The Top Benefits of Chinese Yam (Dioscorea Polystachya)

Introduction: Iron棍山药 (Iron Stick Chinese Yam) is also divided into two types based on soil quality: Lutu Iron棍山药 (Clay Soil Iron Stick Chinese Yam) and Shatu Iron棍山药 (Sandy Soil Iron Stick Chinese Yam). Among them, Lutu Iron棍山药, due to its hard, dense, and sticky soil, grows in a twisted and bent shape. Although not aesthetically pleasing, it is considered the premium grade of Iron棍山药, widely accepted for its superior texture and high nutritional value. Shatu Iron棍山药, grown in sandy soil with loose texture, has a slightly inferior taste and nutritional value compared to its clay-soil counterpart. It grows in a cylindrical shape, 60-80 cm in length, with a maximum exceeding 100 cm, and a diameter of about 2.5 cm. Its skin is earthy brown, densely covered with fine hairs, and has dull, purplish-red spots. The flesh is extremely delicate, white with a yellowish hue, firm, starchy, with little mucus, and does not disintegrate even after prolonged cooking. It has a fragrant, slightly sweet, and excellent taste that is not tiresome to eat for a long time. It is both medicinal and edible.

Stir-fried Iron棍山药 with Wood Ear Mushrooms

 

Medicinal and Edible Value

Iron棍山药 is a valuable traditional Chinese medicine, highly praised by physicians throughout history and lauded as a "longevity factor." It is a fine remedy and delicacy for both medicinal and culinary purposes. As a Chinese medicine, it can be processed into various pills, such as Liuwei Dihuang Wan, for consumption. As a food vegetable, it is delicate, smooth, and has a unique flavor, as seen in dishes like Caramelized Chinese Yam and Jujube Paste Chinese Yam. Iron棍山药 contains saponins, mucilage, choline, dioscorine, starch, glycoprotein, free amino acids, polyphenol oxidase, vitamin C, iodine, 16 amino acids, and various trace elements such as iron, copper, zinc, manganese, and calcium.

Chinese Yam is sweet in taste, neutral in nature, and non-toxic. It functions to strengthen the spleen, nourish the lungs, secure the kidneys, benefit the brain, nourish essence and improve complexion, resist aging, inhibit tumors, alleviate fatigue, counteract harmful stimuli, regulate metabolism, enhance immunity, promote growth, regulate endocrine function, adjust cardiopulmonary function, stimulate the hematopoietic system, and regulate the nervous system.

Iron棍山药 Jam

 

1. Tonifying the Middle and Qi: Iron棍山药 is rich in 18 amino acids, over 10 trace elements, and other minerals, so it has the effects of strengthening the spleen and stomach, nourishing the lungs and kidneys, tonifying the middle and Qi, strengthening the spleen and tonifying deficiency, securing the kidneys and nourishing essence, and benefiting the heart and calming the mind. Li Shizhen's "Compendium of Materia Medica" states that it "strengthens the spleen and supplements, nourishes essence and secures the kidneys, cures various diseases, and treats the five labors and seven injuries."

2. Relieving Thirst and Promoting Salivation: This Chinese yam has the effect of relieving thirst and promoting salivation. In traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions for treating consumptive thirst (diabetes), Chinese yam is often used alone or in combination with other herbs for better results.

3. Health Care: Due to its rich content of various vitamins, amino acids, and minerals, fresh Chinese yam can prevent and treat abnormal human lipid metabolism and arteriosclerosis. It also helps maintain normal insulin function. It has health benefits such as enhancing human immunity, benefiting the heart and calming the mind, relieving cough and calming asthma, and delaying aging.

Iron棍山药 Braised Pork Ribs

 

4. Beautifying Complexion: Li Jing, an expert in spleen and stomach studies of the Yuan Dynasty, said: "For dry skin, use this to moisten it." Li Shizhen wrote: "Chinese yam can moisten the skin and hair." Chinese yam has a unique therapeutic effect for nourishing the skin and improving beauty.

5. Special Pharmacological Functions: The copper ions and connective tissue in Chinese yam are greatly beneficial to human development and have a significant therapeutic effect on vascular system diseases. The calcium in Iron棍山药 has a high therapeutic effect on injured sinews and bones, osteoporosis, and tooth loss. It is also very effective for patients with chilblains, diabetes, hepatitis, infantile diarrhea, enuresis, infantile indigestion, ulcerative stomatitis, tuberculosis, and women's leukorrhea. Long-term use can lead to sharp ears and bright eyes and prolong life.

Iron棍山药 Curry Beef Rice