Seaweeds have traditionally been important plants for food and healing among coastal people throughout the world and are still critical superfoods for the times in which we live today. With profound and unique healing abilities and superlative nutrient diversity and density, seaweeds may be critical in sustaining human health and supporting detoxification at a time when we are most vulnerable to nutrient deficiencies and toxicity in our foodstream and environment. Whether a foodie, herb student, clinician, or phycophile (seaweed lover) this class (and Seaweed Meet and Greet) will support students in finding their own unique ways of engaging with these magical macroalgae in their everyday lives.

Introduction to Marine Herbalism provides an overview of seaweeds and their medicinal and nutritional applications. It is best paired with the Seaweed Meet and Greet class, which focuses on individual seaweeds and their unique uses in the home or herbal kitchen. Introduction to Marine Herbalism will provide an overview of such topics as:

• types of seaweeds

• seaweed ecosystems

• nutrients and medicinal phytochemicals

• healing properties for general home use or clinical practice

• iodine and thyroid health

• mucopolysaccharides: seaweeds’ unique, medicinal gels

• external uses of seaweeds

• pollution issues

Simply working with seaweeds as food or understanding how they live and grow in our coastal environments can open a doorway for learning and connection: engaging with and starting to understand seaweeds in the context of their uses as food and medicine can teach us a lot about our origins and the primal resources that we still rely on to thrive.  

Class will be held virtually via Zoom on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, 6:00-7:30 PM PDT. Recording and slides from this class will be made available to students as well.

Sign up for Seaweed Meet and Greet and Introduction to Marine Herbalism together and receive $10 off. Purchase discount class bundle here.

Register for Introduction to Marine Herbalism here.