Wild Yam - 9 Useful Properties, Contraindications

2023 Author: Philip Bishop | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 07:54

Wild yam

What is wild yam?

Wild yam is a generalized botanical definition of Dioscorea villosa (Latin name Dioscorea villosa). Wild yam is a tuberous perennial. A climbing plant similar to a liana, reaching up to 4.5 meters in length. A favorite growing area is wooded mountain slopes, savannahs, sandy steppes, borders of forest edges. It is often found in dense damp thickets, on power lines, railway wires. Often it covers fences, banks along rivers, lakes, roadside areas, on talus.

On the stem, the leaves are arranged alternately, the first row can be located at the base of the plant. They can be curled, quite large - 2.5-13 cm in length, 2-12 cm in width. They are heart-shaped, with sharp tips and deep veins. The leaf edge is slightly wavy. The upper surface of the leaf is smooth, while the lower surface has villi. The leaf plate has a variable color, it can be light greenish or green.

Content:

• Plant features
• Useful properties of wild yam
• Wild yam for women
• Wild yam for men
• How not to confuse wild yam?
• Indications for use
• Contraindications to use

Plant features

In botany, several varieties of wild yam are described. Species can be white, yellow. Of particular interest are Chinese plant varieties. When buying seeds, it is important to remember that not all types of Dioscorea are yam. Wild yam differs from other members of the family in thinner stems, rounded leaves with a sharp tip, branching of the root system. Yam blooms are extremely rare.

The plant's tubers are used for food. One yam fruit can reach up to two meters in length and weigh more than 10 kg. The color of the tubers can be white, pinkish, lilac or deep purple. The inside of the fruit is white or yellowish in color. Yams came to cooking from African recipes. There are also dishes made of green yam leaves, roots and brown branches. The root crops of the plant have received the nickname "sweet potato" for their specific taste. Cooking methods are very diverse: stewing, boiling, baking, frying, smoking. Most often, tubers are used to prepare side dishes for meat dishes, add to desserts, grind into flour for making sauces and flat cakes.

Vitamins

Macronutrients
Vitamin A (RE)	7 μg	Calcium	17 mg
Vitamin B1 (thiamin)	0.112 mg	Magnesium	21 mg
Vitamin B2	0.032 mg	Sodium	9 mg
Vitamin B3	0.314 mg	Potassium	816 mg
Vitamin B6	0.293 mg	Phosphorus	55 mg
Vitamin B9	23 μg	Trace elements
Vitamin C	17.1 mg	Iron	0.54 mg
Vitamin E	0.35 mg	Zinc	0.24 mg
Vitamin K	2.3 μg	Copper	178 mcg
Choline	16.5 mg	Manganese	0.397 mg
Vitamin PP (NE)	0.7992 mg	Selenium	0.7 μg

Useful properties of wild yam

Numerous medical observations make it possible to make sure that wild yam has a beneficial effect on the functioning of human organs and systems.

• Hormone-like action. A large number of hormonal saponins with a steroid effect have been found in Dioscorea. The phytoestrogen of diosgenin is structurally similar to estradiol, which is the main hormonal component of female estrogen. The synthesis of progesterone is directly related to the presence of estrogen. Due to this property, wild yam has found its application in the prevention and treatment of gynecological disorders. It is able to regulate the level of female hormones, normalize the menstrual cycle, restore fertility, reduce the intensity of premenstrual syndrome, and manifestations of menopause. Effectively using wild yam in the complex treatment of infertility, when planning conception. Osteoporosis is directly related to the level of hormones, therefore, due to the ability to adjust the hormonal background,yams can prevent this serious disease from occurring.

• Anti-sclerotic action. Wild yam interferes with the intestinal absorption of cholesterol, lowers its level in the blood and prevents the formation of lipid plaques in the lumen of blood vessels. Preparations containing wild yam are recommended for patients with hypertension, angina pectoris, with initial signs of atherosclerosis. The therapeutic effect appears quickly enough. Patients note the disappearance of headache, tinnitus, normalization of sleep, a decrease in pressure indicators, an increase in efficiency.
• Spasmolytic action. Due to the ability to relax smooth muscle fibers, dioscorea is able to relieve stomach cramps, eliminate intestinal colic, relieve spastic pain associated with premenstrual syndrome. The regulation of blood pressure and the prevention of cerebrovascular spasm is the result of the complex diuretic and antispasmodic action of wild yam.

Normalizing blood sugar

Medical research by scientists at the University of Nigeria has proven that wild yam is able to balance blood sugar levels. The plant owes this quality to a special element - diosgenin. In the course of laboratory work, diosgenin was obtained empirically from fresh tubers of wild yam. The drug was administered to rabbits with diabetes mellitus. The result was a decrease in glucose readings. At present, experiments with the effect of the drug on the animal organism continue. The knowledge gained has not yet been applied to people.

Reduced signs of photoaging

Diosgenin, isolated from wild yam, has depigmenting properties. Its use is possible for the treatment of melasma, melasma, solar lentigo. These diseases sooner or later lead to skin hyperpigmentation. The appearance of age spots is not life threatening and is a common symptom for most people. The appearance of distinct dark areas on the skin often causes psychological problems, becomes the cause of the appearance of complexes.

Antirheumatic action

Traditional healers use wild yam in their recipes to treat rheumatoid arthritis due to its action on inflammation. Rheumatoid arthritis provokes an inflammatory process in the joints. The disease is accompanied by soreness, stiffness of movement, limited mobility. Official medicine is studying the antirheumatic effect of wild yam, since there is no substantiated confirmation of its ability to remove signs of inflammation, relieve arthritis symptoms.

Effects on cholesterol

The authoritative edition Lipid Research has published the results of a study examining the effect of diosgenin on cholesterol. Diosgenin was administered to rats for 7 days to determine the ability to inhibit cholesterol absorption. After the allotted time, the animals improved the proportions of HDL to LDL. Experiments by other scientists in mice and rats have shown that wild yam is beneficial in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. These studies suggest that diosgenin raises good cholesterol and lowers bad cholesterol.

Wild yam with menopause

Wild yam preparations alleviate the negative manifestations of menopause. Phytoestrogen effectively balances hormonal balance during menopause, helps to reduce blood loss during menstruation. Wild yam relieves signs of psycho-emotional irritation, eliminates joint pain, which is one of the symptoms of menopause.

Important! Creams have no phytoestrogen effect. The conclusions are based on data from a study involving 23 healthy women in menopause. Three months later, the therapeutic effect did not come - the cream does not affect the course of menopause.

Effects on breast growth

Wild yam in the cream helps to increase the volume of breast tissue, provided that it is used by a healthy woman. This is due to the increase in progesterone levels. Natural breast enlargement occurs due to the normalization of hormonal levels.

Treating cough, nausea, seizures

The antispasmodic properties of wild yam are effective for coughs, seizures, and nausea. To do this, prepare the composition according to the following recipe:

• 200 g of chopped fresh wild yam root (100 g dried).
• 4-5 cups of water.
• 1-2 drops of peppermint essential oil.
• Stevia for flavor.

The crushed root of wild yam is poured with water, boiled for 20-30 minutes. The resulting broth is filtered, stevia and mint oil are added. Is the dose? glasses twice a day. The medicinal broth is stored in the refrigerator.

This remedy allows you to relieve cramps, muscle pain associated with menstruation.

Diverticulosis treatment

With diverticulosis, inflamed cavities appear on the walls of the colon. If the formations are not inflamed, they cause painful sensations, constipation, diarrhea, and an increase in body temperature. In persons over 50, diverticulosis is diagnosed in 30–40% of cases. Due to its antispasmodic properties, wild yam relieves painful sensations. For the treatment of diverticulosis, an infusion of wild yam, viburnum bark, valerian and mint is prepared.

Wild yam in cancer therapy

Japanese researchers have proven that wild yam has anti-tumor properties due to its dioscin content. This component has an antiproliferative effect on leukemia cells. People in northern Japan use yams in their meals to reduce the risk of cancer.

Wild yam for women

Medicines containing wild yam are used to treat gynecological diseases due to the effects of diosgenin and dioscin.

Active elements are able to balance hormone levels, which is very important:

1. Mastopathy. The disease develops against a background of progesterone deficiency and high estrogen content. Dioscorea eliminates these phenomena that contribute to the development of breast cancer, uterus.
2. Climax. Sweating, hot flashes, heart palpitations, migraines, susceptibility to stuffiness, anxiety, depression are all unpleasant symptoms of menopause. Yam phytoestrogens relieve climacteric conditions, increase bone mineralization, and prevent the development of osteoporosis.

Wild yam for men

Despite the fact that wild yam is considered a female herb, it also has a beneficial effect on the male body for:

• Reducing cholesterol levels.
• Prevention of the development of atherosclerosis.
• Blood pressure normalization.
• Obesity prevention.
• Prevention of osteoporosis development.
• Enhancing sexual activity, increasing testosterone concentration, optimizing spermatogenesis.

How not to confuse wild yam?

Botanists describe more than 600 varieties of wild yam, of which only 12 are suitable for consumption. Dioscorea is similar to vines and similar herbs. The native land of wild yam is Africa and Asia. Fruits - tubers, similar to potatoes, contain a large amount of starch.

Wild yam

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is the element that makes wild yam medicinal.

This substance is similar to adrenal hormones.

Freshwater swamps, ditch slopes, and wet forest glades are suitable for the growth of wild yam.

Jicama or Mexican yam

Mexican yam is a member of the legume family. It grows in warm countries, where there is no frost. Perennial jicama is imported only from Mexico, the countries of the Caribbean archipelago, therefore it is extremely rare on sale. Used for preparing salads. You can cook dishes from the roots of Mexican yam, since all other parts - stems, leaves, seeds, pods, flowers are poisonous. They contain rotenone, which is dangerous if consumed.

Sweet potato

Known to everyone under the more familiar name - sweet potato. It has nothing to do with Mexican yam or wild yam.

It is often confused with Dioscorea. However, sweet potatoes are white, yellow, brown or purple in color. Types of sweet potatoes are divided into hard and soft.

Indications for use

1. Hormonal imbalance.
2. Narrowing of blood vessels.
3. Menopause symptoms.
4. Psychoemotional stress, mood swings.
5. Condition before menstruation.

Contraindications to use

1. Pregnancy, breastfeeding period. Fresh dioscorea can provoke vomiting, headache, oily skin.
2. Hormone-dependent gynecological conditions - endometriosis, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine fibroids. It causes menstrual disorders. Wild yam worsens a woman's condition by changing hormonal levels.
3. Sensitivity to plant elements.
4. Childhood. This contraindication is due to the fact that the effect of wild yam on the child's body has not been sufficiently studied.

Side effects are observed with the wrong use of preparations based on wild yam, with non-observance of the proportions during the preparation of remedies according to folk recipes, with a significant increase in the recommended therapeutic dosage.

1. Allergic rashes, urticaria.
2. Breathing disorder.
3. Swelling of the lips, tongue, face.
4. Ulcerative rash in the mouth.

Traditional medicine has proven that the use of wild yam is combined with herbs and drugs with the same estrogen-like properties.

The author of the article: Sokolova Nina Vladimirovna | Phytotherapist