Historically, Irish moss has been a resilient savior during times of extreme hardship, notably during the Irish Potato Famine of the 1840s when it was harvested from coastal rocks to prevent starvation. This survival food evolved into a staple of traditional Irish and Caribbean folk medicine, used to soothe respiratory ailments and restore vitality. Today's global superfood trend is simply the modern chapter of an ancient, coastal survival strategy that has sustained human communities for generations.