FUCUS

Preparation. - Specific Medicine Fucus. Dose, 5 to 30 drops.

Action and Therapy. - Fucus, once exploited as a remedy for obesity, is no longer relied upon for that purpose. It has, however, alterative properties, probably due to the haloid elements it contains, and deserves study for its influence upon waste and nutrition. It is somewhat diuretic, and is believed to give tone to lax muscular fibers. Fatty degeneration of the heart has been benefited by it, and it relieves irritation and chronic inflammation of the bladder. Its power of lessening irritation and congestion has led to its successful use in acute desquamative nephritis. From 5 to 20 drops should be taken every 3 or 4 hours.

The Eclectic Materia Medica, Pharmacology and Therapeutics by Harvey Wickes Felter, M.D. (1922)

Consumption

A common food in Japan, bladder wrack is used as an additive and flavouring in various food products in Europe. Bladder wrack is commonly found as a component of kelp tablets or powders used as nutritional supplements. It is sometimes loosely called "kelp", but that term technically refers to a different seaweed.

Primary chemical constituents of this plant include mucilage, algin, mannitol, beta-carotene, zeaxanthin, iodine, bromine, potassium, volatile oils, and many other minerals. The main use of bladder wrack (and other types of seaweed) in herbal medicine is as a source of iodine, an essential nutrient for the thyroid gland. Bladder wrack has proved most useful in the treatment of underactive thyroid glands (hypothyroidism) and goitre. Through the regulation of thyroid function, there is an improvement in all the associated symptoms. It has a reputation in helping the relief of rheumatism and rheumatoid arthritis, both used internally and as an external application upon inflamed joints. A chemical constituent of bladder wrack called alginic acid swells upon contact with water; when taken orally, it forms a type of "seal" at the top of the stomach, and for this reason is used in several over-the-counter preparations for heartburn. The same constituent gives bladder wrack laxative properties as well. Other proposed uses of bladder wrack include treating atherosclerosis and strengthening immunity, although there is no scientific evidence at present that it works for these purposes.

Bladder wrack has been shown to help women with abnormal menstrual cycling patterns and/or menstrual-related disease histories. Doses of 700 to 1400mg/day were found to increase the menstrual cycle lengths, decrease the days of menstruation per cycle, and decrease the serum levels of 17B-estradiol while increasing progesterone. A study of the effects of bladder wrack on the etrus cycle of female rats was later carried out and showed similar effects.

Bladder wrack should not be used in cases of hyperthyroidism or cardiac problems, or during pregnancy and lactation. Excessive dosage (many times the recommended dosage) may lead to hyperthyroidism, tremor, increased pulse rate and elevated blood pressure.

Les Stroud ate bladder wrack when he stayed in Alaska for an episode of Survivorman.