Description

(Polygonum Cuspidatum) (wild foraged from farm) Japanese Knotweed is an invasive plant from Japan, typically irradicated and densely growing in edge habitats and urban environments.  It is a powerful plant that contains resveratrol, some people call it “reverse it all” for it’s anti-aging properties. Reseveratrol can help in reducing inflammation, aiding along side cancer treatments, antioxidant effects, as well as helping assist in cholesterol health.

Japanese Knotweed

Scientific name: Polygonum cuspidatum

Known as “Hu Zhuang” in Chinese medicine, contains plant compounds like resveratrol, piceatannol, polydatin, and emodin, and is rich in flavonoids like quercetin, rutin, apigenin, isoquercitrin, reynoutrin, hyperoside, and kaempferol. It possesses anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and neuroprotective qualities. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8705504/)

    Japanese Knotweed is highly antioxidant, ranking 14th out of 112 TCM herbs in one study. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14969719/)

    Japanese Knotweed has been shown to lower markers of inflammation and rheumatoid factor, suggesting it may be a possible treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21711083/)

    Japanese Knotweed has been found to have potential as a treatment for Lyme disease, including both regular and “persister” forms of B. burgdorferi, the bacterium that causes Lyme. It was more effective than traditional antibiotics. (https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2020.00006/full)

    A compound in Japanese Knotweed called naphthoquinone may inhibit an enzyme that the Rhinovirus uses to replicate, thus reducing the severity and occurrence of the common cold. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11720861/)

    Japanese Knotweed has shown promise as a treatment for allergies and mast cell activation. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19815110/) (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21907188/) (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18040066/)

    Japanese Knotweed may have implications in dementia, Parkinson’s, and cognitive decline as a neuroprotective agent. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22483554/) (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21376343/) (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29989058/)

    Japanese Knotweed has been found to aid in wound healing and skin lightening, and to be effective in treating acne and dry-eye. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22469768/) (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20945131/) (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22305279/) (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32018341/)

    Japanese Knotweed may prevent and treat diabetes. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31289648/) (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26950148/) (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25495844/) (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28497962/)

    Japanese Knotweed may aid in the treatment of ulcerative colitis, hepatitis B, and obesity. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29695964/) (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15781129/) (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31838799/) (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24160551/)

    Japanese Knotweed may have potential in the treatment of SARS-CoV-2, HIV, gastroprotective, anti-cancer, stem cells, dental disease, respiratory tract, Epstein-Barr, endometritis, and liver cancer. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35744929/) (https://

   Dental Disease: Japanese Knotweed has shown potential as a natural remedy for dental diseases such as periodontitis and gingivitis (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19616082/; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16914113/).

    Respiratory Tract: The plant has been found to have antiviral effects against the influenza virus and could potentially be used as a treatment for respiratory tract infections (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35281919/).

    Epstein-Barr: Japanese Knotweed may also have anti-Epstein-Barr virus activity (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24448066/).

    Endometritis: Japanese Knotweed extract may be effective in treating endometritis, an inflammatory condition of the lining of the uterus (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31494302/).

    Liver Cancer: Research has shown that Japanese Knotweed could have potential anti-cancer effects against liver cancer (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30944640/).

     Overall, Japanese Knotweed is a plant that has shown a wide range of potential health benefits, including anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and neuroprotective effects. It has been studied for its potential to treat a variety of conditions, including Lyme disease, common cold, allergies, neurodegenerative diseases, skin conditions, diabetes, ulcerative colitis, hepatitis B, obesity, SARS-CoV-2, HIV, and cancer. The plant is rich in various compounds such as resveratrol, piceatannol, polydatin, and emodin, as well as flavonoids such as quercetin, rutin, apigenin, isoquercitrin, reynoutrin, hyperoside, and kaempferol.