In a review published in the journal Fitoterapia, a variety of plants were looked at for their ability to treat obesity. In the group of plants analyzed for being able to stimulate metabolism, fuscus vesiculosus (also known as bladderwrack), was examined. According to the review, the plant does play a useful role in treating obesity. Source: Fitoterapia, Volume 71, Supplement 1, pages S73-S82. Read More.