Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture

Marine Species

Traditional medicine in Asia and elsewhere frequently uses marine species, including corals and jellyfish, oysters, dried sponges, shells of crabs, conch and other mollusks, pearls and cuttlefish ‘bones’, sea cucumbers, sea horses and many other marine species to prepare ointments, powders, and decoctions for many ailments. Generally the drugs are obtained from the marine species of sponges, algae, virus, bacteria, and fungi. Compositions from marine sources are now being tested as treatments for chronic pain, asthma and various malignancies, including breast cancer.