Category: Biosea Health

Biosea Health seaweed is full of vitamins, minerals and pre-biotics. Demonstrated blood pressure reduction, anti-inflammatory compounds and providing better gut microbiome.

Categories
Biosea Health Pain Reduction

Seaweed reduces Hangovers

Pacific Seamoss Seaweed reduces hangovers

Rainee, a convertee to Pacific Seamoss confided to me that consuming seaweed reduces hangovers. During the Covid-19, we know that consumption of alcohol has increased [1]. Not everyone wants to admit this, but I had consumed a bottle of white wine, and the next morning felt full of energy, and not hungover. My alcohol tolerance is low, and consuming 2 standard drinks of alcohol would leave me feeling very jaded the next day.

With the comments of Rainee, and my own experience we dived back into the literature. Was this effect real? Could it be explained?

You don’t have to be good to feel good!

Hangovers suck. If there’s one statement all of humanity can get behind, it’s hangovers suck. Throbbing headaches, fluey shakes, gut-churning bedspins—it doesn’t matter if you spent the night pounding cheap beer or vintage Bordeaux; when you’re hungover, you want one thing: to make all the awful feelings stop.

And there are whole heap of really weird hangover cures in various societies.

  • Cow intestine, calves’ feet, and milk are the three main ingredients in khashi, the slippery white stew that Georgians swear by as a hangover panacea
  • The Peruvians use the left over juice from ceviche
  • The Italians have a Neapolitan tonic on the brink of extinction, gassosa dall’acquafrescaio which blends fresh-squeezed Sorrento lemon juice, sparkling volcanic water, and baking soda to create a frothy “eruption” in the glass
  • Outer Mongolia – sheep’s eyes
  • USA – prairie oysters – raw egg and Tabasco sauce (not calves testicles)
  • Korean haejangguk (literally “hangover soup”) is the catch-all genre of beef-and-vegetable stews – but with seaweed.
  • According to Irish folklore, it was said that the cure for a hangover was to bury the ailing person up to the neck in moist river sand. This is obviously not a recommended hangover cure.

Look No Further! Seaweed to the Rescue

In a consumer survey in 2019 from early users of Pacific Seamoss surprisingly said that they felt better at 8 to 12 days. Published research work from Prof Lindsay Brown on obesity rat models showed marked improvement in liver function. His team demonstrated red seaweeds reduction in fatty liver fat deposits, reduction in fat vesicles. [3] [4]. We know that the liver damage from obesity is pathologically the same as the damage from alcohol. For a full review of liver damage caused by non-alcohol check out this review [5] but for alcohol fatty liver disease this reveiw [6]. More concerning is that fatty liver disease is associated with cancer [7].

What we know from science:

  • Alcohol causes liver inflammation
  • Seaweed reduces liver inflammation and the presence of fat vesicles in the liver of with obesity models
  • Seaweed extracts reduced liver inflammation

Extracts of Seaweed Reduced Liver Damage

In a trial with mice in 2017, Yin et al used extracted carbohydrates from a seaweed. They fed different rates of seaweed extracts to mice who were fed alcohol, and looked at liver function and size.

Growth rates increased

We know that alcohol stunts growth, one of the many reasons why women should not drink during pregnancy. We also know alcohol is contributor to a whole range of diseases including heart, dementia and cancers. But in this trial, scientists used growth rates to measure health in mice. They found seaweed extracts negated the effects of the alcohol on growth.

Group7 day15 daysGrowth %
Control222831
OAS 50 mg + alcohol243443
OAS 150 mg + alcohol233345
OAS 250 mg + alcohol233447
OAS 350 mg + alcohol243543
From Yin et al Growth rates of animals with seaweed extract were normal.

When the researchers looked at the serum levels after feeding alcohol, and the damage change that alcohol sets off, what they concluded is that the seaweed has a protective mechanism on the liver.

From Yin et al 2017. Effects of AOS on serum ALT and AST enzymatic activities against alcohol-induced acute liver injuries in mice.

So seaweed has a protective mechanism, and the authors concluded that mice should take these seaweed extracts 2 hours before consumption of alcohol.

But our best guess is taking seaweed on a daily basis will provide that same protection. Given most people who suffer hangovers will drink to excess on a regular basis. So take seaweed. Stop the hangovers. Then see a support agency to stop drinking to excess.

Our study demonstrated that AOS exerted promising hepatoprotective effects, which may have potential applications in prevention and protection of oxidative stress-induced liver injuries

Yin et al 2017.

Conclusion

  • Seaweed shows protective mechanism against liver damage from alcohol.
  • Seaweed shows protective mechanisms against obesity and high sugar intake.
  • Customers report feeling better with no hangovers from alcohol
  • Yet another reason to consume seaweed for good health.

Disclaimer

We do not promote excess alcohol consumption. We recommend you follow the appropriate health guidelines set by your national health bodies.

References

[1] Alcohol consumption increases during COVID-19 crisis (Australia National University Report)

[2] Yin et al 2017. Preparation, characterization and alcoholic liver injury protective effects of algal oligosaccharides from Gracilaria lemaneiformis Food Research International Vol 100, Part 2, October 2017, Pages 186-195 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2017.08.032

[3] Wanyonyi, S., du Preez, R., Brown, L., Paul, N. A. & Panchal, S. K. Kappaphycus alvarezii as a Food Supplement Prevents Diet-Induced Metabolic Syndrome in Rats. Nutrients 9, 2 (2017).

[4] du Preez, R. et al. Carrageenans from the Red Seaweed Sarconema filiforme Attenuate Symptoms of Diet-Induced Metabolic Syndrome in Rats. Mar. Drugs 18, 97 (2020).

[5] Than N, Newsome P. 2015 A concise review of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease 2015
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2015.01.001

[6] Osna, N. A., Donohue, T. M., Jr, & Kharbanda, K. K. (2017). Alcoholic Liver Disease: Pathogenesis and Current Management. Alcohol research : current reviews, 38(2), 147–161. (NCBI)

[7] Dhamija, E., Paul, S. B., & Kedia, S. (2019). Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease associated with hepatocellular carcinoma: An increasing concern. The Indian journal of medical research, 149(1), 9–17. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijmr.IJMR_1456_17

Support Agencies

Lifeline Australia https://www.lifeline.org.au Tel 131114

Alchoholics Anonymous
Australia https://aa.org.au/ 1300 222 222
UK 08009177650 https://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/
NZ https://aa.org.nz/ 0800 229 6757
Philippines http://www.aaphilippines.com/ WhatsApp +63 917 842 9280

Beyond Blue Australian 1300 22 4636 www.beyondblue.com

Categories
Antiviral Biosea Health

Seaweed better than Remdesivir

seaweed better than remdesivir

The red seaweeds Kappaphycus and Eucheuma have been studied since 1958 for the prevention and treatment of virus infections and the most recent peer-reviewed studies say seaweed is better than remdesivir.

Seaweed is an Untapped Resource

There is an untapped resource in virus prevention and attenuation of symptoms particularly for countries who have an established seaweed industry. Seaweeds are emerging as a potential major player in the fight for the prevention and treatment of the latest disease. New evidence confirms seaweed is better than remdesivir as an effective anti-viral agent.

The idea that seaweed is protective against major pandemic viruses is not new. Back in 1958, seaweed was demonstrated to be effective against Influenza B. More recently seaweed was implicated as an protective factor in the different rates of HIV-AIDS disease burden between Africa and Asia. (Teas et al. 2004) Throughout the years since then, slowly science has been putting together a picture of the impressive anti-viral protection seaweeds could deliver on a population level.

With the ongoing pandemic taking its toll on economic, health and societal norms, countries with an established seaweed industry have a real opportunity to improve not only the health of their people but also the health of their economies.

Seaweed is Antiviral

In 2020 seaweed research is looking specifically at the impact of seaweed on the latest virus. The spike protein on the surface of the virus latches onto the ACE-2 receptor, a molecule on the surface of human cells. Once secured, the virus inserts its own genetic material into the cell, hijacking the cellular machinery to produce replica viruses. But the virus could just as easily be persuaded to lock onto a decoy molecule that offers a similar fit. The neutralized virus would be trapped and eventually degrade naturally. Previous research has shown this decoy technique works in trapping other viruses, including dengue, Zika, and influenza A.

Latest Research Publications

Four publications in 2020 confirm seaweed should be considered as part of a modern program.

1. Extracts from Red Seaweed inhibit Infection

Research from Korea, Song [10] screened 4 marine sulfated polysaccharides for their inhibitory activities against the virus including sea cucumber sulfated polysaccharide (SCSP), fucoidan from brown algae, iota-carrageenan from red algae, and chondroitin sulfate C from shark. The extract of carrageenan from red seaweeds was at concentrations of 3.90~500 μg/mL. (Song et al. 2020)

Such a dose would be achieved with a daily consumption of a few grams of dried Pacific Seamoss.

2. Seaweed Better than Remdesivir

In Kwon’s Nature paper they used a test of antiviral effectiveness against the virus. The data showed that a seaweed carragenan extract substantially outperformed remdesivir which is the current standard antiviral used to combat the disease. This was compared also with another treatments: heparin which is a common blood thinner, and a heparin variant stripped of its anticoagulant properties. These performed on par with remdesivir in inhibiting viral infection in mammalian cells.

The Science Daily Here has a good article on the progress for seaweeds with antiviral properties.

3. Natural Substances are Inhibitors

Thirdly, Gentile et al [11] screened over 14,000 compounds. The virus has a clearly defined protein and protease structure and they reduced the target compounds to down to 17 potential inhibitors. These have been identified among the natural substances of marine origin and believe one or more will be very useful proteases.

4. Commercial Anti-Viral Nasal Sprays Effective

Mariomed – a European based company introduced a nasal spray effective against rhinoviruses in 2014, have recently focused on the latest virus. Morokutti-Kurz et al [13] from Mariomed Biotech AG released a paper that takes iota-carragenan and kappa-carragenan and found the neutralization capacity of iota-carrageenan, was in the same range as a positive serum from a patient.

5. Seaweed Good For Boosting Immunity

Over the years, seaweed has been known to boost immunity. Improved nutrition is important. E.g. Iodine supports thyroid function and is an important organ for repairing damaged cells. Seaweed has 7 times the amount of zinc as oranges, so it only makes sense to use it for preventing sickness. The science says Vitamin C stimulates the production of white blood cells in the body – these are what fight off invaders such as viruses. Our bodies can’t make our own Vitamin C, so it has to be found in our diets or through supplements. That’s where seaweed comes in! With its high Vitamin C levels, it boosts your immune system greatly. There is 25% of your daily requirements in seaweed.

Conclusion

Eating seaweed may be very effective to reduce the activity of the latest virus. It certainly will not do any harm, but from the current literature will do a great deal of good, particularly in countries who do not want the $390 per vial / $2340 cost of treatment with remdesivir when $2 per day of seaweed may be better and more available.

References

[1] J. Teas, J. R. Hebert, J. H. Fitton, and P. V. Zimba, “Algae–a poor man’s HAART?,” Medical Hypotheses, vol. 62, no. 4, pp. 507-510, 2004. (Science Direct)

[2] E. M. Brown et al., “Seaweed and human health,” Nutrition reviews, vol. 72, no. 3, pp. 205-216, 2014.

[3] A. J. Te Velthuis, S. H. van den Worm, A. C. Sims, R. S. Baric, E. J. Snijder, and M. J. van Hemert, “Zn2+ inhibits virus and arterivirus RNA polymerase activity in vitro and zinc ionophores block the replication of these viruses in cell culture,” PLoS pathogens, vol. 6, no. 11, 2010. (PLOS)

[4] K. S. Kumar, K. Ganesan, and P. S. Rao, “Antioxidant potential of solvent extracts of Kappaphycus alvarezii (Doty) Doty–An edible seaweed,” Food chemistry, vol. 107, no. 1, pp. 289-295, 2008.(Link Here)

[5] R. J. Snelgrove, L. Edwards, A. J. Rae, and T. Hussell, “An absence of reactive oxygen species improves the resolution of lung influenza infection,” European journal of immunology, vol. 36, no. 6, pp. 1364-1373, 2006.  (PLOS)

[6] Grassauer A, Weinmuellner R, Meier C, Pretsch A, Prieschl-Grassauer E, Unger H. Iota-Carrageenan is a potent inhibitor of rhinovirus infection. Virol J. 2008;5:107. Published 2008 Sep 26. doi:10.1186/1743-422X-5-107 (PubMed)

[7] Koenighofer, M., Lion, T., Bodenteich, A. et al. Carrageenan nasal spray in virus confirmed common cold: individual patient data analysis of two randomized controlled trials. Multidiscip Respir Med 9, 57 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1186/2049-6958-9-57 (SpringerLink)

[8] Khamsi, R 2006 Seaweed compound blocks cervical cancer virus New Scientist

[9] Buck CB, Thompson CD, Roberts JN, Müller M, Lowy DR, et al. (2006) Carrageenan Is a Potent Inhibitor of Papillomavirus Infection. PLOS Pathogens 2(7): e69. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.0020069

[10] Song, S, Peng, H, Wang, Q, Liu, Z, Dong, X, Wen, C, Ai, C, Zhang, Y, Wang, Z & Zhu, B-W 2020, Inhibitory activities of marine sulfated polysaccharides. Food & function.

[11] Gentile, D.; Patamia, V.; Scala, A.; Sciortino, M.T.; Piperno, A.; Rescifina, A. A Virtual Screening and Molecular Modeling Study. Mar. Drugs 2020, 18, 225. (Reference)

[12] Kwon, P.S., Oh, H., Kwon, S. Jin W, Zhang F, Fraser K, Hong J Linhardt RJ & Dordicket JS . Sulfated polysaccharides effectively inhibit in vitro. Cell Discov 6, 50 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41421-020-00192-8 (Nature)

[13] Morokutti-Kurz, M; Graf, P; Grassauer, A; Prieschl-Grassauer E. 2020. SARS-CoV-2 in-vitro neutralization assay reveals inhibition of virus entry by iota-carrageenan. BioRxiv Preprint https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.07.28.224733v1

Categories
Biosea Health

Seaweed for Pain Relief

seaweed for pain relief - is it an analgesis

It is hard to believe that seaweed for pain relief has been studied and shown to have some good activity. But natural drugs and treatments are real and have been studied.

What is Pain?

Sensation of pain is vital for survival because it acts as an indicator to tissue-damaging condition in the body. Sensation of pain is initiated in peripheral pain receptors known as nociceptors that are only excited when there is noxious stimulus.[1] Nociceptors are free nerve endings that supply nerves to every tissue of the body except the brain and receptors can be activated by intense thermal, mechanical, or chemical stimuli. Tissue irritation or injury liberates chemicals such as prostaglandins (PGs), kinins, and potassium ion that stimulate nociceptors.[2]

Drugs for Pain Relief

Analgesic drugs are medication that reduce pain. There are several mechanisms of action to provide relief.

  • Drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen block the formation of PGs; thus, nociceptors are not stimulated.[3]
  • Local anesthetics such as novocaine block the conduction of nerve impulse along the axons of first-order pain neurons, giving short-term pain relief.
  • Morphine and other opiate drugs act by changing the quality of pain perception in the brain.
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are one of the most prescribed medications and have proved to be useful in the management of chronic pain disorders, but prolonged use leads to renal and gastrointestinal side effects.[4] The use of NSAIDs among patients with first-time myocardial infarction was associated with persistent increased coronary risks.[5] There are also the tendency of increased new acute myocardial infraction risk with current use of some NSAIDs, especially parenteral NSAIDs.

Natural Plants and Extracts for Pain Relief

Marine organisms including seaweeds contain biological compounds that have medicinal properties such as analgesic and anti-inflammatory.[7] This research was from Cuba, and Cuba is renowned for lack of western drugs and uses natural products regularly.

So Zakaria and others in an experiment took mice and then gave them acetic acid and measured their writhing. And they confirmed that Pacific Seamoss may possess protective active constituents effective in reducing the sensation of pain in mice.

Read more here in their paper. [6]

Seaweed for Pain Relief

Customers of Pacific Seamoss experience period pain relief, or pain in exercise. Maybe this is part of the explanation.

References

1. Dubin AE, Patapoutian A. Nociceptors: The sensors of the pain pathway. J Clin Invest. 2010;120:3760–72. [PMC free article] [PubMed] 

Tortora GJ, Derrickson B. Principles of Anatomy and Physiology. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons; 2014. [Google Scholar]

3. Wecker L, Crespo LM, Brody TM, Dunaway G, Faingold C, Watts S. Brody’s Human Pharmacology: Molecular to Clinical. Philadelphia, PA: Mosby/Elsevier; 2010. [Google Scholar]

4. Ruoff G, Lema M. Strategies in pain management: New and potential indications for COX-2 specific inhibitors. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2003;25:S21–31. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

5. Shau WY, Chen HC, Chen ST, Chou HW, Chang CH, Kuo CW, et al. Risk of new acute myocardial infarction hospitalization associated with use of oral and parenteral non-steroidal anti-inflammation drugs (NSAIDs): A case-crossover study of Taiwan’s National Health Insurance claims database and review of current evidence. BMC Cardiovasc Disord. 2012;12:4. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

6 Zakaria A, Jais MR, Ishak R. Analgesic Properties of Nigella Sativa and Eucheuma Cottonii Extracts. J Nat Sci Biol Med. 2018;9(1):23-26. doi:10.4103/jnsbm.JNSBM_131_17

7. Vázquez AI, Sánchez CM, Delgado NG, Alfonso AM, Ortega YS, Sánchez HC. Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of red seaweed Dichotomaria obtusata. Braz J Pharm Sci. 2011;47:111–8. [Google Scholar]

Categories
Biosea Health

Magnesium in Seaweed

magnesium in seaweed helps reduce period pain

Magnesium in seaweed is implicated for general pain relief as well as dysmenorrhoea.

Women with dysmenorrhoea have a lower serum magnesium. (Chhabra 2017) There was also a Cochrane Review on the role of magnesium. (Parazzini et al. 2017) Skibola in 2004, and Jane Teas both used kelp which has a higher magnesium content than Kappaphycus – the species Biosea Health uses.

However, there is evidence of COX pathway inhibition from extracts. (Makkar & Chakraborty 2017; Zakaria et al. 2018)

Magnesium is not the whole reason why women find reduction of pain from eating Pacific Seamoss for dysmenorrhea. The fibre contributes to gut health and a change in microbiome, but even this does not explain the whole range of improvements women get.

In a pilot trial on dysmenorrhea, we asked about supplements that trial participants were taking. We had 8 women who were taking a dedicated magnesium supplement every day, that is excluding multi-vitamins. Seven provided pre and post seaweed pain data. A quick paired-samples t-test is significant, which suggests that seaweed activity is over and above the impact of magnesium.

magnesium in seaweed is moderate but seaweed reduces pain more than magnesium
The median pain before seaweed was 8. After seaweed was 2. (Paired T test probability P>0.007)

References

Chhabra, S 2017, Primary dysmenorrhea and serum magnesium in young girls A pilot study: Nessa J gynecology.

Makkar, F & Chakraborty, K 2017, Antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory potential of sulphated polygalactans from red seaweeds Kappaphycus alvarezii and Gracilaria opuntia, International Journal of Food Properties, vol. 20, no. 6, pp. 1326-37.

Parazzini, F, Di Martino, M & Pellegrino, P 2017, Magnesium in the gynecological practice: a literature review, Magnesium research, vol. 30, no. 1, pp. 1-7.

Zakaria, A, Jais, MR & Ishak, R 2018, Analgesic properties of nigella sativa and eucheuma cottonii extracts  Journal of natural science, biology, and medicine, vol. 9, no. 1, p. 23.

Categories
Biosea Health Period Pain

Period Poverty- Seaweed?

Period poverty solved by pacific seamoss seaweed

A number of countries including New Zealand and Australia have identified period poverty as a social issue to be fixed. In November 2020 Scotland announced a program as well.

Period poverty is the term used to describe the inability to purchase sanitary products and it presents a significant obstacle to health, comfort, and engagement with school and community activities.

New Zealand tackles ‘period poverty’ with free sanitary products for all schoolgirls was the headline. The Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, announced a trial program. More than 90,000 girls stay away from school because they cannot afford pad or tampons.

About 30% of the 1.2 billion women suffer from period pain (dysmenorrhea) and a key issue is they often suffer heavy bleeding. When they have heavy bleeding, they have to use more feminine hygiene products. When the blood loss from a period is greater than 80ml / period or the period duration is greater than 7 days the technical medical term is called menorrhagia.

A consequence of menorrhagia is the women suffer from low iron levels and that sets in train a whole medical intervention with iron supplements and that often results in constipation. The combination of all this can be severe.

Girls in New Zealand high schools will no longer have to pay for sanitary products after the government announced it would foot the bill in an attempt to stamp out widespread period poverty. Prime minister Ardern said sanitary supplies for a monthly period were not a luxury, but a necessity and too many girls were skipping school because they weren’t able to afford pads and tampons. Schools in deprived areas also reported girls being forced to use toilet paper, newspaper and rags in an attempt to manage their period. Fifteen Waikato schools (near Hamilton NZ) – identified as those most in need – will have access to free products from term three of this year, with the programme going nationwide on an opt-in basis by 2021.

Otago University found girls who experience period poverty face lifelong implications “for their health, emotional development, education and career prospects”

Isobel Marshall – Australian Of the Year

At just 18 years of age, Isobel Marshall co-founded TABOO with school friend Eloise Hall, to help women around the world by breaking down stigma around menstruation and providing greater access to hygiene products. In Jan 2021, Isobel was recognised for driving the campaign in Australia conjunction with TABOO and Vinnies Women’s Crisis centre, providing free access to pads and tampons for women who require emergency accommodation in South Australia. Recognising period poverty is not just a big city issue, they also support the Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Women’s Council.

While research about period poverty is limited the available evidence shows that poor menstrual management can affect the emotional and physical health of young women and can influence school attendance. A US study conducted in 2017 found that one in five American girls aged 16 – 24 have either left school early or missed school entirely because they did not have access to period products.

A 2018 survey in the UK by a manufacturer Always claimed 137,700 girls in the UK missed school in 2017 because they couldn’t afford sanitary items. That survey also found that 55 percent of teachers were aware of girls in their school being unable to afford sanitary products.

Poverty Pain in India

Other countries have also identified period poverty. India. Two young entrepreneurs with a charity in South Australia have launched their own social enterprise selling sanitary products whose profits will go to disadvantaged women fighting period poverty around the world.

Period Poverty in Scotland

Period poverty: Scotland first in world to make period products free. Read about this from the BBC in November 2020. Note that this was in politics section, not the health section of the BBC, as reduction of period poverty is a political and social initiative.

Period poverty is when those on low incomes can’t afford, or access, suitable period products.

Seaweed reduces period bleeding and period pain
Buying products (Getty Images)

With average periods lasting about five days, it can cost up to £8 a month for tampons and pads, and some women struggle to afford the cost.

So the Scottish Government decided to make feminine hygiene products free.

Periods Shame

“Period poverty is a real issue that is under-researched,” Dr Ruth Knight from The Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Non-profit Studies based at QUT Business says. In most studies, teachers and researchers say

“They felt that students generally loathe their periods and given periods are a sensitive topic, this compounds the embarrassment and shame in talking about the topic, which may prevent some girls asking for help or advice.”

Staff from study in Australian Queensland schools

Can Seaweed Reduce Period Poverty

We suggest seaweed will make a substantial reduction for period poverty.

  • Seaweed reduces dysmenorrhea (period pain) based on indicative pilot trials and customer feedback
  • Seaweed reduces the burden of menstruation based on indicative data.
  • Seaweed is natural, organic and just a food.
  • Alternative strategies recommended are heat pack, NSAIDS and oral contraception.

Ask us about how seaweed may make a difference to your daughter in this socially vulnerable age and environment.

Categories
Biosea Health Health Benefits

Seaweed and Fibromyalgia

Pacific Seamoss seaweed helps relieve fibromyalgia symptoms

Q. A customer who was looking for period pain relief asked us: I have fibromyalgia – does seaweed help reduce fibromyalgia?

A. We don’t have any participants in a pilot trial for dysmenorrhea who told us specificially they have fibromyalgia. We do have anecdotal feedback from other customers though. Fibromyalgia (for fibro) is complicated as it “rewires” the brain from pain. With Pacific Seamoss seaweed we know most customers say they feel better in a week to 10 days. Over the past decade seaweed is implicated in improvement.

What is Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is often accompanied by fatigue and altered sleep, memory and mood. Checkout WebMD or the Mayo Clinic. People may have widespread muscle pain and tenderness is the most common symptoms.
Medication, yoga, acupuncture, exercise, Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), and stress reduction may help manage symptoms.

  • Treatment can help, but this condition can’t be cured
  • Requires a medical diagnosis
  • Lab tests or imaging rarely required
  • Chronic: can last for years or be lifelong

Fibromyalgia may be triggered by a stressful event, including physical stress or emotional (psychological) stress. Possible triggers for the condition include an injury or a viral infection.

Will seaweed cause any fibromyalgia interaction?

We have not had any feedback from customers that it has done any harm, and they generally report positive improvements. Some have reported reduced restless leg syndrome. Seaweed won’t do you any harm at all – unless you are allergic to seaweed. About 5% of customers say they have some GI (gastro intenstinal) bloating – but you would do if you starting eating a can of baked beans a day. Most of these already have severe GI issues – and some eat no fibre etc. So the addition of fibre can be a shock when you have none. The majority of others find taking a smaller amount of seaweed (maybe 2 to 3 capsules per day) and eating it with other food removes any issues. Given that one of the strategies is improved diet, seaweed will support that.

Prof Lindsay Brown has been assessing seaweed for intervention in obesity related diseases for the past decade. [3] Kumar worked with Prof Brown and recently wrote a comprehensive review [4].

However, for the past 20 years various researchers [5] have been looking at brown seaweeds and in particular the fucoxanthin compounds for activity in diseases. A search on Google Scholar will show a number of recommendations and some research on seaweed and fibromyalgia. The difficulty is that none have progressed past the lab. The benefits may be as simple as reduction in iodine deficiency as iodine is considered a contributor to fibromyalgia. Pacific Seamoss contributes about 15% RDI (%DV). Other brown seaweeds have higher levels iodine.

Alternative Remedies

There are a range of other strategies, and one that seems counter intuitive is weighted blankets. Why – weighted blankets are commonly used to help with a variety of conditions from ADHD and autism to Restless Leg Syndrome. Even more importantly, these blankets may be able to help manage pain related to fibromyalgia. This blog is a good starter for further reading blog post

References

[1] Fibromyalgia Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fibromyalgia/symptoms-causes/syc-20354780

[2] Fibromyalgia – WebMD https://www.webmd.com/fibromyalgia/default.htm

[3] Kumar, S.A., Brown, L. Seaweeds as potential therapeutic interventions for the metabolic syndrome. Rev Endocr Metab Disord 14, 299–308 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11154-013-9254-8

[4] Kumar M & Sharma S (2020) Toxicological effects of marine seaweeds: a cautious insight for human consumption, Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2020.1738334

[5] D’Orazio, N.; Gemello, E.; Gammone, M.A.; De Girolamo, M.; Ficoneri, C.; Riccioni, G. Fucoxantin: A Treasure from the Sea. Mar. Drugs 2012, 10, 604-616.

Categories
Period Pain

Period Pain Trial Thanks

Painful period trial thanks with Pacific Seamoss

Thank you for signing up to the Period Pain Trial. Thanks from us and from 900 million women aged between 15 and 25 and 1.2 Billion women aged from 30 to 50 years. We want to look at the effect of eating about 3g of dry seaweed every day.  We have women in a number of countries participating.  We will be in contact with you shortly

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What are the next steps?

  1. We’ll send you the first 6 weeks of seaweed capsules (180)
  2. We’ll also send a blood pressure machine so you can test your blood pressure. The instructions are in the box. We will be asking you to provide your weight, height and waist measurements. (You will need a tape measure!)
  3. We ask you to fill out the first survey. It is about your current health, period pain in the past. It is detailed and asks physical and psychological questions.
  4. Take 4 capsules per day. We suggest 2 at breakfast and 2 at dinner.
  5. At 4 weeks we ask you to do a followup survey.
  6. We’ll then post out the next 6 weeks of capsules.
  7. At 8 weeks and at 12 weeks you do another questionnaire.
  8. You can withdraw at any stage

Is the product Philippines FDA or Australia approved?

In the Philippines the product does not need FDA approval as it is not a medicine but is undergoing registration and will be available over the counter in drug stores. It is pure, clean and just dry seaweed. Grown at farms in the waters off Samal Island it is harvested, brought quickly to a drying processing center and immediately dried to about 20-30-% moisture. It is then transferred to a registered nutraceutical contract production company in Davao who further dries the product to 5%, mills it to reduce to small particles then packages the powder into capsules. 

Who Sells Seaweed?

It is sold and distributed from Seaweed for Humanity, Inc from the Philippines so you are entitled to purchase and receive it. It is not a “traditional food” in Australia, UK, USA or New Zealand but is in the Philippines. It is just Food. Food for Health.

Is it safe?

Yes, it is just seaweed (Kappaphycus alvarezii ) and the same that you can buy in most wet markets throughout the Philippines, Indonesia, or Malaysia. However even if you wanted to it is very hard to buy good clean seaweed, every day at a consistent price and have it in your refrigerator (ref) or out where it can spoil. We make it easy.  It is just dry seaweed.

What Safety Checks

We check each batch for heavy metals (bad for health if in the water or the product and the levels are within or lower than the regulations.) We check each batch for biological contaminants as per established food processing guidelines. (HACCP / ISO22000) If any contamination – out it goes. So you can be assured the product is safe to consume.

Was this a clinical trial?

This was not a clinical trial.  This was a field trial designed to give us enough information to properly design a clinical trial. In a clinical trial some participants get the real product, and some don’t. In many clinical trials the people in charge of the trial don’t even know who got the real product.  In this trial everyone gets the product and we are assessing the results to see if there is enough evidence for us to go to a full clinical trial. 

However it is still important to us that you answer all the survey questions and report accurately – we all get a better report that way.

Is the survey confidential?

ABSOLUTELY.  This is a key consideration of this survey. We have appointed a medical researcher to be the survey project manager. Her name is Lea and you can contact her directly to discuss any of the issues. She is the only person who will have information on the name and the # of any participant. The survey is designed to keep this information confidential by only using the # of the capsule supply as the ID point. We already have individuals. This is about the “general” case.

Is this local or global?

We are already selling the product in Australia, New Zealand, USA, Germany, UK and the Philippines.  Women with dysmenorrhea are in every country, and in some countries are subject to further pain including social and religious prejudices. This product is produced using global standards of testing, processing and packaging. Currently packaged in a gel capsule for ease of consumption but it is available as powder (with smoothies, chocolate or bread).

Whats the Retail Cost?

The cost is about $US1.00 per day with free shipping.

What are the benefits?

The first customers had their painful periods go from a 8 or more to a 3 or less.

Painful periods trial scale
Typical pain measuring scale.

Is Seaweed Good Food?

Seaweed has been eaten in the Philippines for hundreds of years. Many studies over the decades show seaweeds contain many helpful compounds to aid our health. Seaweed extracts all these compounds from the seawater it lives in as it grows and matures. Vitamins, minerals, and prebiotics all play a part.

Vitamins and Minerals

Seaweeds contain lots of minerals especially potassium (K), zinc (Zn), Iodine (I), Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg) and Iron (Fe). Check the label for some of the RDA figures.

Contains vitamins – C, A, B1, B3, B6, and some of these are up to 20% of RDA

Seaweed has anti-inflammatory compounds identified.

Other Benefits of Seaweed

These contribute to a great result in pain and inflammation reduction.  For some of the benefits check out the top 20 that customers have told us.

What’s the Next Stages?

This is the first part of our studies to be continued over the next 2 years to find out the scientific answers to these questions. Many companies have tried to extract useful compounds from seaweed, but we know that the whole food is better than individual compounds.

Side Effects

There are few side effects from eating seaweed.

  • Your microbiome changes and there may be smells for a few days as your stomach gets used to the extra fiber. We recommend to start slow for you tummy to adjust to more fiber.
  • Your nails may grow stronger
  • Your hair may grow faster
  • If you have an auto-immune disease we suggest introduce seaweed slowly. Maybe 1 capsule per day for a few days, then build up slowly to 4 per day.

How is the seaweed Grown?

Seaweed is grown sustainably in clean water. It is formally organic certified. We have implemented plate to gate tracking systems. Seaweed is grown from cuttings on ropes in the ocean. Our seaweeds are harvested at 45 days and we think this means they have optimal healthy content.

Why Whole Food, Not Extracts?

Professor Lindsay Brown from University of Southern Queensland says that extraction of individual compounds is in error. We are better to eat the whole seaweed product with all its goodness complete.

Has This Been Done Before?

This is the first trial of its kind about seaweed that we know about anywhere in the world.  While we know the Philippines / Japan / Korea / China / Indonesia have eaten seaweed for hundreds of years. However consumption is a lifestyle driven process. It is not consistent and the quality and quantity varies. We know real benefits come from regular consumption of this great food, at a minimum level over a period of months and years. You can only consume like that with a packaged product.

How long is the trial? 

Please take capsules for 90 days. This covers 2 to 3 cycles. We will be able to get results which are not just restricted to a single cycle but will show a trend. It is important that you fill out the interim survey as well as the initial one so we can get continuous information for our study.

Who is the company?

The company is Marine Algae and is really two companies. The Australian company is providing research, science and marketing expertise and the Philippines company is providing farming, processing and distribution facilities. Dr. Hugh Butler PhD runs the Australian arm of the business and Gray Goodwin the Philippines arm. Gray (an Aussie) has lived and worked in Davao for 13 years and has a family in Davao. 

Seaweed for Humanity

We have established a not-for-profit Foundation and are planning to support many Filipino fisherfolk with fair prices and fair trade dealings in the purchase and processing of our product. We expect this to continue and expand as our business matures.

Survey is so detailed. Why?

We are trying to get a lot of information so that when we come to the clinical trial we will have a very clear idea of what information we need to get evidence or confirmation of our feelings about the benefits of seaweed in addressing the problem of Dysmenorrhea.  Unfortunately, dysmenorrhea is a very badly neglected area of medical science and millions of young women (2.1 billon world wide) have been left to fend for themselves with only pain killers and in many cases nothing else – to deal with the dislocation of their life due to the effects of Dysmenorrhea.  We sincerely hope you can work with us to find a solution. Groups such as Australian Pelvic Pain Foundation do great work to raise the profile.

Project Manager?

Mrs Lea Sterling is running this project for Marine Algae.  She is a mother of three, Teacher, and Science Researcher who is passionate about Women’s Health and Wellbeing. Lea holds a Bachelor of Science (Double major in Biochemistry/Physiology), Bachelor of Music Education and Graduate Diploma in Psychology. She has also partly completed a Masters of Scientific Studies and Bachelor of Nursing (Graduate Entry). With training in both medical ethics and counselling, Lea brings a humanistic approach to her professional work. She has acted as a consultant to business across the health, finance and education sectors. In her role as a researcher at Marine Algae.  Lea is aiming to complete a Doctor of Philosophy in Women’s Health. This project is part of that work.

Period Pain Trial Thanks

  • Your answer to our survey will assist us in planning a larger formal clinical trial late this year. 
  • Your answers will help 0.9 Billion women worldwide aged 15 to 29 who suffer from dysmenorrhea.   
  • Your answers may help a further 1.2 Billion women aged 30 to 50
  • We will send you summary results of the data we collect at the conclusion.

There may be opportunities for you to participate in the full clinical trial but we will advise you in due course.

In the meantime, we have a special deal for you to try for a month, just for the cost of postage. Why not? Even the postage is refunded if it does not work for you. What is there to lose. Head to this page for more info

Questions? Call or email

Questions? Call Hugh on +61414757540, or Lea +61 413 746 962
In the Philippines call Dale (0917 714 4503 or Messenger)

Categories
Biosea Health

Seaweed improves health unexpectedly

20 ways seaweed improves health

We know seaweed is healthy. But many people eat seaweed as a food and most do not eat seaweed every day. So the results from customers are really interesting. Responses can be grouped into 4 different areas.

Physical – Exercise and Pain

  • Exercise pain 50% say less pain when exercising
  • Endurance – 28% said they had more endurance
  • 28% said they had specific pain reduction. Backs. Knees. Wrists, Hips, Shoulders. Chris Sly says he does not know why he has less minor back pain, but he is happy to accept it!
  • The reduction in pain allowed them to move freer.
  • Muscle cramps 6% less.

Physical – Specific

  • 55% said their nails are stronger. If you are a male, that’s could be a nuisance, but a few have said their nails are the best for 30 to 50 years! Check out a blog here. 
  • 30% said their hair grew more. Some said 25% faster. (Read More) The bald people had no change!
  • Over 20% reported their blood pressure decreased close to 100% of those who said they had elevated blood pressure.  Improvement was not unexpected based on prior published data.
  • Improvement in the skin. Acne, skin sensitivity were reported by a number of customers.
  • Arrhymythia improved – 3%
  • Change in Bowel – 25% had improved bowel movements (Improvements from those who had diarrhoea or who had constipation)
  • Changes in kidney/bladder – 22% said they had improvement in bladder emptying
  • Two said their restless leg syndrome stopped. They only became aware when they realised that it had stopped for a week.
  • Some, who said they did not complete the survey said their glucose levels were reduced. (Based on tests by their doctors).

Physical – Generic

  • Eyesight 10% of respondees said their eyesight improved
  • Smell 7% says their sense of smell improved and became more sensitive to smells and scents
  • Better bowel movements., improvements with Parkinson’s Disease.
  • 50% said they had less pain when they exercised and 30% more endurance. More testimonials here on this page. 
  • Dysmenorrhea severity and duration improved for 3 of the younger responders. Reduction in duration from 6-7 days down to 2 to 3. Pain scores (1-10 rating) reduced from 8 to 3 for one customer and from 11 to 1. (See Katies story)

Mental – Attitude and Psychological

  • 26% were less anxious and 33% said their moods were better.
  • 28% said they had better sleep.
  • Memory improved for 30%

This does not include some other measures that we know have happened such as improvement in blood glucose levels, improvement in memory or improvement in their cholesterol profile.

Why seaweed improves health?

We don’t know.

  • Vitamins and Minerals
  • Pre-biotic effect on the microbiome
  • Anti-inflammatory responses
  • Other unknown reasons
Categories
Biosea Health Period Pain

Seaweed reduces dysmenorrhea

seaweed reduces period pain since 2005

Seaweed reduces Dysmenorrhea (period pain)

We know seaweed is fantastic for balancing hormones, helping you look and feel better. And now, we’re seeing customers with significantly reduced pain during their period.

Menstrual pain, scientifically known as Dysmenorrhea, affects 80% of young women between the ages of 15 and 30 and 20% from 30 to 50. But we’ve discovered that eating seaweed can significantly reduce its effects

  • Natural relief from period-pain
  • Balances hormones
  • Look and feel better
  • Full of required nutrients and vitamins
  • Improves focus and concentration

Seaweed reduces period pain since 2005!

For the past 20 years, researchers have seen that Japanese women have had lower rates of breast cancer than women in western countries. While initial studies were in animals, studies through to 2013 were with breast cancer survivors. There were changes in the women studied, but the researchers were focused on breast cancer. Not period pain.

Our customers said What?

Katie, a young woman in the Philippines, had been suffering from period cramps for five years when she turned to seaweed. Her pain had become so unbearable she was failing her exams.

She was encouraged to use seaweed for its health benefits, and in only one month her pain reduced from a debilitating 9 to an easily manageable 1 on the pain scale. 

Use this pain scale to measure when seaweed reduces period pain since 2005

Here’s the assessment chart Katie used to describe her pain. How would you rate your period? Are your cramps mild, or do they interfere with your everyday life? Imagine the freedom you could gain from reducing that pain naturally!

Seaweed reduces period pain. How?

It’s suggested that exercise and a healthy diet reduce period pain. Vitamins and minerals also help, and of course, that’s what seaweed is full of!

Seaweed is fantastic for stabilizing hormonal levels, and it has a particular impact on balancing estrogen. In fact, period pain is often caused by the imbalance of estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen contracts the uterus and progesterone relaxes it, so too much estrogen causes bad cramps.

Seaweed can also help with other issues caused by periods and hormonal changes, such as acne! Could it also minimize the effects of menopause? Try it and let us know your results. Check out our free pilot trial here

There is some great work by the Australian Pelvic Pain Foundation

Categories
Antiviral

3 Ways Seaweed Boosts Immunity

3 ways to boost immunity with seaweed

With the rise of coronavirus, it’s a more important time than ever to make sure our immune systems are working, healthy and ready to fight! So, you might go to a chemist and buy all of your vitamins and mineral supplements. But, they’re probably expensive and packed with sugar and chemicals.

Boost Immunity with Seaweed

Alternatively, seaweed contains an incredible amount of vitamins and minerals. All-natural. It helps your body function without artificial or synthetic vitamins that you don’t process naturally.

Here are 3 vitamins and minerals already present in seaweed that get your immune system functioning at its best!

seaweed contains an incredible amount of vitamins and minerals. All natural. Helps your body function without artificial or synthetic vitamins that you don’t process naturally.

3 ways to boost immunity

  • Vitamin C – increases white blood cells
  • Zinc fights viruses
  • Iodine and Amino Acids Support thyroid function

Vitamin C

Many people turn to eating large amounts of orange juice when they’re sick because it’s high in Vitamin C. Also known as ascorbic acid, this vitamin is well known for boosting immunity and helping fight colds and flu.

The science says Vitamin C stimulates the production of white blood cells in the body – these are what fight off invaders such as viruses.

Our bodies can’t make our own Vitamin C, so it has to be found in our diets or through supplements. That’s where seaweed comes in! With its high Vitamin C levels, it boosts your immune system greatly. There is 25% of your daily requirements in seaweed.

Zinc

Zinc is a known inhibitor of coronavirus replication. Clinical trials of zinc lozenges in the common cold have demonstrated modest reductions in the duration and or severity of symptoms.1  Zinc assists your immune system by preventing viruses from binding to your RNA. When SARS-1 was studied, scientists found that zinc significantly helped the immune system fight the virus. By extension, this readily available nontoxic therapy should be deployed at the first signs of COVID-19.2  Zinc lozenges can be administered 5 times a day for up to 5 days and extended if needed if symptoms persist. The amount of elemental zinc lozenges is <25% of that in a single 220-mg zinc sulfate daily tablet. This dose of zinc sulfate has been effectively used in combination with antimalarials in early treatment of high-risk outpatients with COVID-19.3

Seaweed has 7 times the amount of zinc as oranges, so it only makes sense to use it for preventing sickness.

Iodine

Iodine supports your thyroid gland, an important organ for repairing damaged cells in your body.

Seaweed contains both iodine and the amino acid tyrosine. Together, they create the hormones that support the thyroid gland and help you fight viruses. Pacific Seamoss provides about 25% of your daily requirements but don’t go and eat this much kelp powder as it may have 3 times more of your RDA

These 3 ways to boost immunity also increases your energy levels and overall health!

References

[1] AS Prasad, JT Fitzgerald, B Bao, FW Beck, PH Chandrasekar Duration of symptoms and plasma cytokine levels in patients with the common cold treated with zinc acetate. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial Ann Intern Med, 133 (4) (2000), pp. 245-252, 10.7326/0003-4819-133-4-200008150-00006

[2] Rahman MT, Idid SZ. Can Zn Be a Critical Element in COVID-19 Treatment? [published online ahead of print, 2020 May 26]. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2020;1-9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-020-02194-9

[3] Zelenko V. Clinical dx protocol. Available at: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pjgHlqI-ZuKOziN3txQsN5zz62v3K043pR3DdhEmcos/edit. Accessed Sept 2, 2020.Google Scholar