Most of us have seen seaweed advertised as the best thing since sliced bread. According to recent online article the claims have included everything from, seaweed can reduce your waistline to grow your hair. Claims have been made that it can reduce your blood pressure as well as your blood sugar. Some say it can increase the strength of your bones and fortify your brain. And amazingly enough it is believed by some to be able to cause your joints stop aching and get your bowels moving. Dr. Karthik Krishnamurthy, a dermatologist at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, cites the widespread use of alginate, a component of seaweed, in wound dressings that have been able to produce some excellent healing results. But for the most part, they and many other doctors, including those at the National Institutes of Health, are reserving judgment. Seaweed is really big right now, Krishnamurthy says. Still, a lot of claims about it are unfounded at this time. I hope something comes of it, but we’re not there yet. Dr. Kim explains to patients that the use of natural herbs and supplements can be beneficial for many patients; however ,the claims made by manufacturers should always be investigated before accepting them as fact. Seaweed as a skin care products that claims to eliminate the need for plastic surgery is a questionable claim. Patients who are considering facial rejuvenation procedures because of loose skin on the face and eyelids will not see comparable results from using skin care products infused with seaweed. The result Dr. Kim is able to deliver for patients from a facelift, brow lift, or blepharoplasty is not comparable to those that can be achieved by even the best topical products. When patients are considering new products and supplements they should always proceed with caution.
