In 2009, I visited “The Seaweed Man,” Larch Hanson (Maine Seaweed) in an off-the-beaten path coastal part of Maine. My husband and I spent the day with Larch, checking out his seaweed “farm” in clean ocean waters. There was no industry nearby. No harbor full of gas-leaking boats. He makes his own boats and stains them with veggie oil, so there is no chance paint will contaminate the waters and seaweed. He uses no motor to leak gas into the water. Larch told us that his seaweed harvesting is his spiritual practice. He takes a deep breath in, goes underwater to harvest an armful of seaweed and comes back up, exhaling, inhaling.
I will write more about Larch and his approach to life because it was very healing just to spend time with him and watch how he honors the land and the oceans. How he mentors his apprentices. How he cooks whole, natural foods from land and sea in his big, family-style kitchen. And how he harvests his seaweed with the intent of nourishing people back to health.
In the meantime, I’d like to offer you two very valuable recipes he gave me to nourish your thyroid and resolve constipation. Both recipes use the seaweed, bladderwrack. This iodine and mineral-rich seaweed also has important B vitamins, so it’s a stress-buster and mood-booster. It’s also a blood cleanser and can relieve arthritis. Bladderwrack also contains properties that help regulate cholesterol and blood sugar.
RECIPE #1 – Nourish Your Thyroid
Bladderwrack seaweed supports the thyroid, helping it make T4 hormone. This is a medicinal product.
To use bladderwrack seaweed:
- Grind it up in an herb grinder to make a powder.
- Use ½ tsp to 1 tsp in tea.
- Allow each cup to sit at least 10 minutes before drinking.
RECIPE #2 – Relieve Constipation
Bladderwrack contains digestion-enhancing alginic acid. For short-term use (a few days) to relieve constipation, powdered bladderwrack can be taken in the amount of 1 teaspoon three times per day along with at least 8 oz of water each time.
BONUS – USE BROTH
You can use the above recipes with bone broth or vegetable broth as a base, instead of water. This will boost your vitamins and minerals and add a nice flavor. If you use bone broth, you’ll also get the added benefit of skin, digestion and joint-healing properties.
Do you use seaweed? What is your favorite type? How do you like to prepare it?
I’d love to hear your seaweed stories!
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