Yam is a very promising and ideal health food, with abundant nutritional value. It can be eaten as food or used as medicine, and has high medicinal value. It has the functions of nourishing the kidney and lungs, strengthening the spleen and nourishing the essence. Let's summarize the efficacy of yam below.
1. Nourishing the Spleen and Stomach
Yam can nourish the spleen, stomach, lungs, kidneys, and other organs. It has a mild nature. Regular consumption can benefit the internal organs. Medicinally, it can improve symptoms such as physical weakness, general fatigue, abdominal distension, and loose stools caused by weak spleen or deficient Qi and Yin. It also has therapeutic effects on symptoms caused by deficient lung Qi, such as persistent cough, asthma, spontaneous sweating, and shortness of breath.
2. Enhancing Intelligence and Nourishing the Brain
Yam is rich in nutrients, including starch, protein, and mucin. It contains amylase, which can hydrolyze starch into glucose and provide direct heat energy to the brain, playing an important role in brain health. Yam also contains abundant choline and lecithin, which can improve memory. It is nutritious and can enhance the activity of nerve cells, nourish the heart and mind, treat forgetfulness, and enhance memory function.
3. Strengthening the Kidney and Nourishing Essence
Yam has been used since ancient times to treat polydipsia. It has the function of nourishing Qi and Yin, which is beneficial to human health. In addition, yam enters the kidney meridian and has the effects of strengthening the kidney and invigorating the body. It can improve symptoms such as soreness and weakness of the waist and knees, frequent urination at night, enuresis, premature ejaculation caused by deficient kidney Qi, and alleviate symptoms such as emaciation and night sweats caused by deficient kidney Yin.
4. Lowering Blood Sugar and Promoting Digestion
Yam is rich in mucin, choline, free amino acids, and polyphenol oxidase. It can effectively regulate blood sugar and promote the recovery of the digestive system. It improves conditions such as indigestion.
5. Delaying Aging
Yam can promote the secretion of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in the brain. Taking DHEA can improve sleep, mood, vitality, and make people feel young and have a good appetite. It has the effects of nourishing cells, strengthening endocrine function, invigorating the body, enhancing hematopoietic function, inducing interferon, improving immune function, and increasing resistance to diseases. It plays an important role in delaying the aging process.
6. Relieving Cough and Asthma
Yam has the effects of nourishing the lungs, invigorating Qi, nourishing Yin, stopping cough, and transforming phlegm. It can treat conditions such as lung deficiency and insufficient Yin, prolonged cough, and asthma. Yam has the functions of nourishing, inducing interferon, enhancing immune function, regulating endocrine function, antitussive, and expectorant. It can be used to treat chronic bronchitis.
7. Treating Diarrhea and Consolidating the Intestines
Yam has a sweet taste, it nourishes without greasiness, and is fragrant without dryness. It has a good effect in treating diarrhea caused by spleen deficiency. Yam is a gentle tonic that can invigorate the spleen, nourish the stomach, and relax the intestines. It has a good therapeutic effect on chronic diarrhea caused by weakened gastrointestinal function. Yam can nourish Yin and promote urination, reducing moisture in the intestines and alleviating symptoms of diarrhea.
Warm reminder: Yam should not be consumed by those with dampness and fullness in the middle, those with food stagnation, and those with heat syndrome. It should not be consumed with Gan Sui (another Chinese herb). If you have dry stools, it is not suitable to consume yam with fish, carp, or buckwheat charcoal.
