Hai Zao - Sargassum pallidum

Professional Data
 Pin Yin
Hai Zao
 
 Latin
Herba Sargassii
 Introduction Back to Top
Herba Sargassii is the dried alga of Sargassum pallidum (Turn.) C. Ag. or Sargassum fusiforme (Harv.) Setch. (Fam. Sargassaceae). The former is cornmonly known as "Dayehaizao" and the latter is known as "Xiaoyehaizao". The drug is collected in summer and autumn, removed from foreign matter, washed clean, and dried in the sun.
 Western medical Back to Top
hai zao is indicated in the treatment of abnormal development of male breast, ovrian cyst, uterine fibroids and thyroid benigh tumors, etc..

 Eastern medical Back to Top
  • Pattern: Dissolves Phlegm, softens the Hardness, promotes diuresisi and discharges Heat.
  • Properties: Bitter, salty, cold.
  • Channels entered: Liver, Stomach and Kidney.
 Chemical constituents Back to Top
hai zao contains alginic acid, mannitol, polysaccharide, iodine, calcium and sargassan, etc..
 Pharmacological actions Back to Top
Effects on the blood fat

hai zao could lower the cholesterol level in the blood of cholesterol content in organs in rats with high blood fat. Algin sulphate had blood fat lowering effect, and it could also reduce arteriosclerosis.

Anti-viral effect

6 extracts including water decoction and alcohol precipitation of hai zao hand anti-herpes simplex virus effect; and 5 extracts hand anti-HBsAg and anti-HBeAg effect.

Effects on the Blood

Extracts of hai zao had anti-blood coagulation effect.

Others

Large dosage of hai zao (0.75g/kg) had obvious persistent blood pressure lowering effect on anaesthetized dogs and rabbits. Alginic acid could inhibit appeitie, reduce the thyroid gland and shrink the galactophore.

 Clinical Studies Back to Top
Abnormal development of male breast

Hai Zao Yu Hu Tang combining Yang He Tang: hai zao, kun bu, shu di, 30g each; zhi ban xia, zhe bei mu, qing pi, chen pi, bai jie zi, lu jiao shuang, 10g each; chuan xiong, yu jin, 15g each; gan cao 6g. 1 dose daily, 15 days as a course of treatment. 8 cases of abnormal development of male breast were treated. After 2~3 courses, 7 were cured and 1 markedly effective.

Thyroid benign tumors

hai zao, zhe bei mu, ge fen, 3 each; xiang fu, bai jie zi, 2 each; xuan shen, xia ku cao, mu li, 4 each; jie geng, gan cao, 1 each; hong niang zi 30 piece, sticky rice 8. All drugs were made into power according to above proportion and made into pills. 4.5g, 2 times daily, after meals. 112 cases of thyroid benign tumors were treated, and 33 were cured, 35 markedly improved, 33 improved, and 11 ineffective.

Ovarian cyst

Hua Tan Xiao Zheng Tang (experimential formula): hai zao, kun bu, xia ku cao, dang gui, dan pi, chi shao, 15g each; fu ling, chuan shan jia, chuang xiong 10g each; gui zhi 9g; chao tao ren, xiang fu, 15g, 1 dose daily. 77 cases of ovrian cyst were treated. After 30~96 days' treatment, 48 wer cured, 23 markedly effective and 6 ineffective.

Uterine fibroids

hai zao 45g; dan shen, gua lou, 30g each, jie geng, niu xi, shan zha, 20g each; chi shao, pu huang, wu ling zhi, 15g each; gui zhi, ban xia, bei mu, xiang fu, qing pi, 10g each. After 15~65 doses' treatment, all treated 31 cases were effective.

 
 References Back to Top

Except those noted, all references come from Weng Weiliang, et al., Clinical Chinese materia medica, Henan Science & Technology Press, 1998