Chinese name:

Source:

Sargassum – seaweed

Nature:

• cold (strong, pure yin)

Taste:

• salty (bitter, dense)

Tropism:

• liver
• stomach
• kidneys (lungs)

Direction of action:

• inwards

Effects:

• breaks down phlegm and softens hardness

• drains water and reduces swelling

Dosage:

• 3 – 15 g, standardly 8 g

Contraindications:

• caution required in cases of dampness accumulation due to deficiency cold in the spleen and stomach