use of seaweed for natural health and skincare
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Living on an island, we are never far from the coast. While for most of us, a day at the seaside involves leisure activities like swimming, collecting shells, looking for sea glass and enjoying an ice cream, the shoreline, with its abundance of seaweed, is also a wonderful foraging opportunity. Like other plants, seaweeds have a growth cycle, producing shoots and spores in spring, growing throughout summer and fading during colder months. The best time for gathering most seaweeds in mainland Britain is April - June.
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Top Tips:
- Always avoid areas of heavy industry or storm overflow areas where sewage/rubbish is pumped into the sea. Check your local area for water quality with this interactive map from Surfers Against Sewage.
- Avoid foraging near rivers or estuaries after a heavy rain when agricultural chemicals (i.e. pesticides) may runoff from nearby farmland.
- Explore rockpools for seaweeds and algae. The best time for seaweed foraging is at low tide. Always be mindful of tide times and beware of slippery rocks.
- When gathering, cut seaweed using a sharp pair of scissors. To ensure plant growth and regeneration, never take more than 2/3 of the plant, and only pick small amounts from each location to help support our native coastal environment and wildlife.
culinary uses of seaweed
Seaweed is a natural superfood. It's high in protein, vitamins, minerals including calcium, iodine, iron and magnesium, and is a rich source of Omega 3. Dried seaweed is very versatile, the flakes can be used as a condiment, sprinkled on vegetables, and added to soups and stews, while a seaweed butter is delicious with bread or savoury scones. For tips on drying your harvests, read our Garden Wisdom: How to dry herbs & flowers page.
skin care uses of seaweed
With it's abundance of vitamins A, B, C and E, minerals, antioxidants and amino acids, seaweed has valuable skin care benefits. Humectants protect, moisturise and hydrate dry skin, antioxidants improve skin tone, sooth sensitive skin and heal irritated, inflamed skin conditions, and amino acids are anti-aging, nourishing the skin, diminishing and smoothing fine lines and wrinkles, and improving skin elasticity. Add dried seaweed to facial steams and masks, sugar and salt scrubs and glycerine melt and pour soaps.
commonly available seaweed
Bladder wrack - flat, forked brown fronds with air filled pockets. Young tips are often eaten in salads or added to soups and stews. In skin care, bladderwrack is anti-aging, and its anti-inflammatory properties sooth and heal itchy, irritated and inflamed skin.
Carragheen - clusters of purple-brown fronds, best picked in April or May. Commonly used to thicken or emulsify gelatine, ice cream and soups. In skin care, carragheen tones and moisturises skin, conditions hair and is often used as a thickener in facial masks.
Kelp - green, short and ribbon-like, or long and broad, most easily found at low tide on small stones and rocks . Often eaten in salad or cooked as a vegetable. In skin care, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory properties in kelp protect, hydrate and soothe skin.
Laver - broad, thin, translucent purple fronds, found throughout Britain, often on sand covered rocks. Pureed, it forms a a traditional dish in Wales known as 'Cockles and Laverbread', often fried with bacon.
Carragheen - clusters of purple-brown fronds, best picked in April or May. Commonly used to thicken or emulsify gelatine, ice cream and soups. In skin care, carragheen tones and moisturises skin, conditions hair and is often used as a thickener in facial masks.
Kelp - green, short and ribbon-like, or long and broad, most easily found at low tide on small stones and rocks . Often eaten in salad or cooked as a vegetable. In skin care, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory properties in kelp protect, hydrate and soothe skin.
Laver - broad, thin, translucent purple fronds, found throughout Britain, often on sand covered rocks. Pureed, it forms a a traditional dish in Wales known as 'Cockles and Laverbread', often fried with bacon.
Further Reading for Coastal Foraging enthusiasts:
For a comprehensive guide to seaside foraging of seaweeds and shellfish, including the legal aspects, we highly recommend John Wright's book, (River Cottage handbook 5) Edible Seashore .
For a comprehensive guide to seaside foraging of seaweeds and shellfish, including the legal aspects, we highly recommend John Wright's book, (River Cottage handbook 5) Edible Seashore .
Important considerations & cautions:
Although botanicals are considered safe for most people when used in cooking or in small amounts, inappropriate use of some of these botanicals could be dangerous. The content on this site shares our own personal use of botanical ingredients, is for information only, and should not be taken as medical advice. Prior to using any botanicals in recipes or remedies, you should always do your own research, and consult with a medical professional, your GP, or a qualified herbalist.
Although botanicals are considered safe for most people when used in cooking or in small amounts, inappropriate use of some of these botanicals could be dangerous. The content on this site shares our own personal use of botanical ingredients, is for information only, and should not be taken as medical advice. Prior to using any botanicals in recipes or remedies, you should always do your own research, and consult with a medical professional, your GP, or a qualified herbalist.