Wild yam is the rhizome of the plant Dioscorea opposita in the Dioscoreaceae family. It is mainly distributed in southern China, southwestern China, Fujian, Taiwan, and Hunan. It has the effect of promoting qi circulation and relieving pain. Let me introduce the efficacy and usage of wild yam below!
【Efficacy of Wild Yam】
Wild yam is used to treat breast abscess, swelling and toxicity, leprosy, scabies, bruises, and bee stings.
"Compendium of Materia Medica": "Treated with vinegar, it can be applied to insect bites, scabies, and leprosy."
"Additional Records of Materia Medica": "According to the prescription of Ge Zu, it is combined with hemp medicine to treat bruises, hemorrhoids, leprosy, swelling and toxicity, relieve pain, and treat sores and scabies."
"Handbook of Herbal Medicine": "Detoxification, pain relief, and reducing swelling. It is used to treat internal and external hemorrhoids and rectal prolapse in children."
【Usage of Wild Yam】
1. For breast abscess: Crush the wild yam head and mix it with fermented rice to apply.
2. For snake bites: Crush fresh wild yam root into a paste or grind it with well water to make a paste, and apply or rub it around the wound and swelling.
3. For hornet and centipede bites: Take an appropriate amount of wild yam root, grind it with water, and apply it externally; or crush fresh wild yam root and apply it.
4. For turtle bites: Crush fresh wild yam root and sesame seeds together, and apply it to the affected area.
【Pharmacological Effects】
The rhizome of wild yam can be eaten, but it is highly irritating due to the presence of calcium oxalate. Cooking can eliminate the irritation. It is said that people who consume it as food have a high incidence of nephritis. The stem can cause goiter.
Some subspecies of wild yam contain saponin glycosides, which are toxic. It has been reported that injecting 0.1 milligrams of acidic saponin glycosides extracted from wild yam into rats can cause immediate death.
Autopsy after death revealed hemolysis and congestion in the adrenal glands. Sensitivity to this glycoside varies among individuals, and generally, if the intake is not large, it will not cause poisoning.
