Kelp has been used for thousands of years
to aid in balancing hormones in the body. The ancient Greek physician
Hippocrates would encourage regular activities in or at the oceanside, he would
say, ‘nature itself is the best physician’. In Canada we have many varieties of
kelp growing in our cold clean Canadian waters this time of year. We have
access to some of the best kelp and other seaweeds that are known in the world.
We know aloe vera, but that is not indigenous to Canada, whereas kelp is full
of healing alginate which is even better to soothe a burn. As well, alginate is
even utilized in a processed form on bandages in hospital burn units.
In Korea, it's tradition for new mothers
to eat kelp soup 3X/day for 100 days. This ancient practice is used to
replenish their bodies with the ocean minerals that are in perfect chemistry with
our blood and in a bioavailable form. Kelp is high in most vitamins and
minerals which offer a synergistic balance, as well as many unique healing
compounds that are abundant in brown kelps like Wakame/Alaria, Kombu or
Macrocystis. This ancient practice replenishes the new mothers own supply of
vitamins and minerals, which were depleted by the baby during gestation and
continue during breastfeeding. Since many of these vitamins and minerals are
depleted from our food supply with modern farming practices, kelp provides them
for us in high concentrations and in perfect balance. Postpartum depression can
be avoided since the kelp is also very high in phytohormones which are
perfectly matched to our hormonal receptor cells. Allowing new mothers the
ability to quickly rebalance and to feel more energy sooner, kelp boosts the
metabolism while supporting healthy cellular regeneration.
Hormonal replenishment with kelp is more
effective when accomplished transdermally as well. The absorption of nutrients
directly into the bloodstream through the skin offers the mind body hormonal
balancing aspects that are usually not felt in such a fast, deep and relaxing
way as when taken as food. Soaking in a kelp bath, walking oceanside while
breathing deeply, as well as taking Thalasso-Massage are all good options.
