kelp, but they prized its iodine, They used iodine as an antiseptic for treating wounds and prescribed tincture of iodine internally for tuberculosis, liver and spleen disorders, syphilis, vaginal discharge, menstrual cramps, menstruation promotion, ovarian tumors, and enlargment of the testicles and uterus.

The Eclectics were also well aware that iodine overdose caused poisoning (iodism) involving fever, vomiting, thirst, diarrhea, abdominal pain, heart rhythm disturbances (arrhythmias), and “violent priapism” (painful, persistent penile erection unrelated to sexual desire).

Only a few contemporary herbalists still mention kelp for goiter, other thyroid disorders, arthritis, and obesity.

Kelp is definitely high in iodine. Back in the days before iodized salt, when iodine deficiency was a real problem, kelp was a real blessing. But today, iodine deficiency is virtually unheard-of in developed countries. To function normally, the body needs only a minute amount of iodine (150 micrograms a day)-an amount more than supplied by iodized salt. Additional iodine has no significant effect-until you consume enough to cause iodism, which is almost impossible just from eating kelp.

Kelp is a Healing herb today because it contains another chemical (sodium alginate, also known simply as alginate). which is beneficial for health problems unique to the 20th century: radiation exposure, heavy metal toxicity, and heart disease.

Radiation Protection - The sodium alginate in kelp helps prevent absorption of radioactive strontium 90, a by-product of nuclear explosions and nuclear power and weapons facilities. Strontium 90, one of many toxic heavy metals, accumulates in bone tissue and has been linked to several cancers: leukemia, bone cancer, and Hodgkin’s disease. Aboveground nuclear testing released a great deal of strontium 90. Nuclear accidents, including those at Three Mile Island and Chernobyl, have also released large quantities. In fact, so much strontium 90 has been released into the atmosphere, the bone tissue of every person on earth probably contains detectable levels.

Many animal studies show alginate supplements reduce strontium-90 absorption by as much as 83 percent. The herb’s anti-strontium effect extends to human children and adults, according to a report in the International Journal of Radiation Biology.

The U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (now the Nuclear Regulatory Commission) guidelines advocate 3 ounces of kelp a week or 2 tablespoons of alginate supplement a day to prevent strontium-90 absorption.

However, sodium alginate mainly prevents the absorption of newly ingested heavy metals. It works only in the gastrointestinal tract. It has little effect on past exposures. It does not significantly eliminate strontium and other pollutants already deposited in bone and other tissues. But since emissions from nuclear facilities continue to expose us to strontium 90 and other heavy metals, kelp or alginate supplementation is a good idea, especially for anyone who works in a nuclear facility, lives near one, or is occupationally exposed to heavy metals.

Toxic Heavy Metals - Strontium 90 is just one of many toxic heavy metals Studies at McGill University in Montreal show that kelp also protects the body.from several others: barium, cadmium, plutonium, and cesium.

Heart Disease - Some animal studies show kelp may help reduce cholesterol and blood pressure. On the other hand, kelp is also high in sodium, which may raise some people’s blood pressure. Salt-sensitive individuals with high blood pressure should not consume large amounts of kelp. Others may include the herb in a comprehensive heart-disease prevention program.

Infection Prevention - Kelp is not an herbal antibiotic, but it does interfere with the growth of some bacteria and fungi. Cuts exposed to seawater are often slow to heal and prone to infection. Kelp might be useful as an emergency bandage for boating, fishing, surfing, and diving injuries.

Myth - Kelp has never been shown to treat arthritis, help the liver or spleen, or treat any sexual infections or reproductive problems.

If thyroid function is normal, kelp does not promote weight loss.

Rx for Kelp

To most people, kelp tastes unpleasant. To take advantage of the protection from environmental pollution that kelp offers, tablets are the way to go. They’re available where supplements are sold. Follow package directions.

If you decide to try an infusion, use 2 to 3 teaspoons of dried powdered frond per cup of boiling water. Steep 10 minutes. Drink up to 3 cups a day.

Low-strength kelp preparations may be given cautiously to children under age 2. For older children and people over 65, start with low-strength preparations and increase strength if necessary.

If you’re really adventurous, you might try some kelp recipes from a Japanese cookbook or else develop a taste for sushi, which makes considerable use of kelp.

The Food and Drug Administration includes kelp in its list of herbs generally regarded as safe. For otherwise healthy non-pregnant, non-nursing adults who do not have thyroid disorders or high blood pressure, kelp is considered safe in amounts typically recommended.

Kelp should be used in medicinal amounts only in consultation with your doctor. If kelp causes minor discomforts, such as stomach upset or diarrhea, use less or stop using it.

Let your doctor know if you experience any unpleasant symptoms or if the symptoms for which the herb is being used do not improve significantly in two weeks.

Don’t Collect It, Buy It

Kelp grows in the cold water off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of North America. It has a strong, foul odor when fresh, but baking deodorizes it. Authorities discourage using kelp collected close to shore because it may be contaminated by industrial pollutants. If you use kelp, buy it from commercial sources.