Resveratrol and Japanese Knotweed
People most commonly think of the resveratrol supplement as coming from red wine and grape skins. The fact is, many resveratrol supplements derive their mega doses of the powerful antioxidant from Polygonum Cuspidatum or the Japanese Knotweed plant. Natively grown in parts of Asia including Japan, China and Korea, Japanese Knotweed has been successfully cultivated in North America as well as Europe.
Japanese Knotweed provides a more concentrated source of resveratrol and is preferred over grape skins by many dietary supplement manufacturers. Unlike grapes, Japanese Knotweed produces crops year round, allowing manufacturers to have a steady source of resveratrol for their supplements.
What is Japanese Knotweed?
Japanese Knotweed, a premier source of the impressive antioxidant resveratrol, is a plant that is constituted of hollow stems and wide, oval shaped leaves. The Japanese Knotweed plant also produces an abundance of small, white flowers during the late summer and early fall. Once native to only Asia, Japanese Knotweed is now grown and prized around the world for its extreme quantities of resveratrol, which has been displayed to have a great number of first class health benefits and is becoming ever more popular as a dietary supplement.
Medicinal Uses of Japanese Knotweed
For centuries, Japanese Knotweed has been used as a gentle laxative. It has had many medicinal uses prior to the discovery of its high doses of resveratrol. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the herb is considered to have bitter and "cold" properties. It works to stimulate blood circulation, clear heat and remove toxins. The Asian population is probably more familiar with Japanese Knotweed's use as a laxative rather than for its resveratrol benefits. Used in dietary supplements, resveratrol is extracted from Japanese Knotweed in obtain the necessary dosage and recommended daily allowance of the antioxidant. Most people rarely encounter Japanese Knotweed, and usually would not eat it raw to derive any sort of medicinal benefit, although it is considered to be very tasty and similar to rhubarb in flavor.
Resveratrol and Japanese Knotweed Extract
Many people who buy resveratrol supplements, often known as the “red wine pill”, are actually purchasing Japanese Knotweed extract rather than grape extract. This is because Japanese Knotweed extract is found to have higher concentrations and to be a more consistent source of resveratrol than grape extracts, and therefore equate to lower manufacturing costs which can be passed on to the consumer.
These days, many people are concerned about watching their finances. Japanese Knotweed extract helps lessen the expense of supplements containing resveratrol. The exact same benefits that one can receive from the resveratrol in grapes and red wine can also be obtained via supplements that use Japanese Knotweed extract.