Bladderwrack seaweed

Bladderwrack (Fucus spp.) has many therapeutic uses. Regular consumption of 3-5 gm daily can normalize a swollen prostate, especially in early stages. An external poultice or soaking in Bladderwrack baths, the hotter the better, can relieve sore joints and achy muscles; it may stimulate cartilage regrowth. Regular consumption of Bladderwrack can also lower chronic high blood pressure, promote healing, and improve sleep. Much of the iodine in bladderwrack presents as di-iodotyrosine(DIT) , an immediate precursor of the thyroid hormones Thyroxine (T4, made from two condensed DIT molecules by thyroid peroxidase in the thyroid follicles) and tri-iodothyronine (T3, made from the condensing of one DIT and one MIT).This makes Fucus spp the sea vegetables of choice for treating thyroid disorders by providing the immediate precursors for T4 and T3. Indeed, Fucus seems particularly effective in treating early stage hypothyroidism. Positive results have obtained in both hypothyroidism and Graves' hyperthyroidism cases. Recently the researchers found that an extract of Fucus vesiculosus, promotes the contraction of fibroblast-populated collagen gels through increased expression of integrin molecules. In this study, they investigated the effects of topical application of an aqueous extract of this alga on the thickness and the mechanical properties of human skin. A gel formulation that included 1% of the extract was applied topically to human cheek skin twice daily for five weeks. A significant decrease in skin thickness measured by B-mode ultrasound was elicited, as was a significant improvement in elasticity measured with a Cutometer as compared with controls. In cheek skin, the thickness normally increases and the elasticity usually decreases with age. These results suggest that the Fucus vesiculosus extract possesses anti-aging activities and may be useful for a variety of cosmetics.