Wild yam is the fruit of the Araceae plant, mainly distributed in South China, Southwest China, as well as Fujian, Taiwan, Hunan and other places. It is used in traditional medicine for its ability to promote qi circulation and relieve pain. Let's learn more about wild yam!
【Morphological Characteristics】
Wild yam is a perennial herbaceous plant that can grow up to 5 meters tall. The stem is thick, reaching up to 30 centimeters in diameter. The leaves are alternate; the leaf stalk is thick and can be 60-90 centimeters long, with the lower part being larger and embracing the stem.
The leaf blade is broadly ovate, 30-90 centimeters long and 20-60 centimeters wide. The tip is short and pointed, and the base is broadly heart-shaped with arrowhead lobes. The lateral veins are 9-12 pairs, thick and prominent, and the color is green.
The flowers are monoecious, meaning both male and female flowers are found on the same plant. The flower stalk is thick and about 15-20 centimeters long. The spathe tube of the inflorescence is 3-4 centimeters long, pale green in color. The spathe is boat-shaped, 10-14 centimeters long and 4-5 centimeters wide, with a sharp tip and green-yellow color.
The spadix inflorescence is shorter than the spathe. The female inflorescence is 2-2.5 centimeters long and located at the lower part. The neuter inflorescence is 2.5-3.5 centimeters long and located above the female inflorescence. The male inflorescence is 3 centimeters long and located above the neuter inflorescence. The ovary has 3-4 chambers. The fruit is red, and there are 1-2 seeds. The flowering period is from spring to autumn.
【Pharmacological Effects】
1. Treatment of breast abscess: Apply mashed wild yam head and fermented rice to the affected area.
2. Treatment of snake bites: Mash fresh wild yam root into a paste, or grind it with well water to make a paste, and apply or smear it on the surrounding area of the wound and swelling.
3. Treatment of hornet and centipede bites: Take an appropriate amount of wild yam root, grind it with water, and apply it externally; or mash fresh wild yam root and apply it.
4. Treatment of turtle bites: Grind fresh wild yam root and sesame seeds together, and apply it to the affected area.
The tuber can be eaten, but it contains calcium oxalate, which is highly irritant. Cooking it will eliminate the irritant. It is said that those who consume wild yam as food have a higher incidence of kidney disease, and the stem can cause thyroid enlargement.
Some subspecies of wild yam contain saponin glycosides, and the sensitivity to these glycosides varies from person to person. Generally, if the intake is not large, it will not cause poisoning.
