The Bladderwrack Herb

Fucus vesiculosus

The Bladderwrack herb is also known as Kelp, Seaweed, Agar Agar, Black Tany, Bladder Fucus, Cutweed, Hai-ts’ao (Chinese name), Kelpware, Sea Oak, and Seawrack.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION AND INFORMATION:

This herb is an underwater plant that is brownish-green in color. For the best quality, purchase the kelp that has been harvested from clean oceans such as Hawaii, Canada, and the North West United States.

Seaweeds that are used as Kelp can grow from a few feet to over a hundred feet in length, but the kelp plants that are used for medicinal purposes are harvested when they are about three feet long.

Bladderwrack (Kelp) offers a high nutritional yield and is a good source of trace elements, especially iodine. The trace mineral content of is the highest of any single known source. It is popular for its anti-obesity effects because it stimulates the thyroid gland, increasing metabolism.

TARGET AILMENTS:

Take internally for:

* under active thyroid gland

* under active goiter

* rheumatism

* rheumatoid arthritis

* inflamed joints

* cellulite

* constipation

Apply externally for:

* inflamed joints

PREPARATION AND DOSAGE:

Over the counter:

It is available in bulk herb, powder and capsules in health food stores.

Parts used: Whole plant

Collection: The entire plant is gathered from rocks along the seashore in early summer.

Constituents: Algin, mannitol, carotene, zeaxanthin, iodine, bromine

Actions: Anti-rheumatic, anti-hypothyroid, alternative

SAFETY AND SIDE EFFECTS:

* Extensive use of the this herb is not recommended because it can trigger hyperthyroidism.