How to brew Icelandic cough moss? The use of Icelandic moss in folk medicine. Seaweed Irish moss (carrageenan)

Features of the use of Irish moss

Irish moss is a representative of marine red algae. Popularly known as pearl moss. Distributed along the coast of Ireland, the North Atlantic and the Far East. The medicinal properties of Irish moss were originally used in Chinese traditional medicine.

Medicinal properties of Irish moss

The plant is officially recognized as medicinal, therefore it is widely used in pharmacology, cosmetology and traditional medicine. The extraction of algae is industrial in nature, it is used for food.

Source: Depositphotos

Irish Moss is most commonly available dried and ground.

For the manufacture of pharmacological preparations and cosmetics, an extract is obtained from algae. It is rich in biologically active components with anti-inflammatory action.

The healing properties of Irish moss are due to the composition:

amino acids;
enzymes;
pigments;
starch;
zinc, sodium, iron, phosphorus, manganese;
vitamins A, C, K, E, groups B, D, choline.

Fresh, dried raw materials or algae extract have antioxidant, healing, regenerating, expectorant properties. When eaten, it is a source of easily digestible minerals and vitamins.

Means from the plant have a calming effect, relieve spasms in the stomach, improve bowel function. Moss has an antiviral and immunostimulating effect. In China, algae extract is used to prevent the recurrence of cancerous tumors.

Scope, contraindications

Pearl moss is used in dietary nutrition. Calorie content of 100 g of the product - 49 kcal. Used for the prevention and treatment of diseases of the digestive tract: gastritis, ulcers. The starch content makes the plant useful for stool problems. Stimulates intestinal peristalsis and easy defecation.

Diseases for which the use of Irish moss gives results:

eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, sunburn;
acute respiratory diseases with cough and bronchitis;
phlebeurysm;
insufficient synthesis of thyroid hormones;
diabetes;
fever, fever.

Seaweed is a powerful general tonic that increases vitality, strengthens the immune system and helps to recover from illness or surgery. It is used in immunodeficiency states.

Both adults and children can use moss for prevention or treatment. Pregnant women need additional specialist advice. Not recommended for people with Crohn's disease and taking anticoagulants.

Alternative medicine recipes are sometimes on the same level in terms of effectiveness as pharmacy drugs. For example, a problem such as cough provides the patient with sleepless nights, frequent visits to the hospital and search for the necessary drugs. And in order to get rid of it, in addition to medications, it is recommended to use Irish cough moss. This unusual plant has been known to people for a millennium. It was first used in China. Irish moss is often confused with Iceland moss because both of these plants help treat coughs. Another name for moss is carrageenan and it belongs to red algae, while Icelandic moss is a lichen.

Irish moss contains many useful properties. It can help with respiratory diseases, in particular cough. It contains anti-inflammatory and immunostimulating properties. In addition, Irish moss has the following healing effects:

improves wound healing;
treats psoriasis and eczema;
prevents the formation of cancer cells;
acts as a laxative;
reduces blood clotting;
improves skin condition;
removes toxins from the body.

The taste of Irish moss decoction is very delicate and “velvety”. And the positive reviews about its effectiveness speak for themselves.

Main active ingredients:

slime;
proteins;
concentrated minerals.

Irish moss is often used in the manufacture of tablets, creams, and lotions. It is also used in the food industry and cosmetics. Interestingly, Irish moss can be grown in-house. You can sow it on your site or buy ready-made seedlings. It does not require special attention and care. In order to treat cough or other diseases, you need to take moss, which is at least six months old. After collecting it, the moss must be washed and dried well. Moss should be stored in a dry and cool place. For example, in the refrigerator Humidity and heat deprive it of all useful qualities.

Composition of carrageenan

Carrageenan extract contains iodine, mineral salts, organic acids, as well as a number of vitamins:

Vitamin A. Moisturizes the skin, eliminates wrinkles, improves elasticity. Cells are renewed and become more resistant to negative influences.
Vitamins B1 and B2 help maintain youthful skin and healthy color.
Vitamin C stimulates collagen, improves the condition of blood vessels and prevents the formation of pigmentation.
Vitamin E. Moisturizes the skin and protects it from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation.

In addition to a whole complex of vitamins, Irish moss also contains

proteins;
iron;
manganese;
copper;
natural wax;
carbohydrates;
chromium;
zinc;
nickel;
silicon;
cadmium;
fats;
titanium.

How to Brew Irish Moss

Crushed Irish moss is sold at any pharmacy. It's easy to prepare.

Cooking method. Two tablespoons with a slide should be poured with a liter of cold water and brought to a boil. Then reduce the heat and simmer for about an hour. After the moss becomes like jelly, turn off the fire and leave it under the lid for 10 minutes. Strain. In order for the infusion to better retain all its healing properties, it is recommended to prepare it in a water bath.

Irish moss should be consumed warm half an hour before meals in the amount of 150 ml. It can be stored for no more than two days in the refrigerator. Then it loses all its beneficial properties. Treatment with Irish moss continues for 20 days. Per day - 4 doses. But before starting treatment, it is necessary to consult a doctor.

Best Recipes

On the basis of Irish moss, poultices, compresses, powders and decoctions are prepared.

How to make Irish moss decoction:

Pour 50 grams of carrageenan with cool water and bring to a boil. Boil for a few more minutes. The decoction should be given to the patient three times a day, one tablespoon. Helps in the treatment of upper respiratory tract, cough, bronchitis and tracheitis.

Milk tea for children with Irish moss. Prepare warm milk and pour a tablespoon of carrageenan into it. Keep on low heat for no more than half an hour. Then strain and let's drink it to the child before going to bed.

Crushed violet root, Irish moss and cover with cold water. Let it brew for two hours. Then boil this mixture and keep on fire for another five minutes. Strain. You need to drink a decoction before eating. It is good for respiratory diseases and coughs.

Pour Irish moss with water in a ratio of 1 to 10 and boil for four hours. You can add honey. Give the patient one spoon per day.

A teaspoon of carrageenan should be poured with boiled water and let it brew for several minutes. It is recommended to add honey. Effective in the treatment of colds, bronchitis and pneumonia. Better to drink before bed.

Grind thyme and moss and pour "white boiling water". Let it brew for ten minutes. You need to use the decoction three times a day, preheated.

Instructions for the treatment of cough syrup and Irish moss

Irish moss is also used in cough syrup. Its effectiveness lies in the fact that almost 70% of moss consists of mucus, which contains organic compounds.

Thanks to this, the syrup not only treats a cough, but also eliminates its root cause. When to take Irish Moss Cough Syrup:

acute respiratory infections, influenza;

tracheitis and bronchitis;

tuberculosis and;

angina;

pneumonia.

Cough syrup can be bought at a drug store or you can make your own by buying dry Irish moss. The syrup can be taken for no more than two weeks. The dosage prescribed by the doctor should also not be exceeded. This may cause an allergic reaction.

Features and contraindications

Irish moss and preparations that contain it have a number of contraindications. It cannot be accepted:

pregnant women;

To old people;

children under 2 years old.

Do not take Irish moss for people who have problems with the gastrointestinal tract. Sometimes the drug can cause allergies, nausea, heartburn and vomiting. In this case, you need to take activated charcoal or Enterosgel, and stop taking the drug. Allergies can manifest as hives, itching, and a burning sensation. An antiallergic drug should be taken immediately. Do not combine Irish moss with antipyretics, anticoagulants and amino acids.

Icelandic moss, or Icelandic cetraria (Latin name - Cetraria Islandica), is often used in traditional medicine recipes, as well as for the preparation of some pharmaceutical medicines, since official medicine has recognized the plant as a medicinal raw material. However, it is not entirely correct to call cetraria a plant or moss, because from a biological point of view it is a lichen, a very peculiar type of living organisms. Today we will learn about the features of Icelandic moss and its wide scope for health.

Biological Description: Where Iceland Moss Grows

This living organism is a symbiosis of green algae and fungi. Outwardly, it looks like a low, up to 15 cm in height, bush. The thallus (lichen body) consists of branched lobes that look like deer antlers. The color of the thallus can be different: olive, light turquoise, gray-green, brown-brown and interspersed with white.

Did you know?Cetraria does not take root in gassed, polluted areas, it is extremely sensitive to toxic substances in water, air and soil, harmful processed products, therefore it grows exclusively in ecologically clean areas. This feature of the plant is used to determine the purity of the environment. Absolutely all types of lichens belong to bioindicators, which, when the ecosystem is disturbed, gradually die out and disappear.

The body color of a lichen is determined by lighting, humidity and other climatic conditions of the habitat. With the help of special processes - rhizoids - the lichen is attached to old stumps, tree trunks, and the ground.

This plant is epiphyte, which means the absence of a developed root system.

The lichen is characterized by very slow growth, prefers highlands, tundra and forest tundra, peat bogs, coniferous forests with open sunny areas, swamps. Thrives in rocky and sandy soil that provides good drainage.

Loves moisture and does not tolerate drought, needs enough light. It occurs mainly in the northern regions: in the USA, Canada, in Russia, lichen can be found in the Far East, in the highlands of Altai and the Sayan Mountains, in Siberia, in the Far North.

Chemical composition

The ratio of BJU in Icelandic moss is as follows:

proteins - up to 3%;
fats - 2%;
carbohydrates - more than 80%.

The plant contains the following components:

polysaccharides;
lichen acids;
starchy substances;
micro and macro elements: iron, iodine, copper, manganese;
wax;
gum;
pigment substances;
vitamins: B12, C.

The main active component of cetraria is lichenin, a polysaccharide whose share in lichen reaches 40%. When mixed with water, it forms a jelly mass. It has great nutritional value, but is not absorbed by the human body.

Did you know? Although lichens grow slowly, their life span can be thousands of years. They are long-lived organisms. And the most ancient find in the form of a petrified lichen is more than 400 million years old. Lichens have spread throughout the planet, including Antarctica and the Arctic.

Medicinal properties

Means and preparations based on cetraria have the following effect on the body:

antibacterial;
immunostimulating;
oncoprotective and antioxidant;
tonic;
anti-inflammatory;
expectorant;
hemostatic;
mild soothing effect;
increase the production of gastric juice;
increase appetite.

Cetraria has strong antimicrobial properties, which are provided by the presence of organic acids. Cetraria preparations are successfully used to suppress tubercle bacilli, staphylococci and streptococci, Helicobacter pylori.
Effective external use for wounds with an infectious lesion. Moreover, lichen successfully suppresses the growth of pathogenic fungi and viral agents.

Indications for use

As a raw material, this plant was recognized by official medicine in the 19th century, but traditional healers began to use cetraria many centuries before.

Since ancient times, lichen has been used for such diseases and conditions:

burns, wounds, ulcers, dermatitis, acne;
inflammation of the stomach, intestines;
bronchopulmonary ailments: bronchitis, asthma, pneumonia, tuberculosis, whooping cough;
poisoning with manifestation of vomiting;
runny nose, sinusitis, sinusitis;
diseases of the oral cavity: inflammation of the gums, stomatitis;
angina;
immunodeficiency states, loss of strength, after long-term treatment and interventions;
endocrine disorders;
neoplasms;
urinary diseases in men.

Important! Cetraria has many names, including: deer moss, reindeer moss, lung moss, lopastyanka, parmelia, thorn, komashnik. This plant is often confused with Irish moss. However, these are two completely different species - Irish moss (carrageenan) belongs to algae and grows in the ocean.

Application of Icelandic moss

Let us consider in more detail the most frequent cases of the use of this lichen in various diseases and in various age groups.

For kids

The undoubted advantage of cetraria lies in its absolute safety and non-toxicity in the treatment of the smallest patients. Before starting therapy, you often do not even need a doctor's permission. Most often, lichen is used for children's respiratory diseases, flu, cough, runny nose.

Due to the high concentration of acids, plant-based products have a bitter taste, which is why babies often refuse to take medicines.
To eliminate an unpleasant aftertaste, and enrich the healing potion with useful components, you can add honey or milk.

For bronchitis and tuberculosis

In the treatment of tuberculosis, the active substance of cetraria is usnic acid. It is able to inhibit the growth of gram-positive bacteria, including Koch's bacillus, which is the causative agent of tuberculosis.

This property of cetraria was discovered back in 1809 and since then it has been included in many drugs prescribed for this ailment. Lichen is also often used to treat bronchitis.

It inhibits the reproduction of bacteria and viruses, has an enveloping, soothing and softening effect on irritated mucous membranes. Promotes expectoration and release of mucus. On the basis of cetraria, many pharmaceutical preparations for cough and bronchitis are produced in the form of syrup, lozenges and lozenges.

For weight loss

If excess weight is caused by endocrine disorders, cetraria will also come to the rescue. It normalizes the activity of the thyroid gland, resulting in improved metabolism. Of course, you should not rely solely on Icelandic moss with a strong degree of obesity.

However, in combination with competent physical activity, proper nutrition and a healthy lifestyle, cetraria-based products can help achieve the desired weight and shape. With extra pounds, cetraria is most often used in the form of jelly or decoction.

For potency

With prostatitis of bacterial origin and other bacterial ailments of the male genitourinary sphere, cetraria also shows effectiveness. It helps to restore potency, it can also be taken as a preventive measure.

Usnic acid not only inhibits the growth of bacteria, but also has a wound-healing effect, which contributes to rapid recovery from illness.

For the body as a whole

Cetraria can be taken to prevent illnesses, strengthen and improve the body, increase immunity and improve well-being. It has a mild sedative effect, eliminates insomnia, and helps to cope with stress more effectively. After a course of taking the plant, vitality and energy increase.

Procurement of raw materials

For the preparation of medicines, a lichen body is used, which is harvested by hand in late summer and early autumn. For collection, you need to choose dry sunny weather, since wet raw materials are extremely difficult to dry properly. Raw materials need to be sorted out, dead parts, coniferous needles, earth removed.

Important!Even if the lichen is contaminated with sand and earth, it cannot be washed! Dirt should be gently removed with a cloth.

For drying, you need to prepare a clean cloth, lay out the raw material in a thin layer and leave it in a dry room with good air circulation. Drying in open sunlight is not recommended, as some of the useful components may be destroyed.
After drying, the finished raw materials must be packaged in wooden, glass containers; you can also use bags made of dense fabric. If you store the workpiece in a dry, dark place, then the shelf life will be 2 years.

Harm and side effects

Cetraria is included in the list of those few plants that practically do not cause side effects and do not harm the body. Means based on lichen can be taken even during the period of bearing a baby, lactation and in childhood. However, before using it is necessary to consult a doctor.

If you take cetraria for a long time, exceed the dosage, you can provoke digestive problems, liver pain. In this case, the reception should be urgently stopped and consult a doctor.

Contraindications

This plant has two significant contraindications: an individual reaction and the presence of autoimmune diseases (lupus, vasculitis, type I diabetes, and others).

How to take Icelandic Moss

Means based on cetraria can be purchased at a pharmacy in various pharmacological forms. So, there are medicines in the form of syrups (Gerbion, Icelandic Moss, Pectolvan), lozenges, tablets, ointments and even powders (Sodium usninat) for dilution and external use.

However, you can always prepare plant-based products yourself. Next, consider the main methods of preparing and using moss-based potions.

Decoction

For cooking you will need:

1 st. l. raw materials;
500 ml of water.

Bring water to a boil, add dry raw materials and boil for 5 minutes, then cool and strain. The general dosage is as follows: during the day, drink 3-5 tablespoons of the decoction.
Indications are all of the above ailments, obesity, as well as skin lesions. For external use, you can reduce the amount of water to 250 ml by boiling.

Infusion

When preparing infusions, you can use boiling water or heat the mixture without boiling. To prepare the infusion, take:

4 tbsp. l. raw materials;
500 ml of water.

Pour the mixture into cold water, bring to a boil and immediately remove. The remedy is infused for 15 minutes and filtered. Up to 5 tablespoons of infusion should be consumed per day. You can also pour dry raw materials with hot water (but not boiling water! The temperature should be about 90 ° C).

This tool helps with ailments of the digestive and respiratory systems, soothes and relaxes, tones the body and improves immunity. Store decoctions and infusions should be in the refrigerator for a day.

Important!Please note that after cooling, decoctions and infusions based on cetraria acquire a gelatinous consistency, do not be afraid of this, this is a completely normal process, since there are a lot of starchy substances in the composition of cetraria.

Tea

To make tea, take:

2 tsp cetraria;
200-250 ml of water.

Raw materials must be poured into cold water, brought to a boil over low heat, turned off and cooled. This remedy is useful for coughs, bronchitis, colds. During the day, you can take up to 3 glasses of this drink.

To soften the taste, instead of water, you can use milk or add a little honey to the finished drink. Each time it is desirable to prepare a fresh drink. To relieve coughing fits, you can prepare a mixture of cetraria and coltsfoot in equal parts.
If you drink this remedy in the morning, before eating, it will be much easier to get rid of sputum that has accumulated during the night.

Other variations of tea for various ailments (all ingredients are mixed in equal parts):

whooping cough: cetraria and thyme;
impotence: cetraria, common toadflax, male orchid;
for joint pains: cetraria, lemon balm, linden, birch and sweet clover;
inflammatory processes in the stomach: cetraria and flaxseed.

Ointment

Cetraria ointment is used for infectious wounds, cuts and burns, boils, acne, rashes, dermatitis. For cooking you need to take:

100 g of vaseline;
2 tbsp. l. raw materials in powder form (available at the pharmacy).

The ingredients are mixed and placed in a water bath for 5 hours. You can also use ready-made pharmaceutical products, for example, Iceland Moss cream, but this remedy has cosmetic effects rather than healing ones.
Store this remedy in the refrigerator, apply to the affected areas 3-4 times a day.

Cough syrup

As noted earlier, when cooled, infusions and decoctions of Icelandic moss acquire the consistency of jelly, therefore, the above recipes can be used to prepare syrup. The greater the amount of raw material, the thicker the product will be in the end.

For adults, syrup can be prepared with water, for children it is better to use milk. Products based on Icelandic moss gently and effectively rid the body of respiratory diseases, infections of various nature, as well as tone, strengthen and increase resistance to ailments.

Raw materials can be prepared by yourself, if possible, or purchased at a pharmacy at an affordable price. If there are children in the house, cetraria will definitely be an indispensable tool.

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Irish moss is considered a miraculous plant - it is one of the varieties of marine red algae of the Rhodophyceae family, which is also called carrageenan. There are also other names: pearl moss, curly chondrus, cartilaginous algae. The plant received this name because of the place of accumulation, namely, in the coastal zone near Ireland.

Its habitat is the ocean, it is from it that the algae draws minerals and other nutrients that enrich the body and prevent disease. Due to its unique properties, Irish moss is used in medicine, food and other industries.

Collection and preparation

Irish moss is cultivated for 3 months, during which time the plant gains the necessary mass for the upcoming processing.

After the moss is thoroughly dried, bales are filled with it and given in this form to manufacturers. The resulting raw material is washed from impurities, then boiled in a mixture of hot alkali.

After 48 hours, the solution is filtered, resulting in a carrageenan mass. The last step is pressing, drying and grinding into powder.

Irish moss: healing properties

The healing properties of carrageenan were known to the inhabitants of the Land of the Rising Sun several millennia ago. Today, in folk medicine, moss is used in recipes for coughs and in the treatment of many other diseases. For treatment, Irish moss can be used in its entirety.

Positive effect on the body:

antiviral;
emollient;
relieves inflammation;
stimulates the immune system;
prevents the appearance of malignant cells;
lowers blood clotting;
has a good laxative effect;
treats psoriasis and eczema;
helps with radiation damage.

Ideally, its composition will tell about the beneficial qualities of a plant.

Due to its properties, it is used to treat many problems of the body.

Carrageenan and cough treatment

The healing effect in the fight against this disease is provided due to the content of mucus in algae, the main properties of which are enveloping and softening sputum on inflamed bronchi.

As experience shows, a decoction of Irish moss is deadly for bacteria and viruses, it perfectly removes any inflammation and has an instant antimicrobial effect, which leads to a faster recovery.

With the help of Irish moss, cough has been treated for many centuries, besides, it relieves bronchitis and even pneumonia.

Method of preparation and use

This folk remedy is sold in pharmacies in prepared form. To prepare a decoction, take 25 g of raw materials, pour 300 ml of water and bring to a boil. Leave for 30 minutes. To preserve the maximum amount of healing properties, it is recommended to brew a decoction in a water bath.

Drink a decoction 30 minutes before meals in the amount of 150 ml. The course of treatment is 20 days, 4 doses daily. Now you know how to brew Irish moss and use it correctly, but is it equally useful for everyone?

Contraindications

Like any drug, carrageenan has its own contraindications, it should not be used by the following categories of patients:

children under 2 years old;
pregnant women;
nursing mothers;
people who have stomach problems.

Also, moss should not be combined with blood thinners, medicines for the treatment of any cold.

Side effects

Having received an answer to the question of what Irish moss heals, let's consider what consequences can be caused by taking it. If you experience nausea, severe heartburn, or even vomiting, you must take any sorbent and stop using moss.

Hypersensitivity may cause an allergic reaction. It is necessary to stop taking and take an anti-allergic drug to reduce facial redness.

Where else is moss used?

In pharmacology, moss is used to make medicines. In the food industry, they replace gelatin. In cosmetology, it acts as one of the components for creams.

In addition, carrageenan is used as follows:

as an additive in toothpaste;
as an integral part of tablets;
as a substitute for gelatin in cooking;
for wrapping for medicinal purposes;
after alcohol dehydration.

There are also recipes for using Irish moss for the face in the form "vegetable collagen".

Photo of a medicinal plant Irish moss

Irish moss - medicinal properties, application

Irish moss The red algae used for the industrial production of carrageenan has been used for centuries as a food supplement and for medicinal purposes.

Latin name: Chondrus crispus.

English titles: Irish moss, Carrageen moss, Pearl Moss, Carrageenan, Red Seaweed, Chondrus, Carrahan, Carragheen, Carrageenin.

Synonyms: pearl moss, carrageenan, red seaweed.

Family: Gigartinaceae - Gigartinaceae.

Pharmacy name: dry red algae - Carrageen (Irish moss).

Used parts: the whole plant.

Botanical description: red seaweed up to 20 cm high; Fresh Irish moss is a soft boar protist that ranges in color from red to dark purple or purplish brown.

Habitat: distributed along the coast of Ireland, and can also be found along the coast of Europe, including Iceland, the Faroe Islands. Irish moss is common on the Atlantic coast of Canada; grows abundantly on the rocks of the middle intertidal zone of the Atlantic coast of Europe and North America.

Nutritional table of 100 grams of Irish moss

100 grams of fresh red seaweed Irish moss contains 81.34 grams of water, 1.51 grams of protein, 12.29 grams of carbohydrates, 0.61 grams of sugars, 0.16 grams of fat, 1.3 grams, calories = 49 kcal.

Vitamins and vitamin-like substances:

- 118 IU
- 0.015 mg
- 0.466 mg
- 0.593 mg
- 0.176 mg
- 0.069 mg
- 0 mcg
Folate - 182 mcg
Choline - 12.9 mg
Beta carotene - 71 mcg
- 3.0 mg
- 0.87 mg
- 5.0 mcg
Other vitamins in Irish moss are absent or contained in the smallest amount.

Macro- and microelements:

- 8.90 mg
- 63 mg
- 72 mg
- 144 mg
- 0.370 mg
- 0.149 mg
- 67 mg
- 0.7 mcg
- 157 mg
- 1.95 mg
Other macro- and micronutrients in Irish moss are absent or contained in the smallest amount.

Medicinal properties

Irish moss included in natural Sunshine Bright toothpaste without fluoride for children and adults, manufactured in the USA according to the international GMP quality standard for medicines.

As can be seen from the nutritional value table of Irish moss, the vitamin and mineral composition of red algae contains a rich set of vitamins and minerals, which determines its medicinal properties.

Irish moss has antiviral properties that are used in folk medicine to treat and prevent respiratory diseases such as pneumonia, colds, bronchitis, bronchitis and even tuberculosis.

Red algae is used to treat diseases of the respiratory tract. As an expectorant and sedative, moss is useful for coughs, sore throats, mucus and phlegm.

Irish moss has found wide use in folk medicine for the treatment of skin diseases: dermatitis, psoriasis, eczema and sunburn. Moss added to the bath moisturizes the skin. It prevents varicose veins, skin rashes and inflammation, and relieves joint and muscle pain.

A large amount of iodine in red algae helps the formation of hormones in the thyroid gland. Iodine increases the immunity needed to fight disease.

Soup broths made from Irish moss have been used for centuries to relieve the pain of gastritis and gastrointestinal ulcers, as the kelp, with its sedative properties (acting as a mild laxative), lubricates and soothes the lining of the stomach and intestines.

Application of Irish moss

In the food industry, based on carrageenan, a gelatinous agar-agar compound is obtained, which is used in the production of many confectionery and sweets. Irish moss is commonly used as a thickener and stabilizer in dairy products such as ice cream and processed foods, including meats. In Europe, it is referred to as additive E407 or E407b. Irish moss occupies a special place in the cosmetic industry.

Contraindications. Red algae is an anticoagulant and should not be consumed by those taking prescription blood thinners. Irish moss is not recommended for people with Crohn's disease.