seaweed

　　The seaweed is the algae of Sargassum pallidum (Turn.) C. Ag. or S. fusiforme. (Harv.) Setch. of the Sargassum family. The former is commonly called "big leaf seaweed" and the latter is commonly called "small leaf seaweed". Mainly produced in coastal areas such as Liaoning, Shandong, Fujian, Zhejiang, and Guangdong. Harvest in summer and autumn, remove impurities, wash with fresh water, cut into sections and dry in the sun.

　　[Properties] Salty, cold. Returns to the liver and kidney meridians.

　　[Efficacy] Eliminate phlegm, soften hardness, diuresis and reduce swelling.

　　【application】

　　1. Galls, scrofula, testicular swelling and pain. This product is salty and can soften hardness, eliminate phlegm and resolve stagnation. To treat galls, it is often used with kelp and fritillary, such as Seaweed Yuhu Decoction ("Surgery Authentic"); to treat scrofula, it is often used with Prunella vulgaris, Scrophulariaceae, and Forsythia suspensa, such as Neixiao Scrofula Pills ("Encyclopedia of Ulcer Medicine"); to treat testicular swelling and pain, it is used with tangerine core, kelp, azadirachta, etc., such as Juhe Pills ("Jisheng Prescription").

　　2. Phlegm and edema. This product has the effect of diluting water and reducing swelling, but it is weak when used alone. It is often used together with diuretic drugs such as Poria cocos, Polyporus polyporus, and Alisma.

　　[Usage and Dosage] Decoction and take, 10~15g.

　　[Usage Note] Traditionally, it is believed to be anti-licorice. However, there are often compatible users in clinical practice.

　　[Abstract from ancient books]

　　1. "Shen Nong's Materia Medica": "Mainly gall tumor gas, subneck core, breaking and dissipating the stagnation of gas, carbuncle and swollen fistula with hard gas, upper and lower rumbles in the abdomen, and edema in the lower abdomen." ”

　　2. "Compendium of Materia Medica Mengquan": "Cure scrofula between the neck and eliminate galls under the neck; dilute water channels, clear and close the gallbladder to form stranguria, purge water and gas, and eliminate fullness and swelling. ”

　　3. "Compendium of Materia Medica"; "Seaweed, salty, can moisten the lower body, and cold can relieve heat and attract water, so it can eliminate galls, tuberculosis, and the accumulation of yin, and can remove edema, athlete's foot, retained fluid, and phlegm due to dampness and heat, which can cause evil qi to come out in the urine." ”

　　【Modern Research】

　　1. Chemical composition: Both hijiki and seaweed contain alginic acid, mannitol, potassium, iodine, ash, etc. Seaweed also contains sargassum polysaccharide, rockweed, etc. Hijiki also contains hijiki polysaccharides A, B, C and fucoidan.

　　2. Pharmacological effects: Seaweed contains iodide, which has a therapeutic effect on endemic goiter caused by iodine deficiency, and has a temporary inhibitory effect on hyperthyroidism and increased basal metabolic rate. Alginate has anti-hyperlipidemia effect, can also reduce serum bile and reduce atherosclerosis. Water immersion agent has a blood pressure reducing effect. The alginic acid contained in seaweed has a heparin-like effect, which is anticoagulant, antithrombotic, lowering blood viscosity and improving microcirculation. Hijiki has an inhibitory effect on Bacillus subtilis, and seaweed polysaccharide has an inhibitory effect on type Ⅰ herpes simplex virus.

　　3. Clinical research: Compound MPS granules made from seaweed, algae derivatives, Tremella polysaccharides, etc. were taken orally to treat 101 patients with simple obesity, with an effective rate of 88.1% (China Marine Medicine, 1990, 3:33 ); Sodium alginate diester (PSS) extracted from seaweed is now widely used to treat cerebral thrombosis, acute cerebral infarction (Journal of Practical Internal Medicine, 1987, 11:580), and hyperlipidemia (China Marine Medicine, 1992, 2 : 17). In addition, PSS can also be used to treat diabetes (New Drugs and Clinics, 1992, 1:39), coronary heart disease and chronic pulmonary heart disease (China Marine Medicine, 1992, 1:54), nephrotic syndrome ( Chinese Journal of Nephrology, 1991, 3:196), thrombophlebitis (Chinese Marine Medicine, 1992, 1:42), retinal vein occlusion (Journal of Practical Ophthalmology, 1994, 2:106), etc.