Introduction: What is Chinese Yam? Chinese Yam is a common traditional Chinese medicine. It is neutral in nature and sweet in flavor. It functions to tonify the spleen and nourish the stomach, promote the production of body fluids and benefit the lungs, and tonify the kidneys and secure essence. It is used for poor appetite due to spleen deficiency, chronic diarrhea, wheezing and coughing due to lung deficiency, spermatorrhea, leukorrhea, frequent urination, and deficient-heat thirst. Stir-fried Chinese Yam tonifies the spleen and strengthens the stomach, and is used for poor appetite due to spleen deficiency, diarrhea with loose stools, and excessive leukorrhea.
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Functions of Chinese Yam:
Qi and Blood Tonic
Tonifying Deficiency and Anti-aging
Chinese Yam is sweet in flavor, cool and moist in nature, and enters the lung, spleen, and meridians. The "Bencao Pei" says it has the function of tonifying deficiency and benefiting damage. The Qing dynasty physician Chen Xiuyuan explained the functions of Chinese Yam, saying that its nature is neutral and enters the lung, its flavor is sweet and enters the spleen. The spleen governs blood and the four limbs; when the spleen's blood is sufficient, there is no hunger and the limbs are agile. The lung governs Qi; when the lung's Qi is abundant, the body becomes light, and the Qi is doubled. Furthermore, because of its thick and sticky texture, it can tonify the kidneys and fill essence. When essence is sufficient, it strengthens the Yin and prolongs life. Modern pharmacological research suggests that Chinese Yam contains saponins, glycoproteins, tannins, dendrobine, yam alkaloids, choline, starch, and calcium, phosphorus, iron, etc., which has the effect of inducing interferon and provides a certain material basis for anti-aging. It can be seen that Chinese Yam can indeed tonify deficiency, repair damage, and prolong life.Strengthening and Beauty
Chinese Yam contains a mixture of mucoproteins that can supply the body with a large amount of various glycoproteins. It can increase the lubricity of mucous membranes and skin, reduce subcutaneous fat accumulation, and is a good beauty food. It can be taken alone or in compound formulas. Chinese Yam congee, Chinese Yam wine, Liuwei Dihuang Yin, and Zisheng Shenggan Yin all have the effects of strengthening bones and muscles, and beautifying and fitness.Nourishing Yin and Tonifying Yang
Chinese Yam tonifies Yin and has the effect of clearing deficient heat. Huang Guanxiu, in "Bencao Qiu Zhen," said that Chinese Yam is originally a food, and the ancients used it in decoctions, saying it tonifies the spleen, benefits Qi, and eliminates heat. Its white color enters the lung, its sweet flavor enters the spleen, and although its nature is warm, it is neutral. It is used to tonify the Yin of the spleen and lung, thus it can moisten the skin and hair and promote muscle growth. Its astringent nature can treat spermatorhea and incontinence, and its sweet and slightly salty flavor can also benefit the kidneys and strengthen Yin. Applying it raw to abscesses can reduce swelling and hardness, which is also the meaning of tonifying Yin and expelling heat. Analyzing the formulas of the ancients for using Chinese Yam, the single-herb Shuyu Yin uses Chinese Yam to treat consumptive fever, or wheezing, or coughing, or spontaneous sweating; Zisheng Tang uses Chinese Yam as the main ingredient, combined with Scrophularia, Atractylodes, Arctium fruit, and chicken gizzard membrane, to treat Yin-deficiency consumptive heat; Huangqi Gao takes Chinese Yam as an adjuvant herb, assisting Astragalus and Gypsum to treat lung diseases; Liquan Yin combines Chinese Yam with Rehmannia raw root, Asparagus root, and Scrophularia to treat consumptive thirst and Yin deficiency; Yuzhu Shanyang Tang treats consumptive thirst, combining Solomon's seal root, trichosanthes root, and fleeceflower root with Chinese Yam to nourish Yin and produce fluids. All of these show that Chinese Yam has a certain effect of tonifying Yin and clearing deficient heat.Supporting the Healthy Qi and Expelling Pathogens
Chinese Yam is mild in nature and flavor, and its functions are to moisten the lungs, strengthen the spleen, and benefit the kidneys. It can tonify Yang to strengthen the functions of the organs, and also tonify Yin to nourish the material basis. More gratifyingly, it supports the healthy Qi without retaining pathogens, and can be used even when pathogens are present. Therefore,历代 physicians, when deciding on the treatment principle of supporting the healthy Qi and expelling pathogens, often choose it to form formulas, and its scope of application is very wide. The combination of Chinese Yam with honeysuckle, or Chinese Yam with Arctium fruit, both exert the effect of Chinese Yam's supporting the healthy Qi without retaining pathogens, and expelling pathogens without harming the healthy Qi.Strengthening the Spleen and Benefiting the Stomach, Aiding Digestion
Chinese Yam contains substances such as amylase and polyphenol oxidase, which are beneficial to the digestive and absorption functions of the spleen and stomach. It is a medicinal and edible product that mildly tonifies the spleen and stomach. It can be eaten whether there is a deficiency of spleen Yang or stomach Yin. Clinically, it is often used with Weiwan Decoction to treat weak spleen and stomach, poor appetite, fatigue, diarrhea, and other conditions.Benefiting the Lungs and Stopping Cough
Chinese Yam contains saponins and mucilage, which have lubricating and moistening effects. Therefore, it can benefit lung Qi, nourish lung Yin, and treat conditions such as chronic cough with sputum due to lung deficiency.Lowering Blood Sugar
Chinese Yam contains mucin, which has the effect of lowering blood sugar. It can be used to treat diabetes and is an excellent food therapy for diabetics.Prolonging Life
Chinese Yam contains a large amount of mucin, vitamins, and trace elements, which can effectively prevent the deposition of blood lipids on the blood vessel walls, prevent cardiovascular diseases, and achieve the effects of benefiting the will, calming the spirit, and prolonging life.