Saved by seaweeds (II): Traditional knowledge, home remedies, medicine, surgery, and pharmacopoeia

Abstract

Humankind has known the benefits of seaweeds since time immemorial. A number of these applications were likely passed down in the oral histories particularly of coastal dwellers and those using different seaweeds as food and treatments for common ailments. The beneficial use of many types of seaweeds was reported and recorded into some of the first written medical texts. The common benefits of these seaweed concoctions and applications seems to be linked to the presence of hydrocolloids and the various bioactive compounds. We believe this collation brings together, for the first time to our knowledge, a number of excerpts from major medical publications and esteemed writers of the day. It provides a rich background supporting the positive applications of various seaweeds to a multitude of human ailments, from skin to bowel, inside and out and many of the places in between!

Algae in the Human World: Beauty and Taste Come First

“…The many ways humans in prehistoric and historic times all around the world have used seaweeds have been extensively reviewed in books and recent review articles (see e.g., Mouritsen 2013;Pereira 2016;O'Connor 2017;Pérez-Lloréns et al 2018;2020;2023;Mouritsen et al 2021). Examples of uses range from foodstuff, medicinal aids, building material, insulation, fuel, containers, currency, source for minerals and fine chemicals, pollution clean-up, and combating climate change -to ceremonial and religious purposes as well as jewellery, toys, and firecrackers.…”

“…Examples of uses range from foodstuff, medicinal aids, building material, insulation, fuel, containers, currency, source for minerals and fine chemicals, pollution clean-up, and combating climate change -to ceremonial and religious purposes as well as jewellery, toys, and firecrackers. In a recent review, the history of human interaction with seaweeds was presented as testimony to the way humankind has, repeatedly, been 'saved by seaweeds' (Mouritsen et al 2021;Pérez-Lloréns et al 2023). Under extreme conditions, such as famine, diseases, environmental disasters, and wars, humans have turned to seaweeds in times of 'needs most' and created new opportunities for their uses to mitigate disasters.…”

Gathering and Cooking Seaweeds in Contemporary Ireland: Beyond Plant Foraging and Trendy Gastronomies

“…Moreover, during the famines of the 18th and 19th centuries, seaweed provided a vital source of income and food security [26,44,45]. As a result, eating seaweed has long been associated with poverty and hunger [46].…”

“…Kelp, at this point, was the name for the product that was derived from the burning of different species of seaweed for sodium or iodine used for different industrial processes. The term kelp is now commonly used for the family Laminariaceae of seaweeds, which were favoured for burning, including the species Laminaria digitata and Laminaria hyperborea [44,48].…”

Effect of Post-Extraction Ultrasonication on Compositional Features and Antioxidant Activities of Enzymatic/Alkaline Extracts of Palmaria palmata

“…Seaweed has traditionally been considered a food source consumed either directly or as a food supplement with medicinal effects. It has been documented that local inhabitants near the shores of many parts of the world have harvested seaweed and used it as a home remedy and natural marine drug for treating different diseases [6]. In recent years, advancements in the study of natural products derived from marine algae have revealed their potential as valuable sources of bioactive compounds with potential medicinal applications [7,8].…”