Overview:

Dulse is a common red sea weed native to the North Atlantic and the Northwest Pacific Oceans.  It grows in the inter-tidal zone where the water is cold and fast moving and the bottom is clean.  The color of this seaweed ranges from light rose to a deep pinkish purple.  Dulse grows extremely fast.  Its strands reach 8-16 feet so quickly that during the summer, it can be harvested every two weeks.

Dulse has been used as a food source since the Norseman crossed the North Atlantic.  Regulation of the collection of dulse was introduced into Iceland in the 13th century.  Icelandic sagas tell the tale of a Viking warrior that was lulled to sleep with dulse in milk before he was slain.   

The dulse is harvested, dried and the used in a myriad of different ways.  It is high in protein making it a welcome addition to the diet of vegetarians and is found in many “green” foods.  It has a high mucilage content which makes it excellent for detoxification of the body, soothing to skin problems and promoting bowel health. Seaweeds are also used in the treatment of radiation poisoning and to counter the effects of radiation and chemotherapy in cancer patients.

Active Ingredients:

Dulse and other seaweeds are extremely nutritious. A 100grams of dulse contains:

Chemically active substances in dulse are:

• glyco-protiens
• polysaccharides including alginic acid
• carrageenan
• kainic acid

Traditional uses:

Dulse has been used for centuries by the traditional healers on all continents.  It was used as a famine food in Ireland during the 800 years of British occupation and is still in common use there today.  The Japanese have used it to treat intestinal worms and Native Americans used it in steam baths to treat rheumatism.  It has also been used to treat inflammation and irritations of the skin such as eczema, constipation and thyroid deficiencies.

The many traditional uses of dulse include its use as an:

• anti inflammatory
• anti-viral
• vermifudge
• blood tonic
• laxative
• detoxifier
• treatment for goiter

Clinical uses:

Scientific studies are confirming what traditional healers have known for a long time. Dulse is an important weapon in promoting optimum health.

The active ingredients in dulse:

1. have antiviral properties
2. help relieve the symptoms of genital herpes
3. bind to radioactive toxins such as Strontium 90 and heavy metals like cadmium
4. prevent the radioactive Iodine 131 from being taken up by the thyroid gland
5. relieve inflammation and joint tenderness in rheumatoid arthritis
6. have anti tumor activity

Studies done at McGill University on Montreal, Canada showed that the alginic acid could reduce the amount of strontium 90 adsorbed through the intestinal wall.  The EPA expanded these studies and it was found that no only could these alginates bind and remove radioactive nucleotides but heavy metals as well.  In fact they also discovered that these chemically active compounds allowed the strontium 90 and heavy metals to be re-secreted by the bones, bound to the alginates and safely eliminated from the body.

The high iodine content of dulse also ensures that the radioactive isotope of iodine, iodine 131 has no way of being adsorbed by the thyroid gland.  Iodine 131 (radioactive iodine) is found in trace but ever present addition to our food and air supply.  The iodine in dulse can reduce by 80% the radioactive iodine-131 adsorbed by the thyroid.

Studies done at the Harvard School of Public Health confirm the anti tumor activity of dulse.

Recommended Dosage:

Adult

• When used as a source of nutritional support there is no recommended dosage.
• Infusion:  boil 8oz of water and pour over 5-10grams of dulse.
• As a poultice or plaster, macerate dulse fronds with a small amount of water and apply to affected area and let dry.
• Used as a standardized extract to treat thyroid conditions.  Dulse and other seaweed extracts should be taken according to the dosage of iodine required and should only are used under the supervision of a qualified health care provider.

Contra-indications:

When consumes in normal amounts dulse is generally regarded has safe.  However in excessive amounts it has been shown to:

1. cause problems in people who are sensitive to iodine
2. its high iodine content can induce hyperthyroidism
3. has been attributed to acne eruptions and the aggravation of pre existing acne
4. reduce the gastrointestinal absorption of iron, effect the absorption of sodium and potassium
5. cause diarrhea

Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should consult a health care provider before using dulse.

Drug interactions

Normal dosages of dulse are generally considered as safe. At high dosages dulse has been known to interfere with the effectiveness of thyroid medications.

Web References

1. Herbnet
2. Ryan Drum.com
3. Seaveg.com

Printed Reference Material

1. Duke JA. 1992. Handbook of Phytochemical Constituents of GRAS Herbs and Other Economic Plants. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, pp. 519.
2. Goh, E.H.  Regulation of hepatic cholesterogenesis by exogenous cholesterol investigated with 3H-desmosterol tracer.  The Pharmacological Effect of Lipid 2:303-313, 1985.
3. Guiry, M.D. (1974). A preliminary consideration of the taxonomic position of Palmaria palmata (Linnaeus) Stackhouse = Rhodymenia palmata (Linnaeus) Greville. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K., 54: 509-528.
4. Idler DR, Atkinson B. 1976. Seasonal variation in the desmosterol content of dulse (Rhodymenia palmata) from Newfoundland waters. Comp Biochem Physiol B. 1976; 53(4): 517-9.
5. Wernert, S., Berenson, RJ, Dwyer, J, and S. French (Eds.) 1982. Reader's Digest North American Wildlife: An Illustrated Guide to 2000 Plants and Animals. Publ. by Reader's Digest, Pleasantville, N.Y., U.S.A. Pp. 529.