Japanese knotweed can be good for you
By sidaz
2 comments
JAPANESE KNOTWEED CAN BE GOOD FOR YOU!!!
The negative implications of Japanese Knotweed have been well documented:
• Easily spread by natural means and by human activity via groundwork and disturbance.
• It has the capacity to regenerate from rhizome as small as 0.4g.
• A reduction in land value
• Damage to foundations and structures
• Damage to road and parking surfaces
• Damage to Walls
• Can prevent access to paths and land
• Can cause bank erosion
• Monoculture ecosystems are created by reducing localised biodiversity.
Japanese Knotweed is a serious, unwanted and undesirable problem for developers, builders and gardeners through out the UK. Currently it is estimated that the cost of eradicating Japanese Knotweed in its entirety from the whole of the United Kingdom would be approximately £1.56 billion.
However the positive connotations of Japanese Knotweed are less well documented, although awareness is now increasing. There is a growing movement of people who believe strongly in the health benefits of Japanese Knotweed. Japanese Knotweed although highly invasive and virtually indestructible unless treated by an invasive weed specialist, is not poisonous to humans and can be eaten. In fact the taste has been likened to that of Rhubarb and has been used in jams, soups, dessert dishes or eaten as a vegetable.
Japanese Knotweed contains vitamins C and A, potassium, zinc, phosphorous and is a particularly good resource for extracting Reservatrol.
Research has shown that Reservatrol also known as Resveratrol extracted from the Japanese Knotweed root was found to be beneficial in fighting cancer, heart disease and preserving healthy vision. Reservatrol also aids in lowering cholesterol levels and has anti inflammatory and anti ageing properties. Previously Reservatrol was most associated with the consumption of red wine, but to consume the levels required via red wine can be expensive, calorific and has obvious side effects i.e. not good for the liver!!. Reservatrol extracted from Japanese knotweed has the advantage of being economical and currently has no known recorded side effects, when taken in supplement form it contains no calories.
So Japanese Knotweed whilst being the bane of numerous people’s lives could in fact be the cause of saving countless peoples lives!
20 Apr, 2009
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Previous post: Japanese Knotweed in my garden
Comments
That's fascinating - but I still don't want it in my garden, thanks.
21 Apr, 2009
where did you find the scientific evidence about reservatrol, i'd be interested in reading it. anything that can be beneficial needs an open discussion. I've not seen any articles from the RHS for example.
20 Apr, 2009