Bladderwrack
Bladderwrack (Fucus vesiculosus)
Brief Background:
Fucus vesiculosus is a brown seaweed of the family Fucaceae that grows on the northern coasts of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and the North and Baltic seas. Its name is sometimes used to refer to Ascophyllum nodosum, another brown seaweed that grows alongside Fucus vesiculosus. These species are often components of kelp preparations along with other types of seaweed.
Fucus vesiculosus, also commonly referred to as bladderwrack, has traditionally been used to treat disorders of the thyroid gland and as a component of weight loss formulas. It has also been shown in pre-clinical studies to possess anticoagulant and hypoglycemic properties.
Expert Opinion and Historic Precedent:
Seaweed has been used medicinally in China for over 5000 years. Bladderwrack was used in the 18th century as a major dietary source of iodine, and has been used traditionally to treat goiter.
In the 1860s, it was discovered that some seaweeds serve as hypermetabolic thyroid stimulants. They have since been included as a component of numerous weight loss formulas.
