Japanese knotweed is presently prized mainly for its very high reservatrol content, but in traditional Chinese medicine, it is used mainly to detoxify the blood and improve circulation. Recent studies suggest that Polygonum cuspidatum is antimicrobial and antimutagenic. It is also an excellent antioxidant. Even more recently, Japanese knotweed has been widely used by Lyme-infected patients to reduce damage to the nervous system due to toxins. It is regarded as more useful against the co-infections than the spirochete itself.