Evidence supporting the use of: Chondrus
For the health condition: Colds (antiviral)
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2
Chondrus, commonly known as Irish moss (Chondrus crispus), has a long history of use in traditional medicine, particularly in Europe and the Caribbean, for treating respiratory ailments such as colds and coughs. Folk remedies often involve boiling Irish moss to create a mucilaginous drink, which is believed to soothe sore throats and ease congestion. The traditional rationale centers on its demulcent properties, attributed to its high content of carrageenan—a gelatinous polysaccharide that coats mucous membranes.
However, while there is some in vitro evidence that carrageenan (extracted from Chondrus and related seaweeds) possesses antiviral activity against certain respiratory viruses, such as rhinoviruses and influenza, most of these studies use isolated carrageenan, not whole Chondrus preparations, and are conducted in laboratory settings rather than in humans. Clinical data supporting the use of Chondrus or carrageenan for colds in humans are limited and inconclusive; a few nasal spray trials using carrageenan have shown modest benefit, but these do not directly translate to the use of Chondrus as a food or herbal remedy.
Therefore, while the use of Chondrus for colds is well established in traditional medicine and supported by its soothing properties, robust scientific evidence for its antiviral effects in treating or preventing colds is lacking.
Other ingredients used for Colds (antiviral)
AcacetinAgastache
AHCC
Allicin
Alliin
Allium tuberosum
Allspice
Allyl isothiocyanate
Allyl sulfide
Aloe vera
alpha-terpineol
alpinia galangal
amentoflavone
anamu
Andrographis
andrographolide
anthocyanins
apigenin
arabinogalactan
Asam gelugor
ash
Asteraceae
atractylone
Aureobasidium pullulans
Autumn elaeagnus
baicalin
Baikal Skullcap
balsam
Baphicacanthus cusia
Basidiomycota
basil
Bassia scoparia
bee hive
bee products
bee propolis
berry
beta-pinene
Bidens pilosa
bilberry
bishop\'s weed
bitter grass
black cumin
black currant
black galingale
black garlic
black nightshade
black seed
blueberry
Bombax
borneol
Broussonetia
buckthorn
caffeic Acid
Camellia sinensis
capillary artemisia
carrageenan
carvacrol
cat's claw
catechins
Celosia
Chinese mountain ant
Chinese raisintree
Chondrus
chrysanthemum
cinnamaldehyde
cinnamon
Cistus
citron
Citrus
citrus bioflavonoids
Clerodendrum trichotomum
clove
coconut
commiphora
common madia
coriolus mushroom
costus
cowherb
curry leaf
David\'s milkberry
deoxyandrographolides
Echinacea
echinacea purpurea
Elder
elderberry
epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)
essential oil blend
European Elder
flavones
flavonoids
flavonones
forsythia
fruit
fulvic acid
fungus
Galangal
Gallesia
gallotannin
gamma-terpinene
ganoderma
garlic
garlic bulb
ginger
glyceryl monolaurate
Glycyrrhetinic acid
Glycyrrhizin
goji berry
goldthread
green tea
Hedyotis
Himalaya berry
honey
honey loquat syrup
honeysuckle
Houttuynia
hyssop
Indian frankincense
Indian kinotree
indigo leaves
Isatis
knotweed
labrador tea
Lactoferrin
Lactoperoxidase
Laggera pterodonta
lauric acid
lemon
lemongrass
lichen
licorice root
Ligusticum
ligustilides
Ligustrum
Litsea
liverwort
Lomatium
luffa
luteolin
mangostin
Mastic gum
Melia
Mineral ascorbate
Monolaurin
Monoterpenes
Morinda
Morus
Mugwort
Mushroom
Naphthoquinones
Neem tree
Neoandrographolides
nut grass
Nymphaea nouchali
oregano
oriental arborvitae
Osha
Osmanthus
Oxystelma
papaya
Paris polyphylla
Patrinia
pau d'arco
perilla
Petiveria
Phaeophyceae
Phellodendron
phellodendron amurense
phenolic compounds
Phenylpropanoids
Phyllanthus
pineapple
Piper nigrum
Polygonum
pomegranate
Propolis
quercetin
ravinsara
resveratrol
rhizome
rosemary
Salvia
Sambucus nigra
Sandalwood
saponins
schizonepeta
Sesquiterpenes
shiitake mushroom
Shikimic Acid
Shogaol
Smartweed
Solanaceae
Solanum indicum
Sophora
soursop
spirulina
Tagetes
Tamaricaceae
Tayuya
Tea
Terpenoids
Theaflavin
Thiosulfinate
thyme
Thymus
Trametes
Triterpenes
turmeric
Verbascoside
Viola
Violet
Visnea Mocanera
vitamin C
vitamin D
Wasabi
Waterhyssop
White Tea
xanthium (cockleburs)
Xanthorrhizol
zanthoxylum
Zinc
Zingiberene
Other health conditions supported by Chondrus
BronchitisBurns and Scalds
Colds (antiviral)
Colds (general)
Congestion (bronchial)
Congestion (lungs)
Congestion (sinus)
Constipation (adults)
Constipation (children)
Cough (damp)
Cough (general)
Cough (spastic)
Digestion (poor)
Fatigue
Gastritis
Hair Care (general)
Hemorrhoids
Inflammation
Influenza
