Alga

Algae are among the oldest plants; it is estimated that there are 400,000 species of algae, most of which have not yet been researched.

A distinction is made between green algae, brown algae, red algae and microalgae, e.g. purple red algae

Bladderwrack - Fucus vesiculosus L.; saw kelp - Fucus serratus L.; knotted kelp - Ascophyllum nodosum Le Jol.; reed kelp - Fucus elongatus L.

The salt of alginic acid obtained from various brown algae, the alginates, are used in the food industry as thickeners, gelling agents, emulsion stabilizers and in medicine as protective colloids.

The dried algae body (thallus) is used phytotherapeutically. It is important to note that seaweed may contain iodine in varying concentrations, as well as arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury.

The quality is specified in the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.).

HMPC monograph: Traditional-use: during a calorie-reduced diet for weight reduction
ESCOP: not processed
Commission E: negative decision, in the absence of evidence of efficacy, from a dosage > 150 µg iodine/day triggering or aggravation of hyperthyroidism

Empirical medicine: in the past: iodine therapy for hypothyroidism, as a slimming agent (increase in basal metabolic rate due to increased production of thyroid hormones through iodine intake) - now obsolete from a safety pharmacological point of view.

Brown algae are also used to treat obesity, arteriosclerosis, constipation and rheumatism. Also used as an additive in toothpastes, hair lotions, moisturizing face creams and peeling masks. It is also added to fruit juice drinks, but also used as animal feed, fertilizer, sprays and for extracting iodine.

Not suitable for children and adolescents under 18 years, not during pregnancy and lactation.

Caution in case of allergy to any of the ingredients

Fluctuating iodine content: 0.03 - 0.1 % either as an inorganic salt or bound to proteins or lipids, or in the form of iodoamino acids. Alginic acid (a polysaccharide of the cell wall, up to 30 %), laminarin, fucans, fucole, fucophloretols, phlorotannins. Please note: seaweed also accumulates arsenic and heavy metals (lead, cadmium, mercury).

If necessary, impairment of thyroid replacement therapy due to iodine content.

1. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/final-community-herbal-monograph-fucus-vesiculosus-l-thallus_en.pdf
2. https://arzneipflanzenlexikon.info/tang---algen.php
3. https://www.heilpflanzen.online/pflanzenportraits/blasentang/
4. Miller LG (1998) Herbal medicinals: selected clinical considerations focusing on known or potential drug-herb interactions. Arch Intern Med. 9;158(20):2200-2211. doi: 10.1001/archinte.158.20.2200. PMID: 9818800

5. Blaschek W (2015) Wichtl tea drugs and phytopharmaceuticals. A handbook for practice. Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft Munich. S 269-271