Bladderwrack, known botanically as Fucus vesiculosus, is a type of seaweed that grows along the coasts of the Baltic sea, as well as the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Bladderwrack is a common food or food additive in many countries, and its unique components make it an effective herbal remedy for certain conditions. Bladderwrack contains high amounts of iodine and certain dietary fibers that help to treat conditions like hypothyroidism, constipation and heartburn, among other uses.
Hypothyroidism
The herb is used to treat hypothyroidism, a condition involving an under-active thyroid gland, according to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). Bladderwrack is effective only for the type of hypothyroidism that's caused by an iodine deficiency, however. Bladderwrack can be used as a supplemental source of iodine, and it can treat goiters, says the University of Michigan Health System (UMHS). It is also this effect on the thyroid gland that gives bladderwrack potential uses in treating obesity.
Constipation
Bladderwrack also contains alginic acid, which is a type of dietary fiber, notes the UMHS. Alginic acid swells when it makes contact with water, which enables bladderwrack to provide laxative effects to relieve constipation. Researchers believe that the alginic acid contained in bladderwrack may also be effective in treating indigestion, but clinical trials have yet to be conducted, according to the UMHS.
Heartburn
The same alginic acid component in bladderwrack can also treat heartburn. Alginic acid creates "a type of seal at the top of the stomach, and for this reason is used in over-the-counter preparations for heartburn," explains the UPMC. A double-blind study of an over-the-counter antacid containing sodium alginate, the sodium salt of alginic acid, found that it relieved heartburn symptoms better compared to other common antacids, according to the UMHS.
Immune System
Bladderwrack may be effective in boosting immunity. Bladderwrack contains fucoidan, another type of dietary fiber that may have antibacterial properties. Test tube and animal studies have revealed that fucoidan may prevent viruses and bacteria from binding to human cells, thus preventing infections, explains the UMHS. The research is very preliminary, and fucoidan doesn't actually kill the viruses and bacteria directly, however.
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