Micronutrients in massive supply
Bladderwrack (Fucus vesiculosus, Black Tang or Cutweed) is a perennial seaweed member of the Fucaceae family, growing up to 1m in estuaries and coastal areas of Europe and the North Atlantic. The familiar olive green plant has rounded, forked fronds that contain air bladders used to keep the wrack floating towards the light.
Wrack is one of the richest sources of micronutrients, chiefly iodine, potassium, sulphur, sodium, manganese, zinc, silicon and copper, it also contains vitamin K. It is anti-hypothyroid, antibiotic, anti-obesic, anti-rheumatic, diuretic, tonic, adaptogen, alterative, laxative, a lymph and endocrine gland stimulant, as well as an immune system enhancer.
In the early Victorian period seaside pharmacists and manufacturers of patent medicines would produce for sale to the city holiday makers ‘sea-pod liniment’ and ‘sea-pod essence’; they were made by expressing the juice from the bladders and were alleged to treat rheumatism, sprains and bruises, and it was noticed that those taking the liniment were losing weight without any loss of health or strength.
Extracts from the plant were used by 19th century herbalists to treat rickets, scrofula and iron deficiency ailments.
Modern herbalists recommend Bladderwrack to treat thyroid disease, thyroxin deficiency, simple goiter, myxoedema (deficiency of thyroid hormones), failed nutrition, listlessness, rickets, swollen glands, infections of the reproductive organs, as a stimulant for the liver, pancreas and gall bladder, for general debility and it has been used as an emergency treatment for hypothermia. It is said to offset incipient arteriosclerosis by maintaining elasticity of veins and arteries and the presence of vitamin K helps prevent strokes.
In the mid 19th century a Dr Duchesne-Duparc, who was using extracts of Bladderwrack to treat chronic psoriasis, noticed that his patients were losing 2kg a week even though they were consuming three meals a day. It transpired that the iodine in the plant was stimulating the thyroid and creating increased activity in the glandular system.
In harsh winters in coastal areas of Scotland, Ireland and the Atlantic coast of France and Spain, the plant was used as an addition to sheep and cattle fodder. In addition the wrack has long been used as a crop fertilizer; the Channel Islanders claimed that Bladderwrack was the secret ingredient that enabled them to bring in the ‘Jersey Royal Potatoes’, before their rivals.
Bladderwrack appears in hair dyes and cosmetics and in poor parts of Scandinavia, if one can imagine such a thing, the plant was used a roof insulation.
A cautious note, however, seaweeds absorb heavy metals and pollutants.
Next week An index of Greek herbs and their Latin counterparts
