Did you know that the oldest form of plant life on earth is seaweed? Numbering between 30,000 and 40,000 varieties, and divided into four types - brown, red, blue, and green - seaweed derives its nutrients from the sea. It stores and concentrates (up to as much as 50,000 times) the trace elements iodine, iron, copper and zinc; the mineral salts calcium, magnesium and potassium; as well as vitamins, gluctdes, lipids and proteins. Seaweed extracts, with a mineral content that echoes that of blood plasma, are readily absorbed into the body and, since the times of the ancient Greeks, when thalassotherapy was practised to detoxify and nourish the body, seaweed has been an invaluable ally in combating a number ol complaints. Its detoxifying properties, that stimulate the circulation, reduce water retention and inhibit the build-up of toxins in the joints, make it suitable for the treatment of arthritis, fatigue and constipation. The rich iron content of seaweed stimulates the endocrine glands, boosting sluggish metabolism to help in regulating weight and increasing energy levels. Lastly, with its antibiotic and antibacterial qualities, seaweed reinforces the immune system. So the next time you are at the seaside and thinking what an unsightly nuisance seaweed is, think instead of how useful a plant it is and how fortunate we are that there should be so much of it.