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"[Plin. Nat. 26.66.] - PHYCOS THALASSION OR SEA-WEED: THREE VARIETIES OF IT. LAPPA BOARIA.
But it is the phycos thalassion, or sea-weed, more particularly, that is so excellent a remedy for the gout. It resembles the lettuce in appearance, and is used as the basis in dyeing tissues with the purple of the murex. Used before it becomes dry, it is efficacious as a topical application not only for gout, but for all diseases of the joints. There are three kinds of it; one with a broad leaf, another with a longer leaf of a reddish hue, and a third with a crisped leaf, and used in Crete for dyeing cloths. All these kinds have similar properties; and we find Nicander prescribing them in wine as an antidote to the venom of serpents even. The seed also of the plant which we have spoken of as “psyllion,” is useful for the cure of gout: it is first steeped in water, and one hemina of the seed is then mixed with two spoonfuls of resin of Colophon, and one spoonful of frankincense. Leaves of mandragora, too, are highly esteemed for this purpose, beaten up with polenta.
For swellings of the ankles, slime, kneaded up with oil, is wonderfully useful, and for swellings of the joints the juice of the smaller centaury; this last being remarkably good also for diseases of the sinews. Centauris, too, is very useful; and for pains in the sinews of the shoulder-blades, shoulders, vertebræ, and loins, an infusion of betony is taken in drink in the same way as for diseases of the liver. Cinquefoil is applied topically to the joints, and a similar use is made of the leaves of mandragora, mixed with polenta, or else the root, beaten up fresh with wild cucumber or boiled in water. For chaps upon the toes, root of polypodion is used; and for diseases of the joints, juice of henbane with axle-grease; amomum, with a decoction of the plant; centunculus, boiled; or fresh moss steeped in water, and attached to the part till it is quite dry.
The root, too, of lappa boaria, taken in wine, is productive of similar effects. A decoction of cyclaminos in water, is curative of chilblains, and all other affections resulting from cold. For chilblains, cotyledon is also employed with axle-grease, leaves of batrachion, and juice of epithymum. Ladanum,1361 mixed with castoreum, and vervain applied with wine, extract corns from the feet.”
(The Natural History. Pliny the Elder. John Bostock, M.D., F.R.S. H.T. Riley, Esq., B.A. London. Taylor and Francis, Red Lion Court, Fleet Street. 1855.)

"[Plin. Nat. 27.25.] - ALGA RUFA OR RED SEA-WEED: ONE REMEDY.
Red sea-weed is useful as an application for the sting of the scorpion. ”
(The Natural History. Pliny the Elder. John Bostock, M.D., F.R.S. H.T. Riley, Esq., B.A. London. Taylor and Francis, Red Lion Court, Fleet Street. 1855.)