Dioscorea villosa, Wild Yam

Wild Yam (U.S.), Colic Root

N.J. von Jacquin, Icones plantarum rariorum, vol. 3 (1786-1793)

C.F. Millspaugh, American medicinal plants, vol. 2 (1892)

1. Dioscorea villosa var. glabra
2. Dioscorea villosa
(King’s American Dispensatory, Felter & Lloyd, 18th Ed., 1898)

1. Portion of stem attached to the rhizome and a rhizome which is branched and nodulated. 2. Wiry slender rootlets.
3. Cut woody surface. 4. Cross-section showing thin cortex.
(Squibb’s Atlas of the Official Drugs, Mansfield, 1919)

Botanical name:

Dioscorea villosa (syn. D. hirticaulis Bartlett, D. villosa var. hirticaulis)
Two varieties are known (King’s):
1. Dioscorea villosa
2. Dioscorea villosa var. glabra

Parts used:

Rhizome

Temperature & Taste:

Cool, moist. Bitter, Sweet

Uses:

1. Benefits Spleen, Moves Qi:

-Colic, abdominal pain, spasmodic pain of the gastrointestinal tract
-Diverticulitis
-Nausea and Vomiting of pregnancy

2. Clears Liver Heat:

-Hepatic Congestion, Biliary Colic; pain of Gall Stones
-Chronic Gastritis

3. Moves the Blood

-Dysmenorrhea, Menstrual cramping
-Uterine or Ovarian pain
-Endometriosis

4. Benefits the Kidneys, Nourishes Yin:

-Kidney weakness with lower back pain
-Impotence, Nourishes Semen
-chronic joint diseases including Rheumatism, associated with Kidney deficiency
-Infertility
-Senility
-increase body weight in chronic wasting and weakness
-Threatened Miscarriage

5. Promotes Milk:

-Nourishes and enriches Milk

Dose:

Infusion or Decoction is preferred over the Tincture (King’s)
2–4 grams in Powder
Tincture (1:5): 20–60 drops
Fluid Extract (1:1): 2–4 mls

Main Combinations:

1. Diverticulitis, Wild Yam, Valerian, Viburnum, Peppermint (Hoffman)
2. Pain of Gall Stones, Wild Yam, Gelsemium (King’s)
3. Dysmenorrhea, Wild Yam, Black Cohosh
4. Endometriosis, Wild, Yam, Black Cohosh, Agnus Castus
5. Rheumatism, Wild Yam, Guaiacum, Celery seed
6. Female tonic, Wild Yam with Dang Gui, Agnus Castus

Cautions:

Large doses may cause vomiting.

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