Please note that, according to our professional standards of care, we must ensure that our practitioners' only products are safe and suitable for the intended outcome. Therefore we require the submission of a Risk Assesment Form (access HERE ) prior to the supply of herbal extracts. If you are unable or unwilling to reveal personal information, please contact the pharmacy for a chat with a practitioner and an alternative solution.
Japanese Knotweed extract (Polygonum cuspidatum)
May Improve Cognitive function:
One of the most well known and widely relied on benefits of Japanese knotweed may be its apparent effect on cognitive disorders, like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. This may be primarily due to the resveratrol content of the herb, which is the same for most of the plant’s benefits. Resveratrol has shown a measurable preventative effect against neurodegenerative processes that can affect neural pathways. Just as antioxidants can eliminate plaque and neutralize free radicals that can slow mental function and cause deterioration, resveratrol may help keep brain pathways energized and in use, preventing those tragic conditions. [1]
May Help Prevent Heart Disease:
In France, where red wine is drunk in high concentrations (and thus, large amounts of resveratrol are consumed), heart conditions may potentially be very uncommon, despite the high-fat and rich diet that many people enjoy there. By adding knotweed to your diet, you may benefit from the same heart-protective qualities. [2]
May Improve Blood Pressure:
Early research on resveratrol’s effect on the heart primarily centered on a reduction in fat, there may have also been encouraging results regarding resveratrol’s ability to modulate blood pressure. By reducing strain and stress on the heart, lower blood pressure may significantly lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes by keeping the arteries and blood vessels dilated, preventing blood clots. [3]
May Help with Insulin level:
Over time, particularly if we have a poor diet, our body becomes less able to regulate its insulin levels, and may develop “insulin resistance”. This can lead to diabetes and many other health complications, but if you add Japanese knotweed to your diet, you can effectively avoid all of that. The resveratrol in Japanese knotweed might help decrease insulin resistance while improving insulin sensitivity, helping in blood sugar regulation. [4]
Caution: Not recommended during pregnancy and lactation. Side effects are rare with low potential for toxicity. Japanese knotweed has been used in traditional forms for thousands of years and offers a high level of safety. Like many herbs, Japanese knotweed has mild blood thinning properties — consult your physician if you are taking prescription blood thinners before taking Japanese knotweed.
Herbal Extracts are used in traditional medicine and in cosmetic and beauty products. For those intending to use our extracts for therapeutic purpose, please email to us your prescription or submit this form first or call us to provide more information over the phone. Herbal extracts may interact with other therapeutic substances and as a general rule are not recommended for use by children, in pregnancy and lactation, and if you are on certain prescription medications.
References:
1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26362286/
2. https://journals.lww.com/cardiovascularpharm/Abstract/2009/12000/Grapes,_Wines,_Resveratrol,_and_Heart_Health.2.aspx
3. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0006295208008605
4. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/british-journal-of-nutrition/article/resveratrol-improves-insulin-sensitivity-reduces-oxidative-stress-and-activates-the-akt-pathway-in-type-2-diabetic-patients/A6F17DBF3B89379A4F5892411795FC34
