ROCKWEED or BLADDERWRACK BRITISH ISLES
Fucus vesiculosus of the Class Algae, Order Fucaceae, is one of the most common seaweeds found on the shores of the British Isles, particularly on the Atlantic side. It is also known as Rockweed. The entire plant is gathered for medicinal purposes. It earns its name from the bladder-like swellings (air-vesicles) arranged mostly in pairs on the branches of the thallus.
Bladderwrack contains a small amount of iodine, which is probably the most important therapeutic constituent. The iodine would appear to be present in a similar state to that in which it exists in the thyroid glands.
A Dublin medical practitioner apparently introduced seaweed to the notice of the profession in England in 1831, and it subsequently received attention in Germany.
Seaweed obtained from the Irish Coasts is today considered the most efficacious, but the plant has not been given official recognition. The drug is administered in certain cases of obesity.
SEA WEEDS and SEA PLANTS OF VARIOUS KIND
Of marine plants commonly found, the Samphire and the Sea Holly have certain domestic and medicinal uses which give them a position as Simples; and of the more ordinary Sea Weeds (cryptogamous, or flowerless plants) some few are edible, though sparingly nutritious, whilst curative and medicinal virtues are attributed to certain others, as Irish Moss, Scotch Dulse, Sea Tang, and the Bladderwrack. It may be stated broadly that the Sea Weeds employed as remedial Simples owe their powers to the bromine, iodine, and sulphate of soda which they contain. Pliny and Dioscorides in their days extolled the qualities of certain Sea Weeds; and practitioners of medicine on our sea coasts are now unanimous in pronouncing Sea Weed liniments and poultices as of undoubted value in reducing glandular swellings, and in curing obstinate sprains; whilst they administer the Bladderwrack, etc., internally for alter ative purposes with no little success.
Samphire, of the true sort, is a herb difficult to be gathered because it grows only out of the crevices of lofty perpendicular rocks which cannot be easily scaled This genuine Samphire (Crithmum maritimum) is a small plant, bearing yellow flowers in circular umbels on the tops of the stalks, which flowers are followed by seeds like those of the Fennel, but larger.
The leaves are juicy, with a warm aromatic taste, and may be put into sauce; or they make a good appetizing condimentary pickle, which is wholesome for scrofulous subjects. Persons living by the coast cook this plant as a pot herb.
Shakespeare alludes in well-known lines to the hazardous proceedings of the Samphire gatherer’s “dreadful trade”; and Evelyn has praised the plant for excellence of flavour, as well as for aromatic virtues against the spleen.
Its botanic name is from the Greek “crithe,” “barley,” because the seeds are thought to resemble that grain. The title Samphire is derived from the French (Herbe de) “St. Pierre,” because the roots strike deep into the crevices of rocks.
A spurious Samphire, the “Inula crithmoides,” or Golden Samphire, is often supplied in lieu of the real plant, though it has a different flavour, and none of the proper virtues. This grows more abundantly on low rocks, and on ground washed by salt water.
Gerard says of Samphire: “It is the pleasantest sauce, most familiar, and best agreeing with man’s body.”
“Preferable,” adds Evelyn, “for cleansing the pas- sages, and sharpening appetite, to most of our hotter herbs, and salad ingredients.”
The Sea Holly (Eryngium maritimum) is a well-known prickly sea-green plant, growing in the sand on many parts of our coasts, or on stony ground, with stiff leaves, and roots which run to a great length among the sand, whilst charged with a sweetish juice.
A manufactory for making candied roots of the Sea Holly was established at Colchester, by Robert Burton, an apothecary, in the seventeenth century, as they were considered both antiscorbutic and excellent for health.
Gerard says: “The roots, if eaten, are good for those that be liver sick; and they ease cramps, convulsions, and the falling sickness. If condited, or preserved with sugar, they are exceeding good to be given to old and aged people that are consumed and withered with age, and which want natural moisture.” Gerard goes on to give an elaborate receipt how to condite the roots of Sea Holly, or Eringos, which title is, according to Liddell and Scott, the diminutive of eerungos, “the beard of a goat.”
In healthy provers, who have taken the Sea Holly experimentally in “toxical” doses of varying strength, the sexual energies and instincts became always depressed. This accounts for the fact that during the Elizabethan era the roots of the plant used in moderation were highly valued for renovating masculine vigour, such as Falstaff invoked, and which classic writers have extolled: —
“Non male tum graiis florens eryngus in hortis Quaeritur; hunc gremio portet si nupta virentem Nunquam inconcessos conjux meditabitur ignes.” Rapinus.
Plutarch writes: “They report of the Sea Holly, if one goat taketh it into her mouth, it causeth her first to stand still, and afterwards the whole flock, until such time as the shepherd takes it from her.”
Boerhaave thought the root “a principal aperient.”
Irish Moss, or “Carraigeen,” is abundant on our rocky coasts, and is collected on the north western shores of Ireland, while some of it comes to us from Hamburg. Its chief constituent is a kind of mucilage, which dissolves to a stiff paste in boiling water, this contain- ing some iodine, and much sulphur. But before being boiled in water or milk, it should be soaked for an hour or more in cold water.
The Moss contains starchy, heat-giving nourishment, about six parts of this to one of flesh-forming food; therefore its jelly is found to be specially sustaining to persons suffering from pulmonary consumption, with an excessive waste of the bodily heat. At one time the Irish Moss fetched as high a price as half-a-crown for the pound. It bears the botanical name of “Chondrus crispus,” and varies much in size and color. When growing in small pools, it is shallow, pale, and stunted; whilst when found at the bottom of a deep pool, or in the shadow of a great rock, it occurs in dense masses of rich purple red, and reddish green thick fronds.
The Dulse is used in Scotland and Ireland both as food and medicine. Botanically it bears the name of “Iridea edulis,” or “Rhodymenia palmata” (the sugar “Fucus” of Iceland).
There is a saying in Scotland: “He who eats of the Dulse of Guerdie, and drinks of the wells of Kindingie, will escape all maladies except black death.” This marine weed contains within its cellular structure much iodine, which makes it a specific remedy for scrofulous glandular enlargements, or destructive deposits.
In Ireland the Dulse is first well washed in fresh water, and exposed in the air to dry, when it gives out a white powdery substance, which is sweet and palatable, covering the whole plant. The weed is presently packed in cases, and protected from the air, so that being thus preserved, it may either be eaten as it is, or boiled in milk, and mixed with flour of rye. The powdery substance is “mannite,” which is abundant on many of our Sea Weeds.
Cattle and sheep are very fond of Dulse, so that in Norway it is known as Soudsell, or Sheep’s Weed. This “Iridea edulis” is pinched with hot irons by the fishermen in the south west of England, so as to make it taste like an oyster. In Scotland it is roasted in the frying-pan.
The Maritime Sea Tang (Laminaria digitata) was sung of in the “Proverbial Philosophy” of Martin Tupper: —
“Health is in the freshness of its savour; and it cumbereth the beach with wealth;
Comforting the tossings of pain with its violet tinctured essence.”
This weed is of common marine growth, consisting of a wide smooth brown frond, with a thick round stem, and broad brown ribbons like a flag at the end of it. It is familiarly known as Seagirdles, Tangle, Sea Staff, Sea Wand, and Cows’ Tails. Fisher boys cut up the stems as handles for knives, or hooks, because after the haft of the blade is inserted within the stem this dries, and contracts on the iron staple, becoming densely hard and firm.
The absorbent stem power of the “Laminaria” for taking up iodine is very large; and this element is afterwards brought out by fire in the kelp kilns of Ireland and Scotland. It acts most beneficially against the various forms of scrofulous disease; and signally relieves some rheumatic affections. It is also used largely in the making of glass.
Likewise for scrofula, seawater, being rich in chlorides and iodides, has proved both curative and preventive. Dr. Sena, of Valencia, adopted bread made with sea- water in the Misericordia Hospital for cases of scrofulous disease, and other states of defective nutrition, with singular success.
The Bladderwrack (Fucus vesiculosus), Kelpware, or Our Lady’s Wrack, is found on most of our sea coasts in heavy brown masses of coarse-looking Sea Weed, which shadow and shelter many small algae.
By its characteristic bladders, or vesicles studded about the blades of the branched narrowish fronds, this Sea Weed may be easily known.
These bladders are full of a glutinous substance, which makes the weed valuable both as a remedy for the glandular troubles of scrofula, and, when bottled in rum, as an embrocation, such as is specially useful for strengthening the limbs of rickety or bandy-legged children. For glandular swellings also the weed is taken internally as a medicine, when burnt to a black powder. An analysis of the Bladderwrack has shown it to contain an empyreumatic oil, sulphur, earthy salts, some iron, and iodine freely. Thus it is very rich in anti-scrofulous elements.
The fluid extract of this Seaweed has the long stand- ing reputation of safely diminishing an excess of personal fat. It is given for such a purpose three times a day, shortly after meals, in doses of from one to four tea- spoonfuls. The remedy should be persevered with, whilst cutting down the supplies of fat, starchy foods, sugar, and malt liquors. When thus taken (as likewise in the concentrated form of a pill, if preferred) the Bladderwrack will especially relieve rheumatic pains; and the sea-pod liniment dispensed by many druggists at our chief marine health resorts, proves signally efficacious towards the same end. Furthermore, they prepare a sea-pod essence for applying on a wet com- press beneath waterproof tissue to strumous tumors, goitre, and bronchocele; also for old strains and bruises; though when these injuries are first sustained, the decoction of Bladderwrack applied as a hot fomenta- tion, produces the best effects.
This Seaweed should not be obtained when too fully matured, as it quickly undergoes decomposition.
There are four common “Fuci” on our coasts — the “Nodosus” (Knobbed Wrack), the “Vesiculosus” (Bladder Wrack), the “Serratus” (Saw-edged Sea Weed), and the “Caniculatus” (Channeled Sea Weed).
It is by reason of its contained bromine and iodine as safe natural elements, the “Fucus vesiculosus” acts in reducing fatness; these elements stimulating all the absorbent glands of the body to increased activity.
In common with the other “Fuci” it furnishes mannite, an odorous oil, a bitter principle, mucilage, and ash, this last constituent abounding in the bromine and iodine.
For internal use, a decoction may be made with from two to four drachms of the weed to a pint of water, boiled together for a few minutes; and for external application to enlarged or hardened glands, the bruised weed should be applied as a cold poultice.
This Bladder Wrack is reputed to be the “Anti- polycarcique nostrum” of Count Mattaei.
Although diminishing fat, it does no harm by inducing any atrophied wasting of the breast glands, or of the testicles.
Laver is the popular name given to some edible Sea Weeds — the “Porphyra lanciniata,” and the “Ulva latissima.” The same title was formerly bestowed by Pliny on some aquatic plant now unknown, and called also Sloke, or Sloken.
“Porphyra,” from a Greek word meaning “purple,” is the true Laver, or Sloke. It is slimy, or semi-gelatinous of consistence when served at table, having been stewed for several hours until quite tender, and then being eaten with butter, vinegar, and pepper. At the London Reform Club Laver is provided every day in a silver saucepan at dinner, garnished with lemons, to flank the roast leg of mutton. Others prefer it cooked with leeks and onions, or pickled, and eaten with oil and lemon juice. The Englishman calls this Sea Weed, Laver; the Irishman, Sloke; the Scotchman, Slack; and the student, “Porphyra.” It varies in size and color between tidemarks, being sometimes long and ribbon-like, of a violet or purple hue; sometimes long and broad, whilst changing to a reddish purple, or yellow.
It is very wholesome, and preventive of scurvy, being therefore valuable on sea voyages, as it will keep good for a long time in closed tin vessels.
The “Ulva latissima” is a deep green Sea Weed, called by the fishermen Oyster Green, because employed to cover over oysters. This is likewise known as Laver, because sometimes substituted by epicures for the true Laver (Porphyra) when the latter can not be attained; but it is not by any means as good. The name “Ulva” is from “ul,” meaning “water.”
Sea Spinach (Salsolacea — Spirolobea) is a saltwort found growing on the shore in Hampshire and other parts of England, the best of all wild vegetables for the table, having succulent leaves shaped like worms, and being esteemed as an excellent antiscorbutic.
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