Pharmaceutical Name:

Thallus Laminatiae seu Eckloniae

Botanical Name:

Laminaria japonica Aresch.
Ecklonia kurome Okam.

Common Name:

Laminaria
Kelp
Kunbu Sea Cress

Source of Earliest Record:

Mingyi Bielu

Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations:

The laminaria thallus is collected from the sea in summer or autumn.  It is cleaned, cut into pieces and dried in the shade.

Properties and Taste:

Salty and cold

Meridians:

Liver, stomach and kidney

Functions:

To resolve phlegm and soften hardness
To promote water metabolism

Indications and Combinations:

1.     Goiter manifested as enlarged neck and stifling sensation in the throat.
*Use with Seaweed (Haizao) and Sea clam shell (Haigeqiao) in the formula Kunbu Wan.

2.      Edema of the foot or general edema.
*Use with Poria (Fuling) and Alismatis rhizome (Zexie).

Dosage:

10-15 g