Bladderwort

      Ok, so I’m strange. I fully admit this and embrace it as part of who I am. Today I’m sharing one of my strangeness with all of you, I have a bit of an obsession with carnivorous plants. I just find them extremely fascinating. So, of course, when my husband and I ran across a pond full of Bladderwort on a recent hike, I went bonkers. 

     Floating bladderwort, or Utricularia inflata, is a Florida native plant that extends through much of the Southeast region of the United States. It’s both aquatic and carnivorous and can be found in (usually) deep freshwater habitats that have a low pH and very few nutrients (which is why the plant evolved to be carnivorous in the first place). It’s a member of the Lentibulariaceae (Bladderwort) family and the flowers of the plants in this family look very similar to the flowers in the Lamiaceae (Mint) family, they are bilaterally symmetrical and somewhat resemble lips. This is because Lentibulariaceae and Lamiaceae are both members of the Lamiales order, so they are fairly closely related. 

     Bladderwort does not have roots. Instead, it has specialized leaves that both keep it afloat and provide extra nutrients. The underwater leaves are home to the “bladders” that give these plants their common name. These bladders are the “trap” that collects the animals this plant preys upon, which are mainly protozoa, microscopic crustaceans, and tiny fish (often that have just hatched). When these creatures get close enough to the bladders to brush up against the hairs, this triggers the bladder to open, creating a vacuum and sucking the creature inside where it will be digested to provide the extra nutrients the plant needs to survive. 

     The species that we ran across (Utricularia inflata) is one of many species in Florida. However, to my knowledge (please correct me if I’m wrong), it is the only one with the wheel-like floating leaves that grows in North America. While it is native to the Southeast, it has been introduced in Washington state and upstate New York, where it has become a problematic invasive. 

     There are around 200 species that grow world-wide, 20 of which grow here in North America. Each region has specific species that are used for slightly different purposes in traditional medicines. The Ayurvedic traditions use Utricularia reticulata, the Traditional Chinese Medicine system uses Utricularia bifida, and the Gwich’in tribe of North America uses Utricularia vulgaris. While all of these traditional systems use the various Bladderworts for kidney infections and wound care, each tradition has specific other uses for their Utricularia species. This isn’t to say that all Bladderworts can’t be used interchangeably, but that there isn’t much research or data collected to support this idea. 

Check out a video I posted recently about this fascinating plant!

 

Medicinal Uses:

Common Names- Bladderwort, Floating Bladderwort, Swollen Bladderwort

 

Scientific Name- Utricularia inflata

 

Family- Lentibulariaceae

 

Summary of Actions- Astringent, diuretic, and vulnerary

 

Parts Used- Whole plant

Edibility- A tea is often made with dry or fresh leaves and often consumed for the rich mineral content.

 

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)- Utricularia bifida is used in a common TCM formula for hemorrhoids. The other herbs in this formula include Elephantopus scaber (Elephant’s Foot) and Sonchus oleraceus (Common Sowthistle). This mixture is used to relieve and eliminate swelling pain, stabbing pain and burning pain of hemorrhoids caused by bacterial infection and perianal inflammation, improve and eliminate variant tissue, eliminate thrombus, soften hemorrhoids, promote regeneration of active cells, restore perianal damaged aging cells, improve elasticity of rectal vein wall and muscle tissue, improve compressive stimulation resistance, eliminate rectal blood stasis root source, restore functions of a perianal system and prevent recurrence of hemorrhoids.

 

Ayurveda- Utricularia reticulata is used in Ayurvedic traditions. The whole plant is used for eye disease, snake bites, and ulcers.

 

Native American Traditional Uses- The Gwich’in tribe (one of the most northerly dwelling tribes in the North American continent) use Utricularia vulgaris to treat kidney and bladder infections. It is often used in the same way as Horsetail (Equisetum hyemale) for bladder issues.

Urinary Tract and Kidneys- Bladderwort is astringent and has soothing properties that help reduce inflammation which makes it great to treat kidney and bladder infections. It also helps treat and prevent kidney stones.

 

Gallbladder- This herb helps to stimulate bile production and excretion helping to improve digestion. It also helps to treat and prevent gall stones.

 

Burns and Wound Care- The soothing and astringent properties of this plant make it a great choice for wound and burn care. You can use the fresh specialized leaves (the parts that are under water) as a poultice on any wound or burn and it will help prevent infection, soothe pain/burning sensations, and help to speed healing.

 

Weight Loss- Bladderwort helps reduce water retention which can help shed some weight. It also helps to simulate bile production and excretion which can help improve digestion which may also help some people to lose a bit of weight. Though this herb is not a “miracle weight loss herb.”

 

Cautions, Contraindications, and Warnings- Since not a lot of information exists on this plant, use caution and talk to your doctor or herbalist before adding it to your routine. Do not take this if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

 

 

 

I only included a basic introduction to this fascinating carnivorous plant. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below. Follow me on Facebook and Instagram for updates and more adventures in nature. Find me on YouTube and check out my videos! I also have a few things up on TeeSpring, check it out! If you like what you see and would like to support this content, feel free to become a Patron for as little as $1 a month!

 

Resources:

Amazing facts of Bladderwort: Health Benefits Times: https://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/bladderwort/

Bladderwort: GTC Department of Cultural Heritage: https://www.gwichin.ca/plants/bladderwort

Bladderwort: Medicinal Herbs: http://www.naturalmedicinalherbs.net/herbs/u/utricularia-vulgaris=bladderwort.php

Bladderworts: Medicinal Plants Archive: https://www.medicinalplantsarchive.us/pitcher-plants-2/bladderworts.html

Bladderwort: The Rx List: https://www.rxlist.com/bladderwort/supplements.htm

Bladderwort: WebMD: https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-317/bladderwort

Floating Bladderwort - Utricularia inflata: Native Florida Wildflowers: http://hawthornhillwildflowers.blogspot.com/2020/01/floating-bladderwort-utricularia-inflata.html

Florida’s Aquatic Carnivorous Plants – Yes, Aquatic!: UF Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants: https://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/nat/2016/06/03/floridas-aquatic-carnivorous-plants-yes-aquatic/

Swollen Bladderwort: An Exotic Aquatic Plant: Department of Conservation and Recreation, Massachusetts: https://www.mass.gov/doc/swollen-bladderwort-0/download

Swollen Bladderwort: Washington State Department of Ecology: https://depts.washington.edu/oldenlab/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Ultricularia-inflata_Scholl_2007R.pdf

The Floating Bladderwort: In Defense of Plants: https://www.indefenseofplants.com/blog/2019/2/24/the-radial-bladderwort

TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE PREPARATION FOR TREATING HAEMORRHOIDS: WIPO IP Portal: https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/es/detail.jsf;jsessionid=2F5617F8666913CE082CACDE8D715892.wapp1nC?docId=CN177429855&_cid=P12-K6GK5M-42677-41

Utricularia inflata: Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center: https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=utin

Utricularia reticulata: Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants of Sri Lanka: http://www.instituteofayurveda.org/plants/plants_detail.php?i=757

Utricularia species: UF Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants: https://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-directory/utricularia-species/

Utricularia vulgaris: Plants for a Future: https://pfaf.org/USER/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Utricularia+vulgaris

Utricularia vulgaris: Practical Plants: https://practicalplants.org/wiki/Utricularia_vulgaris

Utricularia vulgaris: University of Ioannina School of Health Sciences: http://mediplantepirus.med.uoi.gr/pharmacology_en/plant_details.php?id=232

 

 

Herbal Bitters: A Brief Introduction

It's the Holiday Season! That means it's time to get together with friends and family. Time to share gifts, drinks, and stories. Time to get fat and lazy after eating amazing meals. All of this can be very exciting and wonderful. However, this can do a serious number on your digestion. I figured that I could let you in on a tip to help keep your digestion going strong even after a day of gorging yourself on food you don't normally eat.

Over the years, “Bitter” has gained a bad reputation. The word is most commonly associated with harsh feelings like anger, resentment, and pain. However, “Bitter” can be a wonderful and healthy tool to use. Bitter herbs help digestion, and a number of them are already in our diets. Coffee, most culinary herbs, and leafy greens are just a few examples. Even though we do continue to enjoy our bitter herbs, we don't have enough of them to really use their true potential. If you aren't tasting the bitter flavor, you aren't getting the benefit. But before I dig to deeply into that, here's a basic introduction to the world of Bitters.

Bitter Herbs and Foods:

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), there are 5 flavors of food. Sweet, Salty, Pungent (sometimes referred to as Spicy or Acrid), Sour, and Bitter. Each of these flavors is associated with certain actions on your digestive system, as well as your body as a whole.

Bitter herbs and foods help to stimulate digestion by triggering the production and/or release of digestive enzymes, hormones, and various digestive secretions (saliva, bile, etc). This action benefits the gallbladder, stomach, liver, pancreas, and just about your whole body. Bitters help us to properly digest proteins, fats, and starches. They help increase nutrient absorption, improve the integrity of the tissues lining the digestive tract, and help to create a protective barrier against pathogens. Most bitters are also cooling in nature, helping to reduce inflammation and rid the body of excess heat. They also help aid the elimination process.

With such a wide range of bitter options available to us, why do so many health professionals think that the modern American diet is all but devoid of bitter flavors? Because sweetening the bitter flavors destroys most, if not all, of the health benefits. So eating those dark leafy greens in your salad is a great choice, but using a salad dressing packed full of sugar negates most of the healthy benefits. This is one of the reasons that herbal bitters are such a great tool for your health.

Herbal Bitters:

The herbal bitters we usually refer to are mixtures of various herbal extracts designed to help aid digestion. There are an unlimited amount of combinations of bitter herbs out there that can be put into these herbal bitters, and many recipes date back thousands of years. Some of the oldest recipes come from the Mediterranean region and date back over 2,000 years ago. Some of the more famous recipes are still in use today, though mostly as cocktail ingredients. The most famous of these is Angostura Bitters which is used in the traditional Old Fashioned. And for those of you who are fans of Gin and Tonic, tonic water started off as a bitter folk remedy as well.

Who Should Take Bitters?:

EVERYONE!

Bitters are great for everyone to use. Pregnant and nursing women should use caution with certain herbs, but an Herbal Bitter formulated with fennel and other gentle herbs can be a great asset, especially since fennel helps increase breast milk production. Those of you who have had problems with your gallbladder, pancreas, liver, or kidneys can benefit tremendously from taking bitters. People who suffer from anemia, or iron deficiency, should think seriously about adding bitters to their diet. Our bodies need bitters in order to properly absorb and use iron.

How Do You Use Bitters?:

I typically recommend using bitters 15 min before you plan on dining. Bitters most often come in liquid extracts with droppers, but occasionally you will find them in spray bottles. In the case of the droppers, take 1-2 dropperfuls, under your tongue. For the spray, spray into your mouth 2-3 times. When in doubt, follow the instructions on the bottle.

Whatever your digestive concern, there is an Herbal Bitters formula out there for you (or you can make your own). I urge you all to talk to a nutritionist, herbalist, or other health professional about adding bitters to your daily routine.

I hope I have gotten you excited about herbal bitters, and I hope that they help you throughout this holiday season. If you have any questions or comments please leave them below.

Where to Buy Great Bitters:

Urban Moonshine

Mountain Rose Herbs

Leaves and Roots

Check out your local Farmer's Markets

There are also several people who sell their herbal products on Etsy

I have also been known to make bitters occasionally. For more information, please contact me directly at BatLadyHerbals@gmail.com

Resources:

5 Reasons Why You Should Eat Bitter Foods and Herbs: Natures Sunshine: http://blog.naturessunshine.com/en/5-reasons-why-you-should-eat-bitter-foods-and-herbs/

10 Reasons to Use Bitters: Hint it All Starts with Digestive Health : Radiant Life: https://blog.radiantlifecatalog.com/bid/70036/10-Reasons-to-Use-Bitters-hint-it-all-starts-with-digestive-health

Benefits of Bitters: Organic Spa Magazine: https://www.organicspamagazine.com/the-benefits-of-bitters/

Digestive Bitters: Better than Probiotics: Gwen's Nest: http://gwens-nest.com/digestive-bitters/

Herbal Bitters: Invaluable Aid to Fat Digestion: The Healthy Home Economist: https://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/bitters-invaluable-aid-to-fat-digestion/

Herbal Medicine: Tonics, Bitters, and Digestion: Healthy.net: http://www.healthy.net/Health/Article/Tonics_Bitters_and_Digestion/862

Natural Healing: Befriending the Bitter Herbs: Mother Earth Living: https://www.motherearthliving.com/health-and-wellness/natural-healing-bitter-is-better-befriending-the-bitter-herbs

Properties of Food from a TCM Perspective: Shen Nong: http://www.shen-nong.com/eng/lifestyles/food_property_food_tcm.html

Taste and Action of Chinese Herbs: ITM Online: http://www.itmonline.org/articles/taste_action/taste_action_herbs.htm