A brown seaweed native to the North Atlantic, bladderwrack has been used in coastal European communities for centuries as a source of iodine and as a thyroid stimulant. It gained 19th-century popularity as a weight-loss herb due to its thyroid-stimulating effects. It also provides fucoidan polysaccharides with anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and prebiotic properties, and has been used topically for joint inflammation and lymphatic congestion.
thallus (whole plant)
tea, capsule, powder, tincture, topical
1 tsp dried herb per cup, simmered 15 min, 1 cup daily; or follow capsule label for standardised extracts
High iodine content — avoid in hyperthyroidism, thyroid cancer, or with thyroid medications without monitoring. Iodine content varies between sources — standardised extracts preferred. May concentrate heavy metals if not sourced from clean waters. Avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding.
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