Yam has the effects of nourishing and strengthening the body, aiding digestion, reducing sweating, and stopping diarrhea. Many classical medical books have highly praised yam for its rich nutrition. It has long been regarded as a good and affordable supplement for replenishing deficiencies. It can be used as a staple food, a vegetable, or even made into snacks like candied hawthorn. Let's take a look at the effects and functions of yam together.
1. Beauty and Skin Care
Yam has unique therapeutic effects on nourishing the skin and maintaining beauty. Whether it is consumed as food or used as medicine, it has certain benefits for the skin.
2. Tonifying the Middle Jiao and Supplementing Qi
Yam contains 18 amino acids, more than 10 trace elements, and other minerals, making it effective in invigorating the spleen and stomach, supplementing the lungs and kidneys, tonifying the middle jiao, strengthening the spleen and replenishing deficiencies, tonifying the kidneys and enhancing essence, and calming the heart and soothing the mind.
3. Relieving Thirst and Generating Fluids
Yam has the effect of relieving thirst and generating fluids. In traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions for treating deficiency fatigue and excessive thirst (diabetes), yam is often used alone or in combination with other drugs for better results.
4. Controlling Appetite
Yam is rich in proteins, B vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin E, glucose, crude protein amino acids, choline, and allantoin. The important nutrient component diosgenin is a precursor substance for the synthesis of female hormones, with the effects of nourishing yin and supplementing yang, and enhancing metabolism. The mucin and digestive enzymes in fresh tubers can prevent the deposition of cardiovascular fat, and contribute to the digestion and absorption of the gastrointestinal tract.
5. Invigorating the Spleen and Stomach, and Aiding Digestion
Yam contains substances such as amylase and polyphenol oxidase, which are beneficial for the digestion and absorption function of the spleen and stomach. It is a medicinal and edible product for tonifying the spleen and stomach. It can be consumed whether there is deficiency of spleen yang or deficiency of stomach yin. It is commonly used in clinical practice together with other herbs to treat weak spleen and stomach, poor appetite, fatigue, and diarrhea.
6. Nourishing the Kidneys and Enhancing Essence
Yam contains various nutrients, which have the function of strengthening the body, nourishing the kidneys, and enhancing essence. It can be used to treat kidney deficiency with spermatorrhea, excessive vaginal discharge in women, frequent urination, and other symptoms.
7. Nourishing the Lungs and Relieving Cough
Yam contains saponins and mucin, which have lubricating and moisturizing effects. Therefore, it can benefit lung qi, nourish lung yin, and treat symptoms such as lung deficiency phlegm and chronic cough.
8. Lowering Blood Sugar
Yam contains mucin proteins, which have the effect of lowering blood sugar. It can be used to treat diabetes and is a good dietary supplement for people with diabetes.
9. Longevity and Health
Yam contains a large amount of mucin proteins, vitamins, and trace elements, which can effectively prevent the deposition of blood lipids on the blood vessel walls and prevent cardiovascular diseases. It has the effects of benefiting the mind and calming the mind, as well as promoting longevity and improving health.
10. Health Maintenance
Yam is rich in various vitamins, amino acids, and minerals, which can prevent and treat abnormal lipid metabolism and arteriosclerosis. It also has a certain effect on maintaining the normal function of insulin, enhancing the body's immune system, calming the mind, relieving cough, and delaying aging.
