{"id":13502,"date":"2024-08-14T10:31:29","date_gmt":"2024-08-14T09:31:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/?post_type=herb&p=13502"},"modified":"2025-05-25T08:03:51","modified_gmt":"2025-05-25T07:03:51","slug":"irish-moss","status":"publish","type":"herb","link":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/herb\/irish-moss\/","title":{"rendered":"Irish moss"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"featured_media":13509,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","beyondwords_generate_audio":"1","beyondwords_project_id":"47224","beyondwords_content_id":"1b98d79c-2f79-4d22-9d0d-7d05c6bd9ff8","beyondwords_preview_token":"05f06bd4-64df-4426-88df-d90ee5f7490d","beyondwords_player_content":"","beyondwords_player_style":"","beyondwords_language_code":"","beyondwords_language_id":"","beyondwords_title_voice_id":"","beyondwords_body_voice_id":"","beyondwords_summary_voice_id":"","beyondwords_error_message":"","beyondwords_disabled":"","beyondwords_delete_content":"","beyondwords_podcast_id":"","beyondwords_hash":"","publish_post_to_speechkit":"","speechkit_hash":"","speechkit_generate_audio":"","speechkit_project_id":"","speechkit_podcast_id":"","speechkit_error_message":"","speechkit_disabled":"","speechkit_access_key":"","speechkit_error":"","speechkit_info":"","speechkit_response":"","speechkit_retries":"","speechkit_status":"","speechkit_updated_at":"","_speechkit_link":"","_speechkit_text":""},"tags":[1789,1156,1788],"conditions":[694,685,693,701,699,696,695,700,702,697],"sustainability":[1576],"sense":[786,527,27],"western_action":[988,989,990,991,992,993,994,1132,1002,1005,1006,1008,1010,1011,1013,1015,1016,1021,1022],"chinese_action":[],"ayurvedic_action":[],"energetics_action":[],"region":[1893],"class_list":["post-13502","herb","type-herb","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-lymphatic","tag-nutritive","tag-soothing","conditions-cardiovascular-system","conditions-digestive-system","conditions-endocrine-system","conditions-immune-system","conditions-musculoskeletal-system","conditions-nervous-system","conditions-respiratory-system","conditions-skin","conditions-stages-of-life","conditions-urinary-system","sustainability-green-sustainability-status","sense-cooling","sense-salty","sense-sweet","western_action-adaptogen","western_action-alterative","western_action-analgesic","western_action-anthelmintic","western_action-anti-inflammatory","western_action-antimicrobial","western_action-antioxidant","western_action-antipyretic","western_action-bronchodilator","western_action-demulcent","western_action-depurative","western_action-diuretic","western_action-expectorant","western_action-febrifuge","western_action-hepatic","western_action-immunomodulant","western_action-laxative","western_action-stomachic","western_action-trophorestorative","region-western-herbs"],"acf":{"last_reviewed":"20240814","herb_author":1917,"banner_text":"Irish moss has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and nutritive benefits","latin_name":"Chondrus crispus<\/em>","pseudonym_name":"","family_name":"Rhodophyta","herb_summary":"Irish moss red seaweed has a tradition of use in cough remedies. High in nutrients, electrolytes and prebiotic polysaccharide gels it is a nutraceutical. It is a great source of omega 3 essential fatty acid, protein, carbohydrates, minerals and trace elements.","key_benefits":"Antioxidant\r\nAnti-viral\r\nAntibiotic\r\nAnti-inflammatory\r\nBulking laxative\r\nNourishing","how_does_it_feel":"Irish moss has a soft yet crunchy texture with a gelatinous feel.<\/span>","hdif_image_1":13508,"hdif_image_2":13510,"hdif_image_3":13509,"hdif_video":"","sense":[786,527,27],"what_can_i_use_it_for":"Irish moss supports our cardiovascular health, digestive health as well as our respiratory health. It is a bulking laxative and prebiotic but can also be used as a cough remedy, immune support and nutraceutical.<\/span>","into_the_heart_of":"The well-balanced mineral content of Irish moss, potassium, magnesium, iodine, calcium, iron, zinc, sodium and omega 3 essential fatty acids are shown to improve hypertension and cholesterol balance <\/span>(1).<\/span>\r\n\r\nIrish Moss also contains vitamin A, B (B1, B2, B9, B12), C, D, E, K. Protein levels are comparable with foods such as pulses, nuts and seeds\u00a0<\/span>(2).<\/span>\r\n\r\nVitamin B12 is controversial in that much research has previously shown the B12 to be an analogue and not bioavailable to humans. However, latest research seems to show some B12 is present in useable form, in some seaweeds, especially the red ones such as Irish moss and dulse<\/span> (3).<\/span>","tradtional_uses":"Traditional use in Western herbal medicine shows Irish moss used as a convalescence food in a broth, (4) in contemporary nutrition this might be combined well in a mushroom and miso broth for an immune supportive nutrient rich recovery food, perhaps an alternative to bone broth for vegetarians and vegans.<\/span>\r\n\r\nIrish moss was also traditionally used in cough remedies for its soothing, demulcent and cooling benefits. It was often boiled with liquorice, ginger and aniseed. (5)<\/span>","what_practioners_say":"A useful addition to the modern herbal dispensary for it\u2019s wide ranging, gentle, but deep supportive actions, used internally and topically.<\/span>","research":"[caption id=\"attachment_13507\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"600\"]\"Dried Dried Irish moss (Chondrus crispus<\/em>)[\/caption]\r\n\r\nA lot of the research and scientific evidence has been carried out on extracts of Irish moss constituents rather than the whole seaweed. However, traditional and empirical evidence should not be ignored as a useful knowledge source.<\/span>\r\n\r\nThere is evidence for Irish moss having antibiotic activity against <\/span>Staphylococcus aureus<\/span><\/i> (topical on skin), <\/span>Escherichia coli<\/span><\/i> in the gut and urinary tract, <\/span>Streptococcus pyogenes<\/span><\/i> in tonsilitis and \u2018strep throat\u2019 (8,9,10,11,12)<\/span>\r\n

<\/b>Anti-microbial activity has been shown against Enterococcus faecalis<\/em> at 100% effective in vitro by methanolic Chondrus crispus<\/i> extracts (13)<\/h3>\r\nEnterococcus faecalis<\/span><\/i> is a commensal bacteria, meaning it exists in small quantities in the human body without causing a problem unless it is allowed to proliferate, such as with immunocompromised people. This is most common in hospital acquired infections such as in wounds, gastrointestinal infections, <\/span>urinary tract infections<\/a> and even endocarditis especially in the elderly. There is some risk of <\/span>antibiotic resistance<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nThe bacterial formation of biofilms, a sticky surface substance that encourages other bacteria to grow, for instance <\/span>Enterococcus faecalis<\/span><\/i> with <\/span>E<\/span><\/i>. c<\/span>oli<\/span><\/i>, are part of the mechanism in antibiotic resistance. Chondrus crispus has been shown in bacterial research to inhibit biofilm production.<\/span>\r\n

Blood cholesterol and lipid-lowering effects of Carrageenan on human volunteers (14)<\/h3>\r\nThis randomised crossover trial involving 20 human volunteers showed a substantial reduction in blood lipids and cholesterol levels after consumption of carrageen over an eight-week period.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n

In vitro research on Chondrus crispus <\/i>extracts show dose dependant anti-oxidant activity (15)<\/h3>\r\nStudies show seaweed constituents such as phytosterols and carotenoids are able to cross the blood brain barrier and in the blood circulation promote neuroprotective benefits, antioxidant activity, and have a detoxifying effect by way of enhancing phagocytic clearance of neurotoxic peptides. (15, 16)<\/span>\r\n

Prebiotics from seaweeds: An ocean of opportunity? (17)<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nChondrus crispus<\/em> is high in prebiotic polysaccharides which provide our health promoting gut flora with their preferred food. The gut flora we feed are the ones that proliferate. These promote good digestion and bowel regularity, and production of short chain fatty acids. This enhances the integrity of the protective mucous membrane layer of the gut and improves immune function. (17,18,19)<\/span>\r\n

Antiproliferative and antioxidant activities and mycosporine-like amino acid profiles of wild-harvested and cultivated edible Canadian marine red macroalgae (20)<\/h3>\r\nIn vitro research on HeLa cervical cancer cells and U-937 lymphoma cells comparing cultivated and wild harvested <\/span>Chondrus crispus<\/span><\/i> shows the cultivated to promote apoptosis (programmed cell death) of the cancer cells more strongly. (21) In vitro research on human cancer cell lines has also shown effective cytotoxicity to tumour cells by <\/span>Chondrus crispus<\/span><\/i> extracts. (21)<\/span>\r\n\r\nA study of methanolic extracts of dried algal powder of\u00a0<\/span>C. crispus<\/span><\/i>\u00a0showed in vitro cytotoxicity against the hepatic tumor cell line (HepG2), breast cancer cells (MCF7), colorectal adenocarcinoma (Caco-2), and adenocarcinoma of human alveolar cells (A549). Among all of them, <\/span>Chondrus crispus<\/span><\/i> extract was effective against 81.9% of HepG2 and 71.8% of A549 cells (20)<\/span>\r\n

Evaluation of the anticoagulant potential of polysaccharide-rich fractions extracted from macroalgae (22)<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nThis in vitro study on extracts of seaweeds, including <\/span>Chondrus crispus <\/span><\/i>in comparison with pharmaceutical anticoagulant medications heparin and Lovenox (Enoxaparin sodium) shows anticoagulant<\/span> activity measured at only five times lower than the medication (22).<\/span>","did_you_know":"Irish moss extracts, carrageenan, from the surface of the seaweed are used in the food industry as a thickener, emulsifier and gelling agent in foods such as ice cream, soup and baked goods. (23)<\/span>\r\n\r\nAn isolated extract is not the same as using the whole plant. The common name of carrageen sometimes used to describe the whole plant <\/span>Chondrus crispus<\/span><\/i>, is not the same as the ingredient listed on processed foods carrageenan. There are three types of extracted carrageenan, with the designated E407 additive number. Kappa, iota and lambda carrageenans have slightly different properties, they may create a solid gel, a viscous thickening emulsifying agent, or a clearing agent in beverages such as beer.<\/span>\u00a0<\/b>\r\n\r\nThe belief is that use of other thickening and gelling agents are safer such as agar agar, which is extracted from other types of red seaweed such as Gracilaria. Gelatin from animal bones, and pectin from fruit such as apple cores and peel. (24,25)<\/span>\r\n\r\nIn the 19<\/span>th<\/span> century in Ireland, <\/span>Chondrus crispus<\/span><\/i> was traditionally used for a convalescence food, such as in the pudding called Blancmange, which is a set jelly like milk or cream based dessert, often flavoured with fruit juice. (26)<\/span>\r\n\r\nThe Physiomedical Dispensatory of 1869 describes Carrageen being boiled with sweetening and lemon or spices for a demulcent soothing remedy in coughs and colds. (12)<\/span>\r\n\r\nIrish moss with many other seaweeds was a survival food in the Irish Potato Famine. Seaweed as food generally has been turned to in wars and times of crisis throughout history. This led to an association with consumption of seaweed and poverty. Today however, seaweed is enjoying a resurgence of popularity with the growing knowledge of the nutritional and medicinal benefits. (27)<\/span>\r\n\r\nThe benefits are not just directly nutritional and medicinal, but indirectly when used as crop soil compost and fertiliser, adding large amounts of well-balanced nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus needed to grow healthy vegetables and fruit, or used as a nutritious farm animal feed supplement.<\/span>\r\n\r\nOne notable nutrient is taurine, a semi essential amino acid. The human body can create small amounts of its own taurine, but studies have shown that taurine is used in higher amounts in pregnancy, ill health and the elderly. Vegetarians, and especially vegans are likely to consume very little of this which is usually found in meat, fish and small amounts in dairy produce. <\/span>Chondrus crispus<\/span><\/i> has high amounts of this nutrient. Taurine itself has been approved to improve outcomes of congestive heart failure in Japan, and a World Health Association study shows improvements in hypertension and hypercholesteremia. (28,29)<\/span>\r\n\r\nOther uses include extracts of alginates in wound dressings, used in WWII by medic Major George Blaine who used them in burn wounds in the Far East.<\/span>\r\n\r\nAlginates are used today in antacid medications, and in commercial wound dressings.<\/span>\r\n\r\nInterestingly, boiling seaweed in clean water for ten minutes reduces the iodine content by 94%, however it also then reduces many of the beneficial nutrients. (30)<\/span>","additional_information_right":{"illustration":13504},"additional_information_left":{"botany":"Classed as a red seaweed (Rhodophyta) inhabiting deeper sea water rocky shores.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nReddish purple, sometimes green when exposed to the sun, or iridescent when under water, small and bushy, the fronds grow dichotomously; dividing into two, sometimes several times, from a stalk or stipe and are flat with rounded tips (35).<\/span>","common_names":"","safety":"Some safety concerns have been raised, especially with degraded carrageenans with questions and concerns raised about promotion of digestive system cancers, colitis, gastric and duodenal ulcers, glucose intolerance and immune suppression. Some of this risk is believed to be related to the inflammatory action on the gut mucous membrane layer, damaging the cells and eroding the fatty and mucosal tissues (23).<\/span>\r\n\r\nThere is no research on safety in pregnancy and breastfeeding for the use of <\/span>Chondrus crispus<\/span><\/i>, especially because of the iodine content. Therefore, food quantities only is recommended (31).<\/span>\r\n\r\n ","interactions":"A theoretical interaction between anticoagulant medication and high levels of <\/span>Chondrus crispus <\/span><\/i>intake is possible (30).<\/span>\r\n\r\nDue to high iodine content of Irish moss, interactions may occur with thyroid medication and amiodarone (which contains 37.3% iodine and may increase iodine levels) (32).<\/span>","contraindications":"Care should be taken in thyroid conditions, refer to a professional, especially if on medication (30,32).","preparation":"Chopped or dried and crumbled into soups, stews, curry, Bolognese, casseroles.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nUsed at 10% medicinally in cough medicines, as an extra source of vitamins and minerals and in the form of tincture to add to creams or gels for a healing antiseptic effect. <\/span>","dosage":"The consumption of 4 g daily of <\/span>Chondrus crispus<\/span><\/i> is considered within the safety limits of iodine consumption in healthy adults (31).<\/span>","constituents":"Irish moss contains:<\/span>\r\n