Bladderwrack is a seaweed found on the coasts of the North Sea, the western Baltic Sea and the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. A common food in Japan, it is used as an additive and flavoring in various food products in Europe. Bladderwrack is commonly found as a component in Kelp tablets and powders used as nutritional supplements. It is sometimes loosely called Kelp, but that term technically refers to a different (but very similar) species of brown-green 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 Bladderwrack (and other seaweeds) in herbal medicine is as a source of iodine, an essential nutrient for the thyroid gland. Bladderwrack has proved most useful in the treatment of underactive thyroid glands (hypothyroidism) and goiter. Through the regulation of thyroid function, there is an improvement in all the associated symptoms. Where obesity is associated with thyroid trouble, this herb may be very helpful in reducing the excess weight. 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 Bladderwrack 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 Bladderwrack laxative properties as well. Other uses of Bladderwrack include treating atherosclerosis and strengthening immunity, although there is no current scientific evidence that it works for these purposes. |
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Garcinia is a medium-to-large evergreen tree, and it has been used safely as a food for centuries in many areas of tropical Asia. The fruit may resemble a small yellow or reddish pumpkin, or it may have a unique purple color. The fruit of Garcinia cambogia has been traditionally used in food preparation and cooking, having a distinctive sweet acid taste. When fully ripe, it is too acidic to eat fresh by itself. In the ancient Ayurvedic medicine of India, it is said that sour flavors, such as those from Garcinia, activate digestion. HCA, or hydroxycitric acid, is a natural substance that is extracted from the rind of the fruit of the Garcinia cambogia tree, which has been extensively studied for over thirty years and found to be helpful in inhibiting lipogenesis, lowering the production of cholesterol and fatty acids, increasing the production of glycogen in the liver, suppressing appetite, increasing the body's production of heat by activating the process of thermogenesis and encouraging weight-loss in laboratory animals. This acid is a natural compound that is similar to citric acid that is found in other citrus fruits. A decoction of the fruit rind is often given in support of rheumatism and bowel complaints. There have been numerous studies lately that have determined potential uses of HCA for dieters or athletes. Animal research indicates that HCA enhances weight loss by curbing the animals' appetites naturally, and by modifying their metabolism so that they have a diminished tendency to convert carbohydrates to fat. Other studies have found that HCA supplementation may decrease appetite and also inhibit the actions of a specific enzyme in the liver called ATP Cytrate Lyase. This enzyme is specifically responsible for the conversion of carbohydrates to fat. |
