What Is Bladderwrack Fronds?

Bladderwrack fronds are an algae that grows on the northern Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the United States and on the northern Atlantic coast and Baltic coast of Europe.

Features

• The main stem of bladderwrack, or the thallus, is used medicinally. It has tough, air-filled bladders (hence the name bladderwrack) to help it float.

Identification

• The bladderwrack is coarse, light yellow or brownish-green, erect and about two to three feet in length.

Active Ingredients

• There are three major active ingredients in bladderwrack: iodine, alginic acid and fucoidan. Iodine gets most of the attention, but fucoidan has been shown to have possible anti-aging qualities.

Uses

• Bladderwrack is a source of iodine, a mineral that our bodies need for thyroxine production, a hormone that helps regulate our metabolic rate. Some people use bladderwrack for hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland).

Warning

• If your iodine levels are normal, taking extra amounts of the mineral can lead to hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.