Magical Irish Moss

Who would ever think that a plant called Irish moss would have so many uses?  It’s not a plant that you could grow in your garden, its not moss at all, but seaweed.  Irish moss is very versatile seaweed as well.  During the potato famine in Ireland, people survived by eating Irish moss.  It is also known as carrageen moss, named after the town or Carrageen in southeast Ireland.  It is also found on some northern shores of the Atlantic as far south as Portugal.   It is used as a thickener in soups, puddings, and ice cream.  Its medicinal uses are pretty impressive.  It contains many vitamins and trace minerals: Iodine, bromine, beta-carotene, calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, zinc, pectin, B vitamins, and vitamin C.  No wonder people call it nature’s supper food!  And that’s not all!!   Irish moss has other medicinal uses: it works well as an aid to digestion and soothes the digestive tract.  It aids in gastritis, colic, ulcers, flatulence, difficulty swallowing, vomiting, diarrhea, respiratory complaints, and urinary conditions such as kidney and bladder inflammations.  Externally it’s a wonder too.  You can use it to dress wounds.  It eases the pain and relieves irritation to the skin.  It is very good for sunburns, rashes, bug bites and other skin conditions.  The contraindication for this herb is that it acts as a blood-thinner, so if you are taking an anticoagulant you should see your doctor before using Irish moss.