Seaweed – the power of “Cool”

Hilary Self Hilary Self

Seaweed is a common ingredient in animal food products. Here at Hilton Herbs we use  several seaweeds in our supplements, including Ascophyllum nodosum (Knotted Kelp) & Fucus vesiculosus (Bladderwrack) both of which are really “Cool”!

What makes them “Cool”? 

Well, all plants contain plant constituents which have a Pharmacodynamic effect (interact) on specific sites in the body. These two seaweeds are commonly included in supplements for both animals and people and are rich in a constituent called Mucilage, which has a “cool” or mucilaginous action both topically and internally on the mucous membranes in the body. 

What exactly is Mucilage? 

Mucilage is a large plant polysaccharide found in many of the plants herbalists love to use, either topically on the skin for their emollient properties, or internally for their demulcent properties on mucous membranes, particularly those of the upper digestive tract. Other plants offering this action include Slippery elm (Ulmus rubra) and Marshmallow (Althea officinalis), which we also use in our supplements.

Mucilages are “hydrophilic” which means they love water, when water is introduced it becomes trapped inside the polysaccharide’s chemical structure. As an example one only has to put a teaspoonful of Slippery Elm into a bowl and add some cold water to see it turn into a sticky, viscous, slimy gel, closely resembling wallpaper paste!  Imagine how beneficial this mucilage could be when ingested, to help soothe inflammation in the digestive tract or provide an additional barrier to gastric acid in individuals with gastric ulcers? In fact the  polysaccharides in Fucus vesiculosus have been shown to be particularly resistant to being broken down by digestive enzymes. 

Historically, plants offering mucilaginous actions have been used topically in compresses or poultices for their anti-inflammatory or “drawing action” on sore or infected wounds.  Alginate dressings made from seaweeds have been used for over 50 years and have been  commercially available for nearly 30 years. The dressings are made using a variety of seaweeds, which, with their ability to absorb 15 – 20 times their own weight in liquid are ideal for use as dressings on wet or “weeping” wounds. 

In the kitchen chefs and cooks are familiar with agar-agar a substance obtained from algae and used as a tasteless and colourless vegan thickening agent for use in desserts. 

What are the other benefits of Seaweed?

The benefits and properties of Seaweed doesn’t stop at their Mucilage content. The  two seaweeds mentioned above are also a rich source of over 60 essential elements, including major and minor trace elements such as Calcium, Potassium, Magnesium, Iron, Zinc, Selenium and Iodine, Vitamins B1, B2, B12, C & E along with 17 amino acids including Methionine, Cysteine, and Lycine, all of these essential nutrients are vital for the development of strong healthy bones, to support organs such as the pancreas, liver and kidney’s, to ensure effective digestive, circulatory, glandular and nervous systems, all this in addition to the beneficial effects seaweed has on promoting outstanding coat condition, deep coat colour and healthy teeth and gums. 

With all these attributes going for it, Seaweed has got to be one of the best plants on offer in Mother Nature’s Medicine Chest. 

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About Hilary Self Hilary Self

Hilary SelfHilary Self BSc.MNIMH. Hilary is a Medical Herbalist who writes about the practical application of herbs and natural healthcare for horses and pets.