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If you follow me on instagram you might have seen that I have partnered with Starwest Botanicals. A herb distribution company based out of Sacramento.
Each month they provide me with product of one herb, and I write two blog posts on the herb, and make two content videos that they can post on their social media. This has been a great opportunity for me to build my skills in a couple different ways. Diving deeper into research of the plants, working on my writing skills, my content creating skills, as well as just putting myself out there, which I tend to struggle with on social media.
And everything has been smoothing sailing. Until this month. Nothing happened with the company. They are great. It was the particular herb that had me stuck.
Sea Moss.
Sea Moss is not an herb that I had previously studied. So I didn't have much information about it. But I did know that it was pretty popular right now so I didn’t think I would have much trouble finding reliable information on it. I was wrong. While there is a lot of information out there, and I mean a lot, I would not say it is very credible.
Sea Moss is usually found growing in the ocean on rocky coasts, but it seems like you're more likely to find it on your TikTok or YouTube feed these days.
From Kim Kardashian to Bella Hadid letting their huge following know that they include Sea Moss in their daily routines. To Hailey Beibers $20 Erewhon smoothie that includes Sea Moss.
Sea Moss is trending.
If you get on social media, and search for Sea Moss you can find video after video of influencers listing the benefits of Sea Moss and why they love including it in their routines. And if there is one thing the internet does best, it is hype something up and make it go viral. Sea Moss seems to be one of the herbs that have taken the internet by storm in the last couple of years and it doesn’t seem to be losing any stem.
Even the other day while I was getting a massage, my massage therapist told me that she has heard so much about Sea Moss because it's all over TikTok and there is a new trend of taking a tablespoon of it every day with a popular brand of expensive probiotic yogurt. Which I knew I had heard about from someone else, and then realized it was my oldest daughter. She had just posted a pic a couple of days before of a sea moss gel and this same yogurt. Needless to say, trends be trending on the internet and when people are promising over the top benefits from these herbs, with so many people feeling not well in their bodies these days, it's so easy to jump on the trend and hope this herb “fixes all your problems”.
But where did this all start? Dr. Sebi seems to be the one “to blame” if that is the right thing to say. He brought Sea Moss, this cure-all from nature into the mainstream claiming that the superfood could grow back your hair, plump your skin, coat your joints, give you most the minerals your body needed - 92 of the 102 that our bodies are made up of, to be exact. Dani Solorio, the founder of Compton Health Bar is quoted in an LA Times article entitled Journey to the center of the Sea Moss Universe, saying “ Sea moss is a gateway to Dr. Sebi or Dr. Sebi is a gateway to sea moss.”
Now don’t get me wrong, I love it that herbs are becoming more mainstream, and that people are looking to plants for a more holistic way of life. As a society, we need this. Looking back to the earth for what it has to offer us to bring our bodies back into balance. As an herbalist, who went to school for many years, and is continuously studying plants and the way they interact with the human body, I am well aware of the benefits that plants have to offer us.
But where I start to get nervous is when I see people who know nothing about plants, they aren’t educated in the plants, do not understand that these herbs, while they do have amazing properties that can be so beneficial for us, are not actually beneficial for everyone. And are actually very complex. This lack of knowledge around the plants can actually cause harm, which I don’t think anyone is purposely trying to do. But it is still scary nonetheless.
And this might be the most important part. With so many influencers singing the praises of Sea Moss to their large followings, there are people who really should avoid Sea Moss altogether.
Here are just a couple reasons why Sea Moss is not for everyone
People with pre-existing thyroid conditions, are currently on thyroid medication or have a sensitivity to iodine should use caution when taking sea moss. Sea moss is high in iodine levels, and though iodine can be beneficial to the thyroid gland, excessive amounts of iodine can lead to a condition called Jod-Basedow phenomenon. People with thyroid conditions should speak with a knowledgeable practitioner before adding sea moss or other sea vegetables to their daily routines.
Sea moss has blood thinning properties, so people who are taking anticoagulant medications should avoid sea moss.
Sea moss may impair the absorption of certain prescription medications. If you are taking any prescription drugs, speak with your healthcare provider before consuming sea moss.
Pregnant and breastfeeding mothers should avoid sea moss as well. There isn’t enough research to suggest it is safe.
Sea Moss contains phytoestrogens, people with a history of or family history of estrogen positive cancers should avoid sea moss.
Another thing I want to point out, is when we as a culture know something is good for us, we tend to think more of that thing is better. This is not the case for Sea Moss, and even large amounts in people with no previous health concerns can have complications if they take too much. If you are going to try Sea Moss, make sure you are not taking more than 2 tablespoons a day.
My whole point being, when learning about herbs, or listening to people about them, whether it's on social media, a podcast, or someone you ran into at your local coffee shop. Make sure you are doing your own research. Follow people that know about the herbs, know the complexity that each plant is, and know how they interact with the human body.
Just because someone has a large following DOES NOT mean they are knowledgeable. And with AI becoming more and more relevant (AI answers are the first ones popping up on google now) and there are books made by AI being sold on Amazon. It’s getting scary. If you haven’t seen the video that Alexis Nikole made on AI books, check it out here.
If you want to know more about a certain herb or plant. Do your own research, or ask an herbalist!
Stay safe out there.
Love,
Danielle
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