Seaweed Therapy For Cancer

Seaweed has, over the years, come to be known as an effective treatment for a number of degenerative diseases. Seaweed has evolved as a major treatment for eczema, arthritis as well as psoriasis.

Seaweed therapy is well known for its anti-inflammatory properties and anti-fungal properties in Japan. Moreover, seaweed therapy has recently been examined as effective for treatment of cancer. Seaweed therapy is used for external purposes as a cleanser when the patient is totally wrapped up in seaweed. It can, however, be used internally in the form of pills or food.

Seaweed is a common term given to common algae types found in the sea. So, it can be red in color and can also be green or brown in color. Seaweed is also a major constituent of toothpaste, paint and cosmetics.

Basis of Seaweed Therapy

Presence of anti-cancer compounds such as iodine, omega-3 fatty acids and selenium has given seaweed the prospect of curing cancer. Seaweed also comprises of U-fucoidan – a complex polysaccharide that mainly comprises of fucopyranoside – that kills cancer cells by breaking them down and leaves apart the normal healthy tissue.

Again, the brown seaweed scientifically termed as Laminaria japonica contains the concentrated modifilan. The modifilan is rich in soluble polysaccharides such as laminarin, alginate and fucoidan. All these compounds together kill the cancer cells and drive away toxins.

History of Seaweed Therapy

Seaweed therapy, also known as algae therapy and thalassotherapy, has been present in various regions of the world over thousands of years. It is very popular in Spain, Brittany, Greece, France, Northern Ireland and Japan.

According to recent researches, seaweed was used as back as in Egyptian civilization to treat the breast cancer. If we look at the food habits of people across the world, we would find that the diet of Japanese women is rich in seaweed and hence the low rates of breast cancer in Japan. Interestingly, the seaweed-rich diet of Japanese women is so effective that even though they smoke more than any women in any other country or region, they are less prone to breast cancer.

Health Benefits of Seaweed

Some of the well known health benefits of seaweed include relief from arthritis symptoms and symptoms of lupus and rheumatoid, relief from pains and aches in muscles and joints, anti-aging properties, toning of skin tissues, etc. In addition, seaweed helps in fighting free radicals from damaging body. It also helps in reducing cellulite. Seaweed significantly brings down stress levels as it is rich in Vitamin B. It substantially improves blood circulation, helps fight weight loss and improves the immune system. Seaweed also heals skin tissue and reduces sores and spots.

Seaweed is also known to heal the sores and joint pains of manual laborers, craftsmen, gardeners and women in general. Seaweed baths is relaxing for people suffering from insomnia. The moisturizing properties of seaweed do wonders to heal the skin and restore a fresh glow.

Certain types of seaweed are also edible and are extremely rich in protein, calcium and vitamins such as B vitamins and vitamin K. It also consists of essential minerals, manganese and magnesium. It can be called one-stop solution for nutrition deficiency. Seaweed effectively removes heavy metals along with radioactive strontium from body. Besides anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties, seaweed has amazing antiseptic and anti-viral properties. It is also an effective antioxidant.

Also, the red seaweed – callophycus serratus – has amazing powers of killing tumors.

How to Use Seaweed

Seaweed finds place in many food items that can be eaten every day. Seaweed is generally wrapped around sushi products. It is also a major constituent of miso soup – a popular Japanese food. Seaweed does not add to your calorie level in the body and mere 25g a week substantially increases level of iodine in the body.
Seaweed scrub has turned out to be a popular item in spas for its immense benefits. Such a seaweed therapy is done basically to drive away toxins from the body as well as skin.

Contents of Seaweed

One of the most life-threatening diseases even in the present scenario of advanced medical research remains to be cancer. This is simply because of the fact that cancer cells do not know the process of apoptosis. Despite being old, these cancer cells do not die away like other normal cells in the body and keep on multiplying.

Fucoidan, a major constituent of seaweed, is the one that has been there for over 3000 years submerged in the ocean and that is creating a hue and cry among doctors and scientists alike all over the globe. It was first in 1996 that the miraculous fucoidan was first brought into limelight. The major argument presented was that fucoidan kills cancer cells and does not harm normal cells during the process of apoptosis.

How Seaweed Cures Cancer

Several studies denote that fucoidan prevent the cancer cells from attaching to the laminin. Also, the brown seaweed is known to have anti-proliferative properties. Fucoidan has also been proved as anti-tumor agent. Besides, the therapeutic potential of seaweed is determined by the percentage of sulfate group present.

By preventing tumor cells from adhering onto normal cells or tissues, the fucoidan stops the metastasis of cancer cells to various other parts of the body. Fucoidan, by activating macrophages, multiplies the tumor cells’ phagocytosis. Seaweed also consists of laminarin that stops angiogenesis on cancer cells. Angiogenesis is the name given to the birth of blood vessels on the tumor cell. Angiogenesis helps in proper delivery of oxygen to cancer cells along with food. Cancer cells multiply at a much faster rate and so they need for fuel. In the absence of angiogenesis, the cancer cells are devoid of ample energy leading to their starvation and hence death.

Certain studies also show the percentage reduction in several cancer types due to intake of fucoidan. For example, with the use of fucoidan, tongue cancer can be reduced up to 83% if not cured totally. Similarly, breast cancer is reduced by 78%, pharynx cancer by 81%, esophageal cancer by 84%, uterine cancer by 72%, stomach cancer by 84%, ovarian cancer by 58% and pancreatic cancer by 48%. Leukemia is reduced by 84% and prostatic cancer is reduced by 73% with the use of fucoidan. Non-small cell lung cancer can be reduced by 75% and small cell lung cancer is reduced by 79% with regular intake of seaweed rich in fucoidan.

Limu

The original limu is a product developed by the Limu Company that contains 83% fucoidan and is extracted without the use of any chemicals.