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 1, Portion of stem attached to the rhizome and a rhizome 2. Dioscorea villosa which is branched and nodulated. 2, Wiry slender rootlets. (King’s American Dispensatory, Felter & Lloyd, 18th Ed., 1898) 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 Constituents: ResinsSteroidal Saponins Uses: 1. Benefits Spleen, Moves Qi:-Colic, abdominal pain, spasmodic pain of the gastrointestinal tract-Diverticulitis-Nausea and Vomiting of pregnancy2. Clears Liver Heat:-Hepatic Congestion, Biliary Colic; pain of Gall Stones-Chronic Gastritis2. Moves the Blood-Dysmenorrhea, Menstrual cramping-Uterine or Ovarian pain-Endometriosis3. 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 Miscarriage4. Promotes Milk:-Nourishes and enriches Milk Dose: Infusion or Decoction is preferred over the Tincture (King’s)2–4 grams in PowderTincture…

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