Wild yam, actually the fruit of the Arum family plant Dioscorea bulbifera, is mainly harvested and dried in the summer for medicinal use. It has the effects of promoting qi circulation and relieving pain, and is mainly used to treat small intestine hernia. Let's get to know wild yam together!
【Morphological Characteristics】
Wild yam is a perennial herbaceous plant, reaching a height of up to 5 meters. The stem is thick and can be as thick as 30 centimeters. The leaves are alternate; the leaf stalk is thick and stout, measuring 60-90 centimeters in length, with the lower part being large and embracing the stem.
The leaf blade is broadly ovate, measuring 30-90 centimeters in length and 20-60 centimeters in width, with a short pointed apex and a broadly heart-shaped arrowhead-shaped base. There are 9-12 pairs of prominent and thick lateral veins, and the color is green. The flowers are monoecious.
The inflorescence stalk is stout, measuring 15-20 centimeters in length; the spathe tube of the spadix is 3-4 centimeters long, powder green in color, and the spathe is boat-shaped, measuring 10-14 centimeters in length and 4-5 centimeters in width, with a sharp pointed apex and greenish-yellow color.
The spadix is shorter than the spathe; the female inflorescence is 2-2.5 centimeters long and located in the lower part; the neutral inflorescence is 2.5-3.5 centimeters long and located earlier than the female inflorescence; the male inflorescence is 3 centimeters long and located above the neutral inflorescence; the accessory organ is about 3 centimeters long and has a reticular groove; the ovary has 3-4 chambers. The berry is red. There are 1-2 seeds. The flowering period is from spring to autumn.
【Pharmacological Effects】
Wild yam is commonly used to treat bacterial skin infections, scabies, fungal dermatitis, lymph node tuberculosis, and acute mastitis.
"The Lingnan Materia Medica" records: "Treats small intestine qi deficiency, take six to seven grains each time."
The tuber can be eaten, but due to the presence of calcium oxalate, it is highly irritating and loses its toxicity when cooked. It is said that people who consume it as a food have a high incidence of nephritis; the stem can cause thyroid enlargement.
Some subspecies of wild yam contain saponin glycosides, and it has been reported that injecting 0.1 milligrams of acid saponin glycosides extracted from them into rats can cause immediate death.
Autopsy after death revealed hemolysis and obvious congestion in the adrenal glands. Different individuals have different sensitivities to this glycoside, and generally, if the intake is not large, it will not cause poisoning.
