e. land plant) sources. While both are equally difficult to sterilize, the bacterial contaminants associated with aquatic plants are largely nonpathogenic; however, land plants are much more likely to contain Clostridium spores responsible for tetanus, botulism, and gas gangrene (Health-Care-Clinic.org, 2009). Prior to the modern development of sterilization techniques using ethylene oxide and gamma irradiation, aquatic sources of Laminaria were also associated with potential infection, albeit at much lower rates than land plant sources, primarily attributable to polluted water and non-sterile packaging (Health-Care-Clinic.org, 2009).
Since modern sterilization techniques have greatly reduced the risk of infection caused by Laminaria use, and because the other principal risk...
Today, there are too many other
treatment options and other products capable of replicating the moisture absorbent properties of Laminaria to risk infection and/or fetal hypoxia and spontaneous abortion to recommend its use otherwise.
References
Drugs.com. (2009). Laminaria. Retrieved August 14, 2009 from the Drugs.com website, at: http://www.drugs.com/npp/laminaria.html
Health-Care-Clinic.org. (2009). Laminaria. Retrieved August 14, 2009 from the Health-
Care-Clinic.org website, at:
http://www.health-care-clinic.org/alternative-medicines/laminaria.html
