Chinese yam

Chinese yam

(common folk herbs in Kunming)

[synonym] oxtail ginseng (commonly used folk herbal medicine in Kunming), sticky dog vetch and sticky taro (medicinal plant catalogue in Guizhou).

[source] it is the tuberous root of Dioscorea opposita.

[plant morphology] yam, also known as Dioscorea zingiberensis.

Perennial twining herbs. The root tuber is large and rich in starch. Stem cylindrical, slightly twisted, the surface is slightly hairy, more nodes. Leaves alternate, heart-shaped, thicker, apex pointed, slightly caudate, base broad, heart-shaped, entire, upper nearly smooth, lower slightly hairy, mostly on veins and petiole; petiole about 3.3 cm long. The flowers are arranged into axillary spikes, with 2 sheath bracts at the base, about 1.5 mm long, and the apex is subulate; the flowers are unisexual, and the perianth is 6-lobed. Capsule oblong, 15-22 mm long, 3-winged, margin shallowly undulate, both ends slightly concave. Seeds narrowly ovate. It blooms in summer.

Born in the wild. It is distributed in Yunnan, Guizhou and Guangxi.

[collection] root tubers were collected in autumn and winter, washed and dried.

Sweet and smooth.

Functions and indications: Invigorating the spleen and removing dampness, tonifying the lung and kidney. Treatment of spleen deficiency, less food, diarrhea, thirst, tuberculosis, traumatic injury.

[usage and dosage] oral administration: decoction, 0.5-1 Liang. External use: tamping.

[selection] treatment of tuberculosis: Ten root buds of Dioscorea opposita and four lilies. Mash together, add honey and steam. (the following is the common folk herbs in Kunming.)