Chondrus Crispus is also called  Carageen or Irish Moss, belonging to the brown algae family.Chondrus Crispus naturally distributed in the Atlantic coast and southeast coast of China and Qingdao, Dalian and other seas, is one of China’s An important  economic algae.

In its fresh condition this protist is soft and cartilaginous, varying in color from a greenish-yellow, through red, to a dark purple or purplish-brown. The principal constituent is a mucilaginous body, made of the polysaccharide carrageenan, which constitutes 55% of its dry weight. The organism also consists of nearly 10% dry weight protein and about 15% dry weight mineral matter, and is rich in iodine and sulfur. When softened in water it has a sea-like odour and because of the abundant cell wall polysaccharides it will form a jelly when boiled, containing from 20 to 100 times its weight of water.

Function-Chondrus Crispus  Extract:

1.To treat constipation due to dryness of the intestine and lack of body fluid, it is often used with Semen Armeniacae Amarum, Semen Biotae, etc.
2.To treat ascites with fullness and distension of the abdomen, it can be used with Semen Pharbitidis, Radix Euphorbiae Kansui, etc;
3.To treat dedma due to beriberi, disorders of urination and defecation, 10 g of the drug and 30 g of Semen Coicis may be used for decoction.