Carragheen

A genus of around 15 species of marine algae. Several species are collected from the wild for their use in various industries. Chondrus crispus is an important edible seaweed on both sides of the Atlantic. Plants are harvested by boat, using a rake that causes minimal damage ot the holdfasts, and by hand from rocks. Gel-forming polysaccharides, known as carrageenans, are found in C. crispus. Various grades are produced, those of high molecular weight being used in the food industry, on the grounds that they pass through the gut and are therefore non-toxic. However, carrageenans are suspected of being carcinogenic and a possible cause of ulcerative colitis.

Also known as Irish Moss, carrageen is an edible North Atlantic seaweed that produces a moist, sticky substance used medicinally and in the preparation of jellies and puddings. Carrageen, which contains iodine, calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium, as well as various antiviral and antimicrobial agents, has long been a favorite of the Irish and Scots as a treatment for colds, flu, and other respiratory ailments.

Red-purple to green, cartilaginous alga, with a disk shaped holdfast. Basal growth is narrow, expanding into branched fronds, often crimped along the margin, with narrow and broader forms occurring.


Common Name:
Carragheen
Other Names:
Carrageen, Chondrus, Irish Moss
Botanical Name:
Chondrus crispus
Genus:
Chondrus
Family:
Gigartinaceae
Native Location:
Found in the lower littoral zone of the Atlantic, English Channel, and North Sea.
Cultivation:
Grows on rocks and stones in pools and shallow salt water. Plants are left intact after harvesting to allow regeneration.
Harvest:
Plants are cut in autumn and dried whole, or processed for extraction of polysaccharides.
Height:
7-15cm (3-6in)
Width:
7-15cm (3-6in)
Parts Used:
Whole plant, Thalus
Properties:
A mucilaginous, sweet, salty herb that has a softening, soothing effect on tissues, and is a mild laxative and expectorant.
Medicinal Uses:
Internally for dry coughs, sore throat, cystitis, bronchitis, gastritis, and dyspepsia with nausea and heartburn; often combined with Cinnamomum cassia (See, Cassia bark), and Glycyrrhiza glabra (See, licorice) for bronchitis, and with Althea officinalis (See, marshmallow) and Ballota nigra (See, black horehound) for dyspepsia. Externally in lotions or creams, for chapped skin and dermatitis. Not given to patients on anti-coagulant medication, because it thins the blood.
To treat constipation, diarrhea, colds, flu, and symptoms of bronchitis and tuberculosis.
Possible Side Effects:
Carrageen's side effects include lowered blood pressure, nausea, and abdominal pain.
Drug Interactions:
Taking Carrageen with these drugs may reduce absorption of the drug:
All drugs taken orally
Taking carrageen with therse drugs may increase the risk of bleeding or bruising:
Abciximab, (ReoPro) Antithrombin III, (Thrombate III) Argatroban, (Argatroban) Aspirin, (Bufferin, Ecotrin)
Aspirin and Dipyridamole, (Aggrenox) Bivalirudin, (Angiomax) Clopidogrel, (Plavix) Dalteparin, (Fragmin)
Danaparoid, (Orgaran) Dipyridamole, (Novo-Dipiradol, Persantine) Enoxaparin, (Lovenox) Eptifibatide, (Integrillin)
Fondaparinux, (Arixtra) Heparin, (Hepalean, Hep-Lock) Indobufen, (Ibustrin) Lepirudin, (Refludan)
Triclopidine, (Alti-Ticlopidine, Ticlid) Tinzaparin, (Innohep) Tirofiban, (Aggrastat) Warfarin, (Coumadin, Jantoven)
Taking carrageen with these drugs may increase drug effects:
Acebutolol, (Novo-Acebutolol, Sectral) Amlopidine, (Norvasc) Atenolol, (Apo-Atenolol, Tenormin) Benazepril, (Lotensin)
Betaxolol, (Betoptic S, Kerlone) Bisoprolol, (Monocor, Zebeta) Bumetanide, (Burinex, Bumex) Candesartan, (Atacand)
Captopril, (Capoten, Novo-Captopril) Carteolol, (Cartrol, Ocupress) Carvedilol, (Coreg) Chlorothiazide, (Diuril)
Chlorthalidone, (Apo-Chlorthalidone, Thalitone) Clonidine, (Catapres, Duraclon) Diazoxide, (Hyperstat, Proglycem) Diltiazem, (Cardizem, Tiazac)
Doxazosin, (Alt-Doxazosin, Cardura) Enalapril, (Vasotec) Eplerenone, (Inspra) Eprosartan, (Teveten)
Esmolol, (Brevibloc) Felopidine, (Plendil, Renedil) Fenoldopam, (Corlopam) Fosinopril, (Monopril)
Furosemide, (Apo-Furosemide, Lasix) Guanabenz, (Wytensin) Guanadrel, (Hylorel) Guanfacine, (Tenex)
Hydralazine, (Apresoline, Novo-Hylazin) Hydrochlorothiazide, (Apo-Hydro, Microzide) Hydrochlorothiazide and Triamterene, (Dyazide, Maxzide) Indapamide, (Lozol, Nu-Indapamide)
Irbesartan, (Avapro) Isradapine, (DynaCirc) Labetalol, (Normodyne, Trandate) Lisonopril, (Prinivil, Zestril)
Losartan, (Cozaar) Mecamylamine, (Inversine) Mefruside, (Baycaron) Methyclothiazide, (Aquatensen, Enduron)
Methyldopa, (Apo-Methyldopa, Nu-Medopa) Metolazone, (Mykrox, Zaroxolyn) Metoprolol, (Betaloc, Lopressor) Minoxidil, (Loniten, Rogaine)
Moexipril, (Univasc) Nadolol, (Apo-Nadol, Corgard) Nicardipine, (Cardene) Nifedipine, (Adalat CC, Procardia)
Nisoldipine, (Sular) Nitroglycerin, (Minitran, Nitro-Dur) Nitroprusside, (Nipride, Nitropress) Olmesartan, (Benicar)
Oxprenolol, (Slow-Trasicor, Trasicor) Perindopril Erbumine, (Aceon, Coversyl) Phenoxybenzamine, (Dibenzyline) Phentolamine, (Regitine, Rogitine)
Pindolol, (Apo-Pindol, Novo-Pindol) Polythiazide, (Renese) Prazosin, (Minipress, Nu-Prazo) Propanolol, (Inderal, InnoPran XL)
Quinapril, (Accupril) Ramipril, (Altace) Reserpine, (Reserpine) Spironolactone, (Aldactone, Novo-Spiroton)
Telmisartan, (Micardis) Terazosin, (Alti-Terazosin, Hytrin) Timolol, (Betimol, Timoptic) Torsemide, (Demadex)
Trandolapril, (Mavik) Triamterene, (Dyrenium) Trichlormethiazide, (Metatensin, Naqua) Valsartan, (Diovan)
Verapamil, (Calan, Isoptin SR)
Culinary Uses:
Cooked in water or milk to make jelly or blancmange. Blended with kelp (Laminaria saccharina) to make a spread, known as pain d'algues (France).
Economic Uses:
Important in the food industry as a stabilizer in dairy products, desserts, salad dressings, sauces, and in pharmaceutical products, such as cod liver oil, cleansing creams, and toothpaste. Also used in air-freshener gels and for various processes in the textile, leather, brewing, and paint industries.
Bibliography:
The Encylopedia of Herbs by Deni Brown Copyright © 1995, 2001. Dorling Kindersley Limited. pg 163
The Essential Herb-Drug-Vitamin Interaction Guide by Geo. T. Grossberg,MD and Barry Fox,PhD Copyright ©2007. Barry Fox,PhD. Pp123-125