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Is Sea Moss an Aphrodisiac?

Q. I have a friend taking Sea Moss from St. Lucia as an aphrodisiac. Does it work and what are the side effects?

A. Sea moss refers to products made from varieties of red seaweed that grow in the Caribbean. Most of these belong to the Graciliaria genus. These marine plants are good sources of agar and carrageenan, used as gelling agents in foods like salad dressing, ice cream and yogurt.

Caribbean islanders have long described sea moss as an aphrodisiac or aid for impotence. We could find no research to support this belief, but there is little likelihood of side effects. Since emotion and expectation are so important in sexual responsiveness, just believing that seaweed is an aphrodisiac might be beneficial.

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About the Author
Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies..
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