Japanese Knotweed Benefits: How to Use the Knotweed Plant

Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) is a vegetable endemic to East Asia—specifically, parts of Japan, China, and Korea—and a member of the buckwheat plant family. It has hollow stalks that somewhat resemble bamboo and broad, oval leaves. Japanese knotweed is a vigorous grower. Its rhizomes can spread quickly, and the plant can exceed a height of ten feet under the right conditions. Due to this rapid growth rate and spreading pattern, several countries worldwide have labeled it an invasive species.

In knotweed’s native areas, people forage the wild food to cook with it or to extract resveratrol (a naturally occurring phenol or compound) from the roots of the invasive plant. The stems of Japanese knotweed plants are edible, possessing a somewhat tart taste, while resveratrol might have use as a dietary supplement.

You can harvest an entire Japanese knotweed plant and use several of its elements to make a foraged meal. The plant tastes similar to rhubarb. Here are three parts of the plant that are fit for human consumption:

1. 1. Leaves: The shoots and roots carry most of the nutrients; however, you can eat the leaves for sustenance. Enjoy them raw in a foraged salad or cook them with other vegetables in a pan.
2. 2. Roots: You can harvest the most nutrients from knotweed’s root system, including high concentrations of resveratrol. Thinly slice the Japanese knotweed roots and stir-fry them or prepare them in soups, jams, or chutneys.
3. 3. Shoots: From early spring to late summer, it’s possible to harvest young shoots from Japanese knotweed plants. Peel back the tough, outer layers of the knotweed stalks to eat the new shoots raw, or sauté or fry them in a pan until they brown and soften like cooked asparagus. Raw Japanese knotweed shoots might have a lemony, citrus flavor. If you choose to forage wild plants, take care to collect your edible plants away from roadsides, ramps, or landfills. Eating Japanese knotweed can lead to serious illness if the plant grew in an area where workers have sprayed them with herbicide.
   

Japanese knotweed is rich in several vitamins and essential nutrients that have health benefits; however, it’s wise to seek medical advice before making Japanese knotweed part of your diet or supplements routine. Here are three types of nutrients you will find in the plant:

1. 1. Minerals: Potassium and magnesium are two essential minerals you can find in Japanese knotweed. These minerals work with calcium in your body to build strong bones and improve joint functionality.
2. 2. Resveratrol: Japanese knotweed is an excellent source of resveratrol (polygonum cuspidatum), and in many parts of the world, people harvest the plant specifically for resveratrol extraction. The same compound is also in grapes and red wine. Although studies have so far been inconclusive, scientists continue to study whether resveratrol might have a positive effect on preventing Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular disease (heart disease), and cancer; on treating ailments such as Lyme disease; and on helping to regulate blood pressure.
3. 3. Vitamins: Japanese knotweed contains several essential vitamins, including vitamin A and vitamin C. Both of these nutrients assist your body in maintaining a healthy immune system against disease and infection.

In addition to consuming the plant as a food, people have used Japanese knotweed in holistic medicines and natural remedies for centuries. Herbalists use Japanese knotweed to reduce plaque, gum pain, and gingivitis, claiming it has anti-inflammatory properties.

Additionally, emodin is a natural compound in Japanese knotweed roots that serves as a natural laxative. As a result, Japanese knotweed–derived emodin makes its way into over-the-counter treatments for irregular bowel movements and constipation. Emodin can also be somewhat effective at relieving bloating, cramps, and other mild gastrointestinal issues. Check with your doctor before adding emodin or Japanese knotweed to your diet to avoid any negative side effects.

Certain outdoor activities carry an elevated risk of serious injury. Wilderness scenarios require extensive survival gear, including but not limited to food, water, maps, protective clothing, and first aid, along with mental and physical fortitude. This article is for educational and informational purposes, and is not a substitute for hard skills and expertise.

Prepare for any outdoor journey by grabbing a MasterClass Annual Membership and committing Jessie Krebs’s wilderness survival course to memory. As a former United States Air Force Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape instructor, Jessie can teach you everything you need to know about packing for a trip (neon is the new black), purifying water, foraging (crickets: the other white meat), starting a fire, and signaling for help (forget SOS).