Knotweed

• What other names is Knotweed known by?
• What is Knotweed?
• How does Knotweed work?
• Are there safety concerns?
• Dosing considerations for Knotweed.

What other names is Knotweed known by?

Allseed Nine-Joints, Anjubar, Armstrong, Aviculaire, Beggarweed, Bian Xu, Bird's Tongue, Birdweed, Centinode, Centinodia, Cow Grass, Crawlgrass, Doorweed, Herbe aux Cent Nœuds, Herbe à Cochon, Herbe aux Panaris, Herbe des Saints-Innocents, Hogweed, Knot Grass, Knotweed Herb, Lengua de Pajaro, Lis Glané, Mexican Sanguinaria, Ninety-Knot, Pigrush, Pigweed, Polygoni Avicularis Herba, Polygonum aviculare, Red Robin, Renouée des Oiseaux, Sanguinaria, Sparrow Tongue, Swine Grass, Swynel Grass, Tire-Goret, Trainasse, Vogelknoeterichkraut, Yerba Nudosa.

What is Knotweed?

Knotweed is an herb. The whole flowering plant is used to make medicine.

Knotweed is used for bronchitis, cough, gum disease (gingivitis), and sore mouth and throat. It is also used for lung diseases, skin disorders, and fluid retention. Some people use it to reduce sweating associated with tuberculosis and to stop bleeding.

Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...

• Gum disease (gingivitis). Developing research suggests that a root extract of knotweed might be useful as a mouth rinse to treat gingivitis. Gingivitis is caused by plaque, a film of saliva and bacteria that builds up on teeth at the gum line. The knotweed extract seems to decrease bleeding and swelling of the gums, possibly because it might interfere with the formation of plaque.
• Bronchitis.
• Cough.
• Lung diseases.
• Skin diseases.
• Fluid retention.
• Decreasing sweating associated with tuberculosis.
• Stopping bleeding.
• Other conditions.

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of knotweed for these uses.

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate (detailed description of each of the ratings).