Seaweed

Primarily produced in Liaoning province and the seashores of Shandong.

Sargassum pallidum (Turn.) C. Ag: Wrinkled and curled, black-brown, sometimes covered with white powder, 30~60cm long. Central stem is cylindrical, with conical bulging, central stem comes out from two sides, and side stem comes out from leaf axil, with short spiny bulge. First leaves are lanceolate or transverse oval shaped, 5~7cm long, about 1cm wide, entire or thick saw-teeth; second leaves are strip-shaped or lanceolate, strip-like small branches come out from leaf axil. Air bladder is black-brown, spherical or oval, sometimes with stem, apex is blunt round, sometimes with a thin short tip. Brittle texture, soft when wet; expands in water; fleshy, sticky and smooth. Fishy odor; slightly salty taste. Sargassum fusiforme (Harv.) Setch: Relatively small, 15~40cm long. Alternating branches, without spiny bulging. Leaves are strip-like or thin spoon-shape, apex is slightly enlarged, center is hollow. Air bladder is axillary, fusiform or spherical, stem of air bladder is relatively long. Texture is relatively hard.

Superior medicinal material is black-brown, few white powder, fresh branches.

Bitter, salty; cold.

Soften hardness, disperses binds, disperses phlegm, promotes urination. Apply to goiter, scrofula, testis pain and swollen, retained phlegm and fluid, edema.