Wild yam, although its name is similar to sweet potato, is actually a wild fruit. It is a plant that combines edible, medicinal, greening, and ornamental purposes. It is distributed in Hunan, Guangxi, Yunnan, and other places. Let's take a look at the identification methods of wild yam together!
Picture of wild yam
【Identification methods of wild yam】
Yam is a perennial deciduous vine with latex throughout the entire plant. It has aerial roots that cling to trees or rocks. The stems are cylindrical or slightly flattened, brownish, with many branches and slightly swollen nodes.
The leaves are alternate; leaf stalks are 1-2 cm long; there are 2 bracts, conical, with pointed tips and entire margins; leaf blades are ovate, ovate-elliptic, or elliptic, approximately 3-6 cm long and 2-4 cm wide;
the tips are blunt or pointed, with wavy serrations on the edges, rounded or heart-shaped at the base, green on the upper surface with stiff hairs, lighter on the lower surface, and hairy veins.
The inflorescence is inconspicuous; yam flowers are unisexual, numerous, and both male and female flowers are borne within the fleshy bracts; the bracts are flattened and spherical, reddish-brown, and grow on creeping branches, partially buried in the soil. The fruits are small. The flowering period is from April to May.
【Value of wild yam】
1. Promotes blood circulation and relieves pain
The entire wild yam plant can be used as medicine. Its vine, known as wild yam vine, is most valued for its ability to dispel wind, remove dampness, promote blood circulation, and relieve pain. In traditional Chinese medicine, it is often used to treat conditions such as bronchitis, rheumatism, edema, and other diseases. It can be taken internally after decoction or used externally.
2. Stops bleeding and detoxifies
Wild yam has good hemostatic effects. When someone is bleeding uncontrollably due to an injury, crushing wild yam and applying it externally to the affected area can effectively stop the bleeding.
It can also be used to treat snake bites. The method of use is the same as above, and it should be changed once a day, which can quickly eliminate toxins from the body.
Picture of wild yam
3. Ornamental purposes
In addition to its medicinal uses, wild yam can also be used for ornamental purposes. It can be made into hanging pots or directly planted in some garden scenic areas. Its stems are green and elegant, giving a feeling of countless green silk threads hanging down when fully grown.
Wild yam can also be directly consumed by humans. It provides various vitamins and trace elements, meeting the body's needs for multiple nutrients.
【Clinical applications of wild yam】
Wild yam is mainly used to treat chronic bronchitis, rheumatic pain, diarrhea, dysentery, mastitis, edema, irregular menstruation, postpartum blood stasis pain, blood in stool, nosebleeds, scrofula, bone setting, bruises, knife wounds, rabies bites, abscesses, boils, snake bites, etc.
1. Treatment of dysentery: Fresh wild yam vine (4 liang), stir-fried and charred, mixed with brown sugar, decocted and taken orally. (From "Chongqing Herbal Medicine")
2. Treatment of coughing up blood and fever due to yin deficiency: Yam stem (5-8 qian), decocted in water and taken orally. (From "Hunan Pharmacopoeia")
3. Treatment of unknown swelling and burns: Crushed wild yam vine, mix with sesame oil and apply to the affected area. (From "Hunan Pharmacopoeia")
4. Treatment of yam ulcers: Fresh wild yam vine, crushed and applied to the ulcer, change daily. If the ulcer has already ulcerated, use cotton swabs dipped in the powder of cotton root bark, roasted and ground into fine powder, and sprinkle it on the ulcer. (From "Guizhou Folk Medicine").
