The efficacy and function of Tibetan yam

Tibetan yam is a traditional Chinese medicinal material. This type of medicine can cover many aspects of disease treatment, so before choosing Tibetan yam, you must have a good understanding of it. Let us introduce it in detail below.

【Other name】 Yam

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

[Original form] Dioscorea zingiberensis is a twining herbaceous vine. The rhizome grows horizontally and is in the shape of ginger. The stem is green when fresh, purple-brown when dry, and has obvious longitudinal stripes. Simple leaves are alternate; petiolate, petiole 4-10cm long; leaf blade triangular-cordate or triangular-halberd-shaped, usually 3-lobed, the middle lobe is straight and gradually pointed at first, and the lobes on both sides are round ear-shaped, do not turn black after drying, and the back is densely covered with white stiff hairs along the veins. The flowers are unisexual and dioecious; male flowers are often clustered in pairs, arranged on the inflorescence axis, forming a spike inflorescence; the bracts are membranous, round-ovate, and pointed at the apex; the perianth is cup-shaped, with 6 lobes at the apex; there are 6 stamens, attached to the base of the perianth tube, and the anthers are attached in an "I" shape; the female inflorescence is basically similar to the male inflorescence, but the stamens are degenerate into filaments. The capsule is equal in length and width, with a concave tip. When ripe, the surface of the fruit is densely covered with purple-brown spots; the seeds are oval, surrounded by membranous wings of unequal width. The flowering period is from May to June, and the fruiting period is from June to September.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Growing in bushes and valley broad-leaved forests at an altitude of 2000-4000m.

[Chemical composition] The tubers and rhizomes contain diosgenin and squalene. The rhizome also contains deltonin, deltoside, dioscin, and diosgenin triglucoside.

【Nature and flavor】 sweet; neutral

【Functions and indications】Nourishes the spleen and stomach; benefits the lungs and kidneys. Mainly used for diarrhea due to spleen deficiency; chronic cough due to lung deficiency; spermatorrhea due to kidney deficiency; polydipsia

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decocted in water, 6-15g; or made into pills or powder.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

The above are some basic functions of Tibetan yam introduced to you, as well as the way to eat Tibetan yam, so that you will not make mistakes when eating it, and you can also make better use of the value of Tibetan yam.