What Is Irish Moss?

One of nature's true wonders, Irish moss is far more than meets the eye. Known commonly as carrageen, which is derived from the Irish word carraign, meaning "moss of the rock," Irish moss possesses remarkable healing properties and nearly unmatched nutritional content.

Misconceptions

Despite its name, Irish moss isn't a moss. It's actually seaweed. Known in the scientific community as Chondrus crispus, it is often confused with Sagina subulata, which shares the common name Irish moss. However, Sagina subulata is a terrestrial plant that grows in dry, sandy, or gravelly soils.

Geography

Irish moss thrives near Ireland, which is how it got its name, but it can be found growing along rocky coastlines all around the Atlantic Ocean. It is particularly abundant on the coast of Massachusetts

Identification

A small red alga, Irish moss measures approximately 20 cm long. It normally has four or five branches sprouting from one main root, with the branches extending out like a fan and stretching between 2 and 15 mm broad. Its texture is firm to the touch, and its natural dark red color will bleach golden brown when exposed to sunlight.

Benefits

In Ireland, Irish moss has always been known as a good luck charm, and it's served the Irish people well, especially during the 19th century's devastating potato famine. In order to avoid starvation, the Irish people starting eating the seaweed. It was a wise choice, to say the least. Irish moss is one of nature's most nutritious foods. It contains 15 elements essential to the human body. It's packed with calcium, iodine, and potassium, not to mention vitamins A, D, E, and K.

While unaware of the seaweed's exact nutritional value at the time, the Irish people have long known of Irish moss's remarkable healing attributes, using it as a home remedy for everything from constipation to sore throats and chapped skin.

Today, Irish moss's medicinal properties are well established. Aside from its use as a powerful emollient to soothe the skin, Irish moss is often employed to treat coughs and bronchitis, as it calms irritated mucous membranes. The same soothing qualities make it an excellent remedy for digestive problems like gastritis and stomach ulcers.

Irish moss's extraordinary nutritional value also plays a pivotal role in helping speed up the recovery times for patients suffering long illnesses like tuberculosis and pneumonia. Recent studies have even indicated Irish moss has anti-viral properties in fighting influenza and mumps.

Warnings

Considered an anticoagulant, Irish moss should not be used by those taking blood-thinning medications.