Episode 172: Japanese Knotweed with Timothy Scott and Japanese Knotweed Pickles

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Would you prefer watching or reading this episode? If so, click here for the 'Benefits of Japanese Knotweed' video and transcript.

Episode Summary

When Tim Scott’s book, Invasive Plant Medicine, came out in 2010, it was an instant favorite of mine. In fact, it still influences the way I view plants and the natural world!  I was so delighted to finally have the chance to interview Tim, and our conversation touched on many important threads from the book – from the question “what is native” to some of the actual benefits of invasive plants, and so much more.

Tim also discussed a plant that inspires anger in many of the places it has taken hold: Japanese knotweed.  Yet there is much to love about this much-maligned plant! Tim shared all about how he works with Japanese knotweed for both food and medicine – including his delicious recipe for Japanese Knotweed Pickles. You can download your beautifully illustrated recipe card from the section below.

By the end of this episode, you’ll know:

► Why labeling plants as “native” or “invasive” can be problematic

► Three ways that so-called invasive plants can actually often help to revitalize the land

► A surprising way that Japanese knotweed can be worked with to process stored anger

► What makes Japanese knotweed such a helpful ally for people with Lyme disease

► and so much more…

For those of you who don’t know him, Timothy Lee Scott is an herbalist, business owner, and author of Invasive Plant Medicine, which was the first book to outline the healing benefits of invasive plants and their ecological functions in the environment. He is owner of Green Dragon Botanicals, which provides herbal remedies for Lyme disease and other infectious and chronic illnesses, and has specialized in treating Lyme disease for over 20 years, after first apprenticing with the late Stephen Buhner. Tim is a tireless advocate for the plant world and using herbs as medicine, and constantly questions the status quo of the technologically-based, corporate health care system. He currently lives in southern Vermont.

I’m so excited to share our conversation with you today!

What You'll Learn from This Episode

• [01:09] Student spotlight
• [03:26] Introduction to Tim Scott
• [04:55] Tim’s plant path
• [12:32] How Tim came to know Japanese knotweed
• [15:33] The harvesting process as a form of medicine
• [19:03] How invasive plants can benefit the land
• [29:46] The impermanence of nature
• [35:28] Medicinal benefits of knotweed
• [42:32] Preparations and dosage of knotweed
• [48:24] Herbs for Lyme disease
• [50:58] Japanese knotweed pickles
• [54:04] Invasive Plant Medicine
• [1:02:26] Tim’s upcoming herbal plans
• [1:12:17] Herbal tidbit

Get Your Free Recipe!

Connect with Tim:

• Websites | GreenDragonBotanicals.com and TimothyLeeScott.com

Connect with Rosalee

• On Instagram | @rosaleedelaforet

• On Facebook | Herbs With Rosalee
• On YouTube | Herbs With Rosalee

• Website | herbswithrosalee.com


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