Botanical atlas

Klamath Lake Blue-Green Algae

Aphanizomenon flos-aquae

Unlike many botanicals with centuries of recorded use, Aphanizomenon flos-aquae entered herbal and supplement circles fairly recently. It was first gathered commercially from Oregon's Upper Klamath Lake in the late 1970s, after local naturalists noticed the lake's dense summer blooms and began drying the algae into a whole-food supplement. It quickly found a place in the natural foods movement, valued as a concentrated source of plant-based protein, chlorophyll, and micronutrients, and it has traditionally been used to support daily energy and general wellness. Today it remains one of the few wild-harvested, rather than farmed, algae supplements sold worldwide.

Safety.

Wild blooms of this algae can mix with toxic cyanobacteria and, under some conditions, produce anatoxin-a, a fast-acting neurotoxin, so raw, self-harvested pond scum should never be eaten; choose only commercial products tested for cyanotoxins. It can stimulate immune activity, so it's not recommended for those with autoimmune conditions or on immune-suppressing or blood-thinning medications, and people with phenylketonuria should avoid it due to its natural phenylalanine content.