This product is the thallus of kelp from the Kelp family or kelp (Ecklonia kurome Okam) from the Alariaceae family and wakame (Undaria Pinatifida (Haru.) Sur.). It is mainly produced in Shandong, Liaoning, Zhejiang, Fujian, and other regions of China. It is harvested in summer and autumn, impurities are removed, it is cleaned, cut into wide strips, and dried. The nature, flavor, efficacy, and food therapy applications of kelp and kelp are essentially the same, but due to the roughness of kelp, it is consumed by people only during times of famine.

bubble_chart Properties and Meridians

Salty, cold. act on liver and kidney channels.

bubble_chart Efficacy

Resolve phlegm and soften hardness, unblock water and disperse edema, clear heat.

bubble_chart Indications

1. Used for goiter, scrofula, testicular swelling and pain, etc. Kelp has a salty taste and cold nature, with the effects of softening hardness and dispersing phlegm to dissipate nodules. For treating goiter, it is often combined with Fritillaria Bulb and others, such as seaweed Yuhu Decoction; for treating scrofula, it is often used with Prunella , Scrophularia Root , Forsythia , etc., such as the Internal Dissipating Scrofula Pill; for treating testicular swelling and pain, it is combined with Tangerine Seed , Sichuan Chinaberry, etc., such as the Jisheng Fang Tangerine Seed Pill .
2. Used for beriberi edema and other types of edema. Kelp has the effects of unblocking water and dispersing edema, and can be used with Alisma and other damp-excreting medicinals. It is often used in mutual reinforcement with seaweed .

bubble_chart Documentation

1. Bielu: "It treats twelve types of edema, goiter, and accumulated qi."
2. Bencao Jingshu: "Kelp, being salty, can soften hardness. Its nature is moistening and purgative, and its cold property can eliminate heat and dissipate nodules. Therefore, it treats twelve types of edema, goiter, and accumulated qi. Dong Tan said: 'For goiters as hard as stone, nothing but this can remove them.' This is precisely the effect of its salty nature softening hardness. Examining its flavor, properties, and therapeutic uses, it is largely similar to seaweed."

bubble_chart Usage and Dosage

10-15 grams. Decoct and take orally.

Kelp contains polysaccharides such as alginic acid, kelp polysaccharides, and galactan, as well as amino acids like kelp amino acid, glutamic acid, asparagus root amino acid, and proline. It also contains vitamins, carotene, and inorganic salts such as iodine, potassium, and calcium. Due to its content of iodine and iodides, it helps prevent and treat iodine-deficiency goiter. Kelp amino acid and potassium salts have antihypertensive effects, while alginic acid and kelp amino acid help reduce serum cholesterol. Additionally, it has a grade I laxative effect.