Sargassum, Hai Zao 海藻 Hai Zao (TCM) Sargassum muticum(Photo by Lamiot) (Wikimedia) Botanical name: Sargassum spp. S. pallidum S. fusiforme A number of related species are used including S. vachellianurn, S. siliquastrum, S. muticum, S. herniphyllurn, S. thunbergii Parts used: Dried seaweed Temperature & Taste: Cold, dry. Salty, Bitter Classification: P. Clears Hot Phlegm Uses: 1. Clears Phlegm, Softens Hardness, Reduces Masses:-Nodes, Nodules, swollen Lymph nodes, Scrofula-Goiter-Tumors, mobile and fixed abdominal masses-pain and swelling of the Testicles-‘goiter, tumor, hard cervical tubercular lymphadenitis, carbuncles and swelling, abdominal hard mass’ (Shen Nong Ben Cao)2. Clears Phlegm, Stops Cough:-used for Chronic Cough and Bronchitis with Phlegm (Korea)3. Clears Damp, Promotes Urine:-Edema and leg swelling (adjunct)-‘purges edema of 12 kinds’ (Shen Nong Ben Cao)-difficult urination, Strangury-adjunct to help people lose weight Dose: Decoction: 6–15 gramsPowder; 1–3 grams Comment: This, along with Kelp (Kun Bu) and Laminaria (Hai Dai) are the 3 types of Seaweed regularly used in TCM. They are all used similarly, but Kelp is generally regarded as strongest of the three and is most used, although it is often combined with Sargassum (Hai Zao). Sargassum has an added bitterness that is absent in Kelp, but the latter is regarded as colder and…

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