The efficacy and function of red yam

Speaking of red yam, I believe many friends know it, because it has a good effect in treating diseases. However, some friends do not know the specific effects of red yam, so let’s take a detailed look at the effects of red yam here.

[Other names] Sticky potato, red boy, wild sweet potato, sheep horn yam, grass yam, bitter yam, pan potato

[Source] Medicinal material source: The tuber of Dioscorea zingiberensis, a plant of the Dioscoreaceae family.

[Original form] Dioscorea zingiberensis is a twining herbaceous vine. The rhizome is short and thick, from which multiple long cylindrical tubers grow. They are straight or oblique, white in cross section, sometimes gradually turning light yellow, with the outer skin easily falling off and becoming fibrous when dry. The stem is glabrous, right-handed, and has spines at the base. Leaves are simple, alternate in the lower part of the stem, opposite above the middle; leaf blades are usually ovate, or oblong-ovate to ovate-acicular or lanceolate, 5-17 (-24) cm long, 0.5-10 (-13) cm wide, apex acuminate or caudal, sometimes acuminate, base cordate to rounded or truncate, a few sagittate or halberd-shaped, entire, glabrous on both sides; basal veins 5-9. Dioecious; male inflorescence is spike, 1-14cm long, usually 2-5 clusters or solitary on the inflorescence axis arranged in panicles, 8-70cm long, sometimes solitary or 2 to several clusters in leaf cells; the outer tepals of male flowers are nearly circular, about 1mm long, while the inner ones are obovate, smaller and thicker; 6 stamens, inward-curved; female inflorescence is the same as male inflorescence, the outer tepals are nearly circular, the inner ones are ovate and thick. The capsule is not reflexed, triangular-oblate, 1.5-2.5cm long and 2.5-4.5cm wide; the seeds are borne in the middle of the axis of each room and are surrounded by membranous wings. The flowering period is from September to December, and the fruiting period is from December to January of the following year.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Growing under evergreen broad-leaved forests or in thickets on hillsides, roadsides, and ditches at an altitude of 250-1500m.

【Nature and flavor】 Bitter; slightly pungent; neutral

【Functions and indications】Detoxification and anti-dysentery; promoting blood circulation and regulating menstruation; stopping bleeding. Mainly used for dysentery, rheumatic pain, lumbar muscle strain, irregular menstruation, metrorrhagia, and traumatic bleeding

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoct in water, 9-30g; grind into powder or soak in wine. For external use: appropriate amount, grind into powder and sprinkle.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

Through the detailed introduction of this article, I believe everyone has a certain understanding of the functions and effects of red yam. The several functions and effects introduced in the article are relatively common. I hope everyone can remember them and they will be helpful in your life.