Japanese Knotweed for Lyme, Inflammation, and Infections with Emily French
About this episode
Emily French discusses the broader benefits and uses of Japanese knotweed beyond its common association with Lyme disease.
What happens when we stop looking at Japanese knotweed as a problem to solve and start looking at it as a teacher? Japanese knotweed ( Reynoutria japonica ) is often used as a go-to herb for Lyme disease, but in this fascinating conversation, herbalist Emily French invites us to see this remarkable plant through a much wider lens. From chronic inflammation and joint pain to menstrual stagnation, skin care, and beyond, Emily shares why knotweed has become one of her most trusted herbal allies—and why reducing it to a single use misses the bigger picture entirely. Along the way, we explore knotweed's role as a blood-moving herb, its powerful anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, and the surprising ways it supports both ecological and personal healing. Emily also offers thoughtful reflections on knotweed's controversial reputation, revealing how this much-maligned plant may have more to teach us about cooperation, resilience, and reciprocity than many of us realize. Japanese knotweed also makes a delicious wild food! Emily has shared her recipe for Strawberry Rhubarb Knotweed Galette, a rustic dessert that transforms young knotweed shoots into a memorable seasonal treat…
People in this episode
Host: Rosalee de la Forêt
Guest: Emily French
Topics covered
- Japanese knotweed
- Lyme disease
- herbal medicine
- inflammation
- ecological healing
- wild food
Keywords
- Japanese knotweed
- Lyme disease
- anti-inflammatory
- antimicrobial
- herbal allies
- chronic inflammation
- wild food
- harvesting tips
Mentioned in this episode
Products: Japanese knotweed, Strawberry Rhubarb Knotweed Galette
Places: Lyme
More episodes of Herbs with Rosalee
- Pleurisy Root: Healing Land, Monarchs & Lungs with Linda Shanahan
- The Medicinal Spice You Probably Underuse: Cardamom for Digestion, Mood, and More with Missy Rohs
- Linden Myths You Should Stop Believing
- Violet: A Backyard Herb for Swollen Lymph Nodes and a Frazzled Nervous System with Lindsey Feldpausch
- Rabbit Tobacco for Lung Health, Respiratory Healing, and Everyday Medicine with Karen Lynn Burr
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Herbs with Rosalee podcast page.