Summer, do be super careful about
your intestinal issues - bleeding always makes me nervous! Too many things can go wrong too quickly!
Here is some information on JK:
Japanese Knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum)
Japanese knotweed has been in the armament of Chinese and Japanese herbal traditions for thousands of years. Traditional Chinese Medicine has used it as a bloodmoving herb, to resolve inflammation, stagnation, and poor circulation and also as a supportive herb to counter debility and immune fatigue. It is also considered to be an herb that slows down the aging process (together with its relative Polygonum multiflorum, also known as Fo Ti and Shou Wu).
Western medicine learned of and began using many of Japanese knotweedʼs features. It is typically the source in the U.S. of resveratrol, which, unlike any other sources of resveratrol, contains both cisresveratrol and transresveratrol. Preliminary findings in vitro have indicated that resveratrol has beneficial actions in reducing the incidence of cardiovascular disease and elevated LDLcholesterol, and the risk of cancer. (Resveratrol – health-report.co.uk.)
Japanese knotweed like astragalus has an adaptogenic or immune-balancing quality, which makes this an effective ally in balancing the body’s immune responses; it can stimulate immune cells, as in Lyme disease, or modulate them, as in an autoimmune disease. This herb is particularly helpful for Lyme disease because of its ability to effectively cross the blood-brain barrier, and address the myriad central nervous system symptoms associated with chronic Lyme disease. By supporting the blood flow to difficult-to-reach regions of the body, Japanese knotweedʼs antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory actions can reach the eyes, joints, and brain. The whole plant, except for the root, is used for the treatment of Lyme disease.
Japanese knotweed is considered to be a safe herb, but it should be avoided during pregnancy. In large doses it can cause gastrointestinal symptoms, such as diarrhea or abdominal pain. The concentrated roots contain emodin, which is used as a laxative.fiveelementhealing.net/in-depth-healing-strategies-for-lyme-disease-new/