Laminaria has a different name – “sea kale”, refers to brown seaweed. In the distant 90s, in many regions of Russia, on the shelves of shops, you could see mostly only jars of canned seaweed. For many young families in those unforgettable years, seaweed became a real savior. Probably, many will now remember how they ate canned kelp with hot potatoes, with white cabbage … So our compatriots ate this extremely useful product, without suspecting, however, that sea kale in large quantities is not very good. Why? – we will see below. 

And now kelp has not lost its “relevance”. These seafood has been known since ancient times as a valuable food product, as a therapeutic agent, as a means of cosmetology, as micro and macro fertilizer for cultivated plants. 

It is understandable that kelp is growing underwater in the sea. It forms dense thickets in places with a constant current at a depth of up to 10 meters, and in some areas at a depth of up to 35 meters.

The kelp has no stems and leaves, but there is a so-called thallus (body) in the form of an even or wrinkled brown plate, dissected or whole, from a few tens of centimeters to an impressive 20 meters long. It is attached by rhizoids (instead of roots) or a sole of a disk-shaped form. Age can reach up to 18 years.

In the southern regions of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk and the Sea of ​​Japan, Japanese kelp is widespread, and in the Kara and White Seas, sugared and palm-shaped kelp is common.

They are widely used by humans for food and medical purposes.

The kelp thallus contains a large number of polysaccharides, and mainly alginic acid salts – alginates, mannitol, B vitamins, riboflavin B2 and folic acid B9, vitamin C, vitamin PP, vitamin K, potassium, sodium, magnesium, calcium, silicon, phosphorus, high iodine content, iron, zinc, vanadium, manganese, nickel, cobalt, molybdenum, protein substances. 

It is due to the very impressive chemical composition of kelp that is widely used by humans. But mainly sea kale is associated with a source of iodine, which is very true. 

Not everyone knows that seaweed is used not only in canned form, but also dried.

In dried form, kelp is used for:

• normalization of the thyroid gland with endemic goiter, hypothyroidism,
• restoration of proper metabolism – this is a low-calorie plant 24.9 kcal / 100 g, causes a feeling of satiety, contributing to weight loss)
• to reduce low-density cholesterol and the treatment of vascular atherosclerosis,
• for the treatment of chronic constipation (kelp absorbs water and increases in volume, irritates the receptors of the intestinal mucosa, thereby enhancing reflex peristalsis and bowel movement), supports gastrointestinal motility,
• alginates remove excess fluid, pectin cleanses the digestive tract from toxins and toxins, improves immunity, restoring bowel function,
• externally, kelp strengthens the structure of cells, stimulates their recovery, makes the skin clean and supple, relieves swelling, inflammation,
• fights cellulite and skin aging.

Dried thalli, kelp powders (Fucus White Seaweed), as well as tablets and Laminarid granules can be purchased at a regular pharmacy.

Seaweed is widely used in dietetics in the fight against excess weight. Dry cabbage in half or a whole teaspoon is taken orally or infusion is made. 

For example, the following recipe is used for this purpose:

• 1 teaspoon of dry kelp powder is poured with 1 cup boiling water, and then infused. Drink an infusion of kelp 1/3 cup 3 times a day.
• for a stronger effect, pour 3 tablespoons of 1 tablespoon of boiling water, let it brew overnight, strain the kelp in the morning. The liquid can be consumed a little inside (3 tablespoons 3 times a day), and eat cabbage with breakfast in the form of a salad.

However, do not get involved in excessive doses. The optimal dose is up to 7 teaspoons of dry kelp per week. But fresh seaweed is allowed in food up to 320 grams per week. 

You can take kelp on fasting days or evenly divide these 320 grams by the number of meals.

Many people consider kelp not very tasty, so they use it as an additive to soups, snacks, salads.

In soup, it is cooked for 15 minutes with stirring.

Sea kale – an antidote

Alginic acid and its salts are obtained from kelp. This is a polysaccharide, which is the most effective decorporant – a means for removing strontium, barium, radium from the body. In this case, aggressive substances bind to alginate in the intestinal lumen and are excreted from the body. A dose of 4-6 grams of alginates does not upset the salt balance of salts useful to the body. Method of using alginates: in the form of marmalade, jelly, dishes with seaweed, as part of bread, canned food.

Sea kale is an antidote and a powerful anti-radiation agent . She is able to “suck” their bones salts of lead, barium, heavy metals, radionuclides, bind toxins. Laminaria is used as an antidote for lesions of the upper respiratory tract in individuals working with barium salts, radionuclides. For treatment, inhalation with kelp is used: 1 teaspoon of dry kelp powder pour 1 cup of water for 1 hour. Strain, inhalation for 5 minutes. Course 10 sessions. 

The use of kelp in obstetrics

Laminaria in gynecology was used a long time ago. However, after many years of oblivion, they now again remembered the use of kelp to stimulate labor.  

Laminaria is addressed if the term of labor has already approached, and the cervical canal is not ready for childbirth, with immaturity of the cervix in due time, with complicated pregnancy, Rh conflict, severe toxicosis, and fetal death.

The laminaria sticks moistened in physiological saline are injected with special tools by a doctor, and the stick is placed so that it is at one end in the internal pharynx of the cervix.

When preparing the cervix for childbirth, up to 19 sticks of kelp are used for a period of time, each time the sticks remain in place until 20 hours. Each time, the doctor removes the wand during a vaginal examination, pulling it at the ends of the threads.

The benefits of kelp sticks:

• Caesarean section decreases
• there is no effect on maternal blood pressure,
• no toxic effects on mother and fetus.

Of course, kelp is not a panacea. 

 Side effects:

• pain of a woman, (small spotting, a feeling of heaviness, pulling pains, with any discomfort, inform the doctor)
• there may be premature discharge of amniotic fluid,
• any infectious diseases of the reproductive system are a contraindication for the use of kelp sticks.

In folk medicine, there are many interesting recipes based on dried kelp.

For the prevention of atherosclerosis

Laminaria has an antisclerotic effect. It contains a cholesterol antagonist, which helps to dissolve cholesterol plaques on the walls of blood vessels, alginates also have the ability to remove cholesterol.

Atherosclerosis treatment:

1 tablespoon dried kelp pour 1/2 cup boiling water, insist 3 hours. Drink the resulting volume without filtering 2 tablespoons 4 times a day. The course is at least 21 days, and preferably 1 month.

Body cleansing, treatment of constipation

1 teaspoon of kelp powder is poured into 150 ml of boiling water, let it brew for 1 hour, drink before bedtime, in order to cleanse the intestines in the morning.

Treatment of laryngitis, tonsillitis, chronic runny nose, chronic diseases of the upper respiratory tract, for the prevention of acute respiratory infections, restoration of immunity by inhalation:

2 teaspoons of kelp powder is poured into a glass of boiling water. Cover, wrap and let it brew for 1 hour.

After that, the liquid is filtered and poured into the inhaler. The inhalation time is 5 minutes 2-3 times a day.

There is an opinion that taking kelp can reduce the prothrombin index, the tendency to thrombosis by an average of 10-13%.

In infertility caused by dysfunction of the thyroid gland and ovaries, seaweed is used in supplemental nutrition as a means of restoring their work. In addition, kelp restores the cells of these organs – promotes repair. 

I especially want to note the role of kelp in cosmetology, which is very popular today. Used scrubs, masks, wraps.

• Laminaria is used as a face mask: 1 tablespoon of kelp powder is poured with 4 tablespoons of hot water, after 15 minutes add 1 tablespoon of sour cream, the contents of 2 capsules of Aevita. To mix. Apply on face for 20 minutes.
• To shine hair and remove “fluffiness” a mask with kelp will help: boil 1 liter of water, add 1 tablespoon of dry kelp powder to it, boil for 5 minutes, let it brew, strain. Wet clean washed hair with infusion of kelp, wrap, wait 30 minutes, rinse with clean water.
• To get rid of wrinkles on the face, especially near the eyes: 4 teaspoons of dried kelp powder, pour 6 tablespoons of boiling water, leave for 15 minutes, add 1 teaspoon of honey to them, mix. Apply on face for 20 minutes. Rinse off.
• The procedure of complete body wrapping, including the face, helps to improve the appearance of the skin in the area of ​​stretch marks, cellulite peel, makes the skin healthy, supple, clean. The powder is diluted 1: 4 with boiling water, allowed to swell and infuse for 40 minutes. After that, the mixture is evenly applied to the skin. The full application procedure on the body will take about 40 minutes. Next, wrap with cling film, wrap yourself in a blanket, after 20 minutes, wash your body with warm clean water, grease with a light cream.
• For the same purpose, do baths before bedtime. 200 grams of dry kelp is poured with 5 liters of boiling water, allowed to infuse for 40 minutes, filtered in a bath, adding water + 40 degrees, take a bath for 25 minutes. Rinse with clean water. Practice a bath every other day for no more than 1 month. This procedure gives a feeling of relaxation, relaxation.  

Contraindications and side effects for seaweed

Laminaria can bring not only benefits, but also be hazardous to health. 

Since kelp is rich in iodine, an overdose can be an allergy.

Inside, as already mentioned above, a dose of 1 teaspoon of dry powder per day is considered safe for adults. Children are given from 3 years of age 1/3 teaspoon 3 times a week, i.e. with interruptions of 2 days. Why do you need to strictly follow the dose? 

When doses are exceeded, such a phenomenon as an excess of iodine – IODISM – occurs not often, but you need to know about it.

Iodism occurs with prolonged use of iodine preparations, as well as with the use of large doses, with increased sensitivity to iodine, idiosyncrasy intolerance to iodine, inhalation of its vapor.

Symptoms of excess iodine in the body:

• lacrimation
• runny nose, rhinitis, sinusitis,
• cough,
• salivation,
• skin lesions in the form of blue-purple acne, rubella, urticaria, erysipelas, dermatitis.
• metallic taste in the mouth
• conjunctivitis,
• burning and sore throat, hoarseness, laryngitis, bronchitis, pharyngitis,
• nausea and vomiting, intense thirst,
• cramps, muscle weakness, numbness of the skin,
• headache, dizziness, lethargy,
• hepatitis,
• stomach diseases
• inflammatory diseases of the kidneys (it happens with kidney damage with inorganic iodine),
• weakening of immunity,
• damage to the thyroid gland,
• with idiosyncrasy, there may be anaphylactic shock, spasm, laryngeal edema, suffocation.

Seaweed is contraindicated:

• with individual intolerance,
• hemorrhages and bleeding,
• hyperthyroidism
• tuberculosis
• furunculosis,
• nephritis and pyelonephritis in the acute stage,
• dermatitis, urticaria, skin allergies,
• disorders in the gastrointestinal tract in the acute stage,
• during pregnancy is possible only with the permission of a doctor,
• not for children under 3 years old.

Laminaria contains iodine in its organic form. It is proved that in this form it is absorbed much better than chemical iodine.

I wish you good health!