Fucus vesiculosus, also known as bladderwrack, is a seaweed found along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts near Asia and Europe. In some parts of the world, it and other types of seaweed and kelp are a large part of the human diet, according to the Huntsman Cancer Institute. It is touted as an alternative treatment for several medical conditions in Asia and elsewhere around the world.
Thyroid Conditions
Because Fucus vesiculosus contains iodine, it has been prescribed as an alternative treatment for thyroid conditions such as goiters and hypothyroidism. The seaweed contains varying amounts of iodine, however, making it difficult to ascertain how much would be necessary to treat these conditions. Medical research has shown that bladderwrack can affect thyroid activity, but has not been proven as an effective medical treatment, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Diabetes
Studies performed on animals have shown that Fucus vesiculosus can help lower blood sugar levels. This effect could be beneficial in treating people with diabetes, but no studies have conclusively demonstrated this effect in humans, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Weight Loss
Fucus vesiculosus is just one of many supplements and herbal remedies touted as an aid to help people lose weight. No studies, however, have demonstrated its efficacy in this regard, according to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
Cancer
Studies performed on animals and in laboratories have shown that brown seaweeds and algaes including bladderwrack may slow the growth of some cancer cells, but data from humans has not yet been able to back this up, according to the National Institutes of Health. Many people believe regularly consuming Fucus vesiculosus and other seaweeds can be beneficial in preventing certain types of cancer, such as breast cancer. One reason for this belief is because of the difference in breast cancer rates among women in North America and Japan, where seaweed is regularly consumed. Several other lifestyle and dietary factors also factor in, according to the American Cancer Society.
Blood Thinner
Another purported use of Fucus vesiculosus is as a blood thinner. Brown seaweeds and algaes contain fucans, which can act as anticoagulants for the blood, according to the National Institutes of Health. Despite this, though, no reliable data has been reported to back up this claim.
Antibacterial/Antifungal
Bladderwrack may have antibacterial and antifungal properties, possibly because of the presence of polyphenols in the seaweed, according to the Sloan-Kettering Cancer Institute. No scientific data has been reported, however, to support its use as either an antibacterial or antifungal agent in treating infections.
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