WILD YAM
Dioscorea villosa
COMMON NAMES: Colic root, China root, rheumatism root.
FEATURES: Yam is the common name for plants of the genus Dioscorea of the family Dioscoreaceae
(called the yam family), or for their tubers. Yams are herbaceous vines whose stems twine consistently to
the right or left, depending on the species, of which about six hundred are known; four are native to the
United States and Canada. Yams are among the most important tropical root crops, some kinds being
baked, boiled, fried, used in soup, or dried and ground into meal. Most species are nutritious. The variety
differs greatly in shape, color, and size of tubers.
Dioscorea is thought to have sixty-seven species in Mexico alone. The complicating resemblance of the
leaves is misleading. This delicate, twining vine grows in thickets and hedges of Canada and the United
States, more prolific in the south. The vine and leaves resemble a philodendron with a reddish brown
stem. One has to be very observant to find the small greenish white flowers in June and July. Botanically
the potato is long, branched, crooked, and weighs about 4 pounds, the average size collected. The flesh
inside is moist, fibrous, and faintly rose colored. Referred to as a rhizome, or underground stem, as is the
iris. From this a preparation of dioscorein is made containing its active qualities.
MEDICINAL PART: Root.
SOLVENT: Water.
BODILY INFLUENCE: Antispasmodic, antibilious, diaphoretic.
USES: Aztec records show that chipahuacxibuitl, or “the graceful plant,” known to us as Dioscorea, was
used for skin treatment of scabies and poultice for boils. Mexican yam is a source of the male sex
hormone testosterone and is used for rejuvenating effects. The Chinese use the wild yam to brighten the
eyes and as an elixir. North American herbalists employ its properties for bilious colic and spasm of the
bowels. To relieve the nauseous symptoms of pregnancy, dioscorein is the very best and is prompt in
action. Given in small, frequent doses during pregnancy and until the woman is a mother.
J. Kloss, in Back to Eden: “Combined with Ginger (Asarum canadense) will greatly help to prevent
miscarriage.” Can be combined with squaw vine (Mitchella repens) and raspberry leaves (Rubus
ideaus) for the above mentioned, given every ½ hour or a mouthful of the tea as needed throughout the