Extracting resveratrol from Japanese knotweed root

by Stephen Harrod Buhner | Jun 13, 2012 | Columns, Healing Lyme, Herbs, japanese knotweed, The Basics, tinctures/decoctions | 22 comments

Dear Stephen,
Can you tell me how to extract resveratrol from knotweed root? I know about grinding the root into a finer material but how do I extract the resveratrol? Please let me know.

Stephen’s response:
If you want to make a tincture (it will extract a great deal more than only resveratrol by the way) use 70% alcohol and 30% water in a 1:5 ratio. That means that if you have 10 ounces of herb (the “1”) you will need 5x that of liquid (the “5”). In other words you will need 50 ounces of liquid. 70% of that should be grain alcohol (that is, 35 ounces) the rest (15 ounces) should be water. Sounds more complicated than it is once you get the hang of it.

Stephen

Author

Stephen Harrod Buhner

Stephen Harrod Buhner was an Earth poet and an award-winning author of twenty-four books on nature, indigenous cultures, the environment, and herbal medicine including the acclaimed book Healing Lyme: Natural Healing & Prevention of Lyme Borreliosis & Its Co-infections.

Stephen came from a long line of healers including Leroy Burney, Surgeon General of the United States under Eisenhower and Kennedy, and Elizabeth Lusterheide, a midwife and herbalist who worked in rural Indiana in the early nineteenth century. The greatest influence on his work, however, was his great-grandfather C.G. Harrod who primarily used botanical medicines, also in rural Indiana, when he began his work as a physician in 1911.

Stephen’s work has appeared or been profiled in publications throughout North America and Europe including Common Boundary, Apotheosis, Shaman’s Drum, The New York Times, CNN, and Good Morning America. Stephen lectured yearly throughout the United States on herbal medicine, the sacredness of plants, the intelligence of Nature, and the states of mind necessary for successful habitation of Earth.

He was a tireless advocate for the reincorporation of the exploratory artist, independent scholar, amateur naturalist, and citizen scientist in American society – especially as a counterweight to the influence of corporate science and technology.
View all posts

← Prev: Most aggressive bartonella treatment Next: Burning sensation on face →

Are 1st Chinese Herbs Safe?

Lyme herbs, snacks + more!

“This protocol was incredible. After only a few weeks most of my symptoms were gone. After six months all my symptoms were gone… it has given me my life back.”

– Amazon review by Joseph

Please note:

Stephen Buhner is no longer living and this Q + A column on Planet Thrive is closed to new questions. It will be kept on our website so readers can access vital information in the archives, communicate with each other in the comments section, and find herbs, books + lyme adjuncts in our directory. If you want to read more of Stephen’s writings, please see his website at: stephenharrodbuhner.com.

Lisa on July 18, 2013 at 6:23 am

I have 2 questions:

Is the liquid measured in weight or volume? I’m assuming the root is measured in weight.

Do you have any advice for potentizing tinctures into homeopathic remedies?

thank you.
rich on November 17, 2013 at 12:23 pm

when maaaking a tincture from knotweed you say i’ll be extracting a great deal more. what does that mean good or bad
DonMatheo on October 22, 2014 at 7:02 pm

I am also highly interested in resveratrol extraction from japanese knotweed.
The extracts on the market are commonly made from the root,but what about the other parts of the plant such as leaves?
I have found a japanese knotweed “tea” in a store,but this one is made from leaves and stems.Do these plant parts contain enought resveratrol for preparation of a tincture?
And my second question: is a common infusion also a good way for resveratrol extraction from japanese knot weed?
Jewel on February 10, 2016 at 4:33 pm

what herbs would you recommend for a parkinson patient with severe anxiety to take?
Morgan Mayfair on July 11, 2016 at 2:22 pm

You need to read about Peony. This seems to be a good site, with the science and all : http://www.mdidea.com/products/herbextract/paeoniflorin/data.html
Morgan Mayfair on July 11, 2016 at 2:22 pm

Jewel, that is
RICHARD PRICE on August 26, 2016 at 6:58 pm

I have Hepatitis C The Imodium in the plant could kill me. How can I remove or separate it.
healing lyme admin on August 26, 2016 at 7:04 pm

Hi Richard,
Apologies but the Buhner Healing Lyme Q and A is now closed to new questions. All new questions being posted through the end of the year were answered by Stephen a few months ago and he is not taking anymore at this time through this website. You are welcome to try contacting him through his personal website http://gaianstudies.org but he receives hundreds of emails and cannot answer all of them. I would also try Googling to find that information or asking on herb forums on Facebook and other online venues. Best, Julie
Jan Petter Olsen on October 25, 2016 at 7:53 am

Well Stephen isn’t answering any more questions on this site. That’s sad , or is it? Think about all the questions he has answerd and all the people he has helped for FREE! . In this culture of profit seeking adversaries, his contribution is oustanding. He’s had to be sitting hours in front of a computer, wringing his mind to do this ! So If I were you I’d take my hat off , and send him a warm thought, just like I am doing now
Thank you Stephen!
Lesley McLeod on November 27, 2016 at 8:54 pm

I am currently trying to find out if substituting Smirnoff Blue 100 proof alcohol which is 50% with Polmos Spirytus Rektykiowany (Rectified Spirit)which is almost 200 proof – is an okay thing to do. This is my first attempt. I was told to simply add half water to the mix to make it 50% but am not sure it is that straight forward when it comes down to it. or is it?
thank you in advance for any tips. Lesley
Michelle L Garnish on March 19, 2017 at 1:39 pm

Thank you Stephen ??
Peter D on May 3, 2017 at 11:37 am

Also thank you Stephen from me. Well said Jan
RM on September 7, 2017 at 8:53 pm

Stephen, your books and protocols saved my life and my children’s. My son with Autism has made more progress in his whole life on the protocol than with anything else. I nearly had a fatal car accident due to brain fog from Lyme, Erlichia and Bartonella and brain disease. I almost turned into an oncoming commuter train because I could not read the signal clearly thanks to severe brain fog.It missed me by inches, literally. I went on the protocol very strictly after this and am clear headed, able to work, 90 percent less symptoms and no more scary traffic accidents since then.
Epiphany on July 6, 2018 at 10:52 am

Richard, look for Buhner book on Healing Hepatitis C.
Chris Glazier on July 14, 2018 at 9:45 am

substituting? you would need to add some of the 200 proof to the 100 to bring to to the 150 proof being 75% alcohol/25% water. I’ve also read on salt to co trol it so maybe a salt additive, rocksalt or something would help.
Chris Glazier on July 14, 2018 at 9:46 am

also, sorry about the salt comment. that was for eradication lol.
Marie on August 25, 2018 at 9:14 am

Richard,

Yucca root has resveratrol too. Some research shows it may have even more than Japanese knotweed. I don’t know if it contains the imodium though.
James Rose on August 31, 2018 at 1:40 pm

Hi! The leaf tea is a laxative.
Kelly on October 30, 2018 at 12:55 am

Will everclear damage the resveratrol?
mark on March 24, 2019 at 12:22 pm

look more closely at the example he uses. Five to one the answer you seek is given on ounces. Weight of root x 5 in liquid oz
Paul Hugh Stewart on November 4, 2019 at 5:22 am

Well Stephen, I am a professional in this field (still learning & learning?) but I have gained quite a lot, from aspects of the process of gaining the liquid essence from Japanese Knotweed?
All good & TO A PURPOSE.
Thanks again for allowing me to eves-drop?
Paul H. Stewart
[email protected]
Claudia Wood on February 3, 2020 at 12:15 pm

It is that easy. I use distilled water