Sargassum, Hai Zao 海藻
Hai Zao (TCM)
Sargassum muticum(Photo by Lamiot) (Wikimedia)
Botanical name:
Sargassum spp.
- S. pallidum
- S. fusiforme
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 grams
Powder; 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 stronger in effect.
Preparation:
It is washed of excess salt, then baked dry. (Li Shi Zhen)
Substitute:
Kelp can generally be substituted.
Main Combinations:
1. Scrofula, swollen Lymph nodes, Goiter:
i. Sargassum Hai Zao with Licorice (Li Gao)
ii. Sargassum Hai Zao with Ecklonia Kun Bu, Fritillaria Zhe Bei Mu, Citrus Chen Pi (as in Hai Zao Yu Hu Tang)
iii. Scrofula from Phlegm-Heat, Sargassum Hai Zao with Self Heal (Xia Ku Cao), Figwort (Xuan Shen), Forsythia Lian Qiao, (as in Nei Xiao Luo Li Wan from Yang Yi Da Quan [A Compendium of External Diseases]).
iv. Scrofula from Phlegm-Heat, Sargassum Hai Zao with Pumice (Fu Shi), Oyster shell (Mu Li), Fritillaria Zhe Bei Mu
v. Scrofula from Phlegm-Heat, Sargassum Hai Zao with Clam shell (Ge Qiao), Kelp (Kun Bu)
vi. Thyroid Nodules, Sargassum Hai Zao with Self Heal (Xia Ku Cao), Zedoary (E Zhu), Fritillaria Zhe Bei Mu
vii. Thyroid Swellings, Sargassum Hai Zao with Dioscorea bulbifera Huang Yao Zi, Kelp (Kun Bu), Self Heal (Xia Ku Cao)
viii. Goiter, Sargassum Hai Zao with Pinellia Ban Xia, Fritillaria Zhe Bei Mu, Kelp (Kun Bu)
ix. Goiter, Sargassum Hai Zao with Gentian (Long Dan Cao), Clam Shell (Hai Ge Ke), Tetrapanax Tong Cao (as in Po Jie San from San Yin Fang [Prescriptions for the Three Types of Disorder]).
2. Cancer:
i. fixed masses in the Throat in Esophageal Cancer, Sargassum Hai Zao with Leech (Shui Zhi)
ii. of the Stomach, Esophagus, Liver, Bowel, Thyroid, Sargassum Hai Zao with Dioscorea bulbifera Huang Yao Zi, Hedyotis Bai Hua She She Cao, Job’s Tears (Yi Yi Ren).
3. Edema with Urinary difficulty, Sargassum Hai Zao with Polyporus Zhu Ling, Water Plantain root (Ze Xie), Plantain seed (Che Qian Zi)
4. Swelling of the Testes, Sargassum Hai Zao with Tangerine seed (Ju He), Costus Mu Xiang, Cinnamon (Rou Gui), Peach kernel (Tao Ren) (as in Ju He Wan)
5. Breast Nodules or Hyperplasia:
i. from Liver Qi stagnation with Breast nodules of different size, soft or moderately hard, abdominal discomfort before menstruation, Sargassum Hai Zao with Bupleurum Chai Hu, Cyperus rotundus (Xiang Fu), Citrus Qing Pi, Vaccaria Wang Bu Liu Xing, Dodder seed (Tu Si Zi) (as in Ru Ji Ling Keli of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia)
ii. or acute Mastitis, from Phlegm-Heat Sargassum Hai Zao with Dandelion (Pu Gong Ying), Trichosanthes root (Tian Hua Fen), Paeonia Chi Shao Yao, Costus Mu Xiang, Figwort (Xuan Shen), Self Heal (Xia Ku Cao), Safflower (Hong Hua).
Major Formulas:
Ju He Wan
Hai Zao Yu Hu Tang
Si Hai Shu Yu Wan
Cautions:
1. Not suitable for Stomach Cold and Spleen Deficiency
Drug Interactions:
1. Traditionally considered incompatible with Licorice (TCM). Although Li Shi Zhen said they were successfully combined for Scrofula.