Yam
Yams is the collective name for several plant species of the Dioscorea genus that have edible tubers.
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The yam roots are cylindrical in shape and are rich in carbohydrates, which allows the plant to survive in very dry climates. They can reach up to 1.5 meters in length and weigh up to 70 kilograms. Edible tubers have a rough skin that is difficult to peel, but softens when heated. The skin is different in color depending on the yam variety and is dark brown or light pink. Yam roots contain about 20% starch, 75% water, 0.1% vitamin B1, 10-15 mg vitamin C. Yam tubers can reach 5-10 kg in weight and, depending on the variety, are white, yellow or purple.
The leaves of the plant are usually large, bright green in the shape of a heart. They can sometimes be purple in color due to their anthocyanins.
Yam is a dioecious crop that has both female and male flowers on the same plant. Yams bloom irregularly, making pollination difficult and causing low levels of fruit and seed production. The plant reproduces vegetatively by transplanting rhizomes. The aboveground part of the yam can reach up to 3 meters in height.
Yam grows in countries with tropical and subtropical climates, mainly cultivated as food in Africa (the continent with the highest production), South Asia, the Pacific and Caribbean islands. The plant does not tolerate frost.
There are more than 600 varieties of yam in nature, 95% of these crops are grown in Africa. The most common and well-known plant varieties are:
- Chinese yam;
- Bulbous yam;
- Dioscorea is edible;
- Winged Yam;
- Dioscorea is rounded;
- White yam;
- Yellow yam.
Wild yam
Wild yam is a type of yam that contains diosgenin in its roots and bulbs, which is used in laboratories to make steroids. Generally, wild yams are not eaten due to their bitter taste.
Wild yam contains a chemical that can be converted in the laboratory into various steroids such as estrogens. It is often marketed as a natural alternative to estrogen and is used for premenstrual syndrome, menstrual cramps, osteoporosis, vaginal dryness after menopause, to increase vitality and sex drive in men and women. Wild yam has some estrogen-like activity, but is not actually converted to estrogen in the body.
Wild yam, according to doctors, is an effective remedy in the treatment of diverticulosis, gallbladder and rheumatoid arthritis.
Tubers of some wild yam species are a source of diosgenin and steroid sapogenin. The extracted diosgenin is used to synthesize cortisol, pregnenolone, progesterone, and other steroids. Preparations based on them are used as combined oral contraceptives.
Wild yam creams have been reported to reduce hot flashes during menopause.
In eastern Indian traditional medicine, wild yam is used to treat sexual and hormonal problems. Chinese herbalists have long used wild yam to treat rheumatism, asthma, gastrointestinal and urinary disorders. Wild yam is also used in American folk medicine to treat coughs. Some sources suggest that Native Americans and early settlers used it to relieve intestinal cramps and stomach cramps.
Yam application
In China, wild yam is considered a calming and stimulating plant for the stomach and spleen, which has a tonic effect on the lungs and kidneys. The tubers contain allantoin, which speeds up the wound healing process. Yam root is traditionally used in Chinese medicine to treat hyperthyroidism, nephritis and diabetes mellitus.
When taken internally, yams are said to relieve fatigue, promote weight loss, and improve appetite and digestion. Also, according to reviews, yam is effective in the treatment of chronic diarrhea, asthma, dry cough, frequent or uncontrolled urination, emotional instability.
Outwardly, yams are used in the treatment of ulcers, boils and abscesses. The sap from the leaves is used to treat snake and scorpion bite wounds.
The roots of most types of wild yam contain diosgenin, which is widely used in modern medicine for the production of progesterone and other steroid drugs, contraceptives, in the treatment of various disorders of the genital organs, digestive system, asthma and arthritis, as well as in the production of anthelmintic and antidote drugs.
Since ancient times, yams have been cultivated in the coastal regions of Africa and used as food by African fishermen. Some yam varieties can be stored for up to six months at high temperatures, making them a valuable resource for the annual food shortages at the start of the rainy season.
In Africa, yam is a versatile vegetable that is grilled, fried, boiled, baked, smoked, and grated into desserts. The minced tubers are used to make flour with a pleasant aroma reminiscent of potatoes. Yam flour is the main raw material for making African bread.
Contraindications
While wild yam is safe for most people, it can cause nausea and vomiting when consumed in large quantities.
Breast, uterine and ovarian cancers, endometriosis, and uterine fibroids are contraindications to wild yam because it can act as estrogens.
Protein deficiency is also a contraindication to wild yam. People with protein deficiencies have an increased risk of blood clots, and wild yam can increase this risk.
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