Buying Real Sea Moss – Irish Moss – Chrondus Crispus – Know The Difference

Dr. Sebi Spoke About Avoiding Processed Pool Grown Sea Moss

Dr. Sebi spoke about how growing sea moss in brine pools. He said it changes the composition of the sea moss and negatively affects it nutrient content.

Many sea moss producers take sea moss from the ocean and grow it in pool farms. The farms try to replicate the properties of the ocean by supplying constant back and forth motion of the ocean, but they can’t totally replicate all of he ocean’s properties.

Sea moss develops in a specific way through its interaction with all the properties of the ocean it grows in.

The environment includes the nutrients the sea moss absorbs from the rocks it grows on, air, sunshine, the amount of salt and other nutrients in the water, the movement of the water, and other natural factors.

Producers grow sea moss successfully in pools filled with very salty moving water, but the environment doesn’t totally replicate its natural environment.

Though sea moss produced in brine pools grows quickly, it contains less nutrient than natural sea moss and salt covers it.

The nutrient makeup of the pool grown sea moss doesn’t turn out to be the same as natural/wildcrafted sea moss, and it develops to around three times the size of naturally grown sea moss because it contains much more mucilage than the wildcrafted sea moss.

Why Use Sea Moss – Irish Moss – Chrondus Crispus?

What is the importance of consuming sea moss – Irish Moss – Chrondus crispus, and why so many distinctions?

Sea Moss is a generic term for a species of red algae and has numerous health benefits. The properties in red algae support bone and connective tissue health.

Sea Moss Benefits

Sea moss’ health benefits also include antiviral and antibacterial properties, and it supplies a wide range of nutrients.

Sea moss is a nutrient dense seaweed and excellent source of minerals. It contains bromine, calcium, iodine, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and selenium.

The mucilage properties of sea moss is excellent in strengthening connective tissues and supporting joint health. Its mucilage properties also help to sooth the mucous membrane throughout the body, and supports skin health.

Sea Moss Differences?

In the Caribbean, Central and South America, Africa, and Asia a particular type of red algae grows in their warm water. People in Jamaica in these places call the red algae that grows there Irish Moss.

Technically Irish Moss is Chrondus crispus,  and Chrondus crispus is another type of red algae. Irish Moss or Chrondus Crispus grows in colder waters along the Atlantic coasts  of Maine and Ireland.

People gave Chrondus cripsus the name Irish moss because the Irish people turned to sustaining themselves by eating it during the Irish potato famine in the 1840’s.

I had to look into the distinctions because Dr. Sebi specifically referred to sea moss as Chrondus crispus, but his physical description of sea moss in the video differed from the Chrondus crispus that grows abundantly along the Atlantic shores of Ireland and Maine.

It appears, through my research, that people in Jamaica, and others places in the warmer waters of the coasts of the Atlantic ocean adopted the term “Irish moss” for the red algae that grows there.

The sea moss or red algae that grows in these areas are other forms of red algae which all pat of the Rhodophyta division of algae. There are over 7000 species of red algae appear, including Gracilaria.

Though they are different types red algae species than the Chrondus crispus, they contain similar properties.

It also appears that the sea moss Dr. Sebi describes in the video is Gracilaria though he also uses the term Chrondus crispus to identify sea moss.

Chrondus crispus and other Red Algae (Gracilaria) Images

Chrondus crispus has fan-like shaped tops consisted of wide flat fingers, and can vary in color from greenish-yellow, to red, to dark purple, to purplish-brown.

Chrondus crispus

The next 2 images are from scientific study of the properties of Chrondus crispus. Click for the article.

Different colors of Chrondus Crispus.

Other Forms of Red Algae Indcluding Gracilaria
Other forms of red algae also have fan-like shaped tops, but have thin fingered tops as shown in the picture below. Other forms of red algae are more string like in their entire construction, without the fan-like top.

Chrondus crispus Shape

I have found the difference in shape between Chrondus crispus and other forms of red algae is its wider, flat, fan shaped tops of the algae.

Some other red algae that are similar to Chrondus crispus have similar fan shaped tops, but have thin finger-like tops. Dr. Sebi described the sea moss as having slender finger shaped tops, which identifies another type of red algae the commonly grows in warmer waters.

(To the Dr. Sebi community:

Some people are marketing a brand of sea moss called “purple sea moss” as being true sea moss or true Chrondus crispus.

Though it is a sea moss it is not the same as the scientifically defined Chrondus crispus that grows in cold water climates like in Maine and Ireland.)

Avoid Buying Pool Grown Sea Moss

I know the topic can be confusing, but to put it in nutshell, avoid buying pool grown sea moss. Whether the red algae sea moss you buy is technically Chrondus crispus or another form of red algae, avoid buying pool grown.

Dr. Sebi recommended against buying the pool grown sea moos, which is grown in brine water. Pool grown sea moss is lighter in color than natural sea moss, salty, and is deficient in minerals.

Sea Moss Grown In Ocean Farms

Sea moss producers also grow sea moss in sea farms to make harvesting easier. Though the sea moss grows in the ocean it doesn’t grow in exactly the same way as wildcrafted sea moss does because it grows from ropes instead of rocks.

Wildcrafted Sea Moss

Wildcrafted sea moss grows naturally and suppliers harvest in an eco-friendly way. Wildcrafting sea moss means harvested directly from its natural habitat, therefore it bypasses human intervention.

Ideally, harvesters only take parts of the sea moss plant, so the plant can regrow and support its ecosystem.

Wildcrafted sea moss is a better option than “organic” sea moss.  You can grow organic sea moss in salt pools, so organic doesn’t necessarily make it better.

In comparison to pool made sea moss, wildcrafted sea moss retains its natural color and will be thinner and less salty than pool made sea moss.

The picture above compares a variety of natural or wildcrafted sea moss against pool grown sea moss. Most pool grown sea moss are red algae variants and not specifically the Chrondus cripsus variety.

I have started buying the Chrondus crispus variety, here: Atlantic Holdfast Seaweed Company.

Learn more about health and vitality supporting foods on the Dr. Sebi Nutritional Guide. »