Fucus
fucus
Medicinal Actions
Laxative
Primary Conditions Treated
General Dosage
5–10 g alga 3 ×/day; 0.25–0.5 cup fresh alga; 2–4 tsp dry alga; 3 tsp dry alga:75 ml alcohol/75 ml water; 4–8 ml liquid algal extract 3 ×/day; 3.6–7.3 g 4–5 ×/day.
Safety & Contraindications
Class 2b, 2c, 2d. Not recommended for long-term use, especially in hyperthyroids. Commission E reports thallus not approved for therapeutic use. Other sources report thallus permitted as laxative. Usefulness is not documented adequately. There are no risks from daily doses up to 150 µg iodine per day, but higher doses may induce or exacerbate hyperthyreosis and cause hypersensitivity reactions. The adult intake of iodine should not exceed 120 µg per day. Iodine content may cause hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. Because of thyroid gland activity and possible heavy metal contamination, its use in pregnancy and lactation is to be avoided.