Dioscorea villosa Anhang = Yamswurzel

 

Distribution: Eastern USA, most common in the central and southern regions, wet woodlands

It prefers moist open woods, thickets and roadsides (Gleason & Cronquist 1991).

Part Used Dried rhizome and roots

Traditional uses in Appalachia a popular herbal remedy for pains associated with rheumatism and arthritis, colic and intestinal cram

ps, proving itself a reliable antispasmodic and antiinflammatory (Howell, 2006). Of all remedies, it is the most effective in the treatment of bilious colic,

as well as being a useful treatment for rheumatism (Crellin & Philpott, 1990).

Other traditional uses: most commonly used by Native Americans to help relieve labor pains at the time of delivery (Moerman, 1998). Otherwise it was not widely used,

possible as the rhizome is quite hard and unpalatable as food (Cech, 2000), unlike some other species of yam.

Folklore & Home Warren (1859) encouraged the home use of D. villosa for nausea and spasms during pregnancy, as well as the treatment of bilious colic. Gunn (1859)

Recipee: a decoction of one ounce of powder in one quart of boiling water to be taken every half hour in doses of “one half to a tea cup full” until intestinal cramping is relieved. He also suggests using the tincture in doses of one half to a full teaspoon, however it is implied that this is an uncommon form of use.

Salter (1877): liquid extract in doses of one teaspoon every five minutes until relaxation [of intestines] is perfect.

Meader (1861): Use as an expectorant.

Physiomedicalist W. Cook (1869): a warm infusion of the root of D. villosa as a relaxant to ease nervous excitement and muscular tension, relieving gas and pains of the bowels

Used of the root as a remedy for female reproductive troubles such as “painful menstruation, neuralgia of the womb, vomiting during gestation and the painful knottings of the uterus incident to the latter stages of pregnancy...as well as labor pains and after pains” (Cook, 1869)

Eclectic physician John Fyfe (1909): an excellent remedy for all manner of gut conditions, from the intestines to the liver to the gallbladder, claiming that it relieved “hepatic congestion”. He stated D. villosa was “directly curative” of colicky conditions, as well as useful in the treatment of gallstones and in nausea accompanying pregnancy.

Ellingwood (1919): a broad range of uses including treatment of both bilious colic and female reproductive disorders. He described it as an anodyne, claiming D. villosa

relieved spasms and pains almost immediately, and suggested that if no relief was felt within two hours that use should be discontinued. Regarding its use as a female reproductive

tonic he explained, “In neuralgic dysmenorrhea, in ovarian neuralgia, in cramp like pains in the uterus at any time and in sever after pains it often acts satisfactory, quickly relieving the muscular spasm”.

Moore (1930): reiterated Ellingwood’s claims that D. villosa acted as a reproductive remedy saying that it was an excellent treatment for afterpains and spasmodic dysmenorrhea.

Dr. Paine (1874):  related accounts of fellow practitioners and their successes and/or failures in using specific drugs.

According to Paine,

Henry Summers, a

 

 

Phytologie: very severe abdominal pains, or the so-called "bilious colic."

 

[E. M. Hale M.D.]

The provings and experiments revealed that the Dioscorea was capable of causing not only abdominal pain, but painful affections of other organs and tissues of the body.

 

The primary action of the Dioscorea seems to result in an exaltations of the sensibility of the peripheral portions of the nervous system. The nerves of motion, as well as those of sensation, appear to be affected by the same intense hyperaesthesia. Moreover, it appears to be capable of causing a condition favourable to the existence of reflex pain and spasm.

My impression is. that it selects, in most persons, the abdominal nervous system as the point of attack. From this system its pathogenetic effects may extend to

other nervous plexuses, contiguous or remote.

Dr. Paine: is successful in the "facial neuralgia, hyperaesthesia of the spine, brain, uterus, and other portions of the nervous system," as well as for abdominal neuralgia.

The purpose of this brief paper is, however, to call attention to the pathogenetic and curative action of Dioscorea in the disorders of the male genital organs.

None of the provers of Dioscorea have heretofore observed any notable action of this medicine on those organs.

The recent provings of Dr. Gushing show, that in certain persons the genital organs may become seriously affected by it. This excellent and careful prover was

thoughtful enough to distinguish between the primary and secondary effects of

the medicine, thus giving us a better clue to its mode of action, and of the

proper dose.

Primary symptoms:

1. Strong smelling perspiration on the genital organs.

2. Constant excitement of the genital organs, with frequent erections day and night.

3. Erections at night, with amorous dreams.

4. Pain in both inguinal regions, extending to the testicles.

5. Pains in the penis.

Secondary symptoms::

1. Genitals cold and relaxed.

2. Genitals cold and almost insensible.

3. Sexual desire greatly diminished.

4. No erections for many days.

5. Emissions of semen during sleep (without erections of dreams).

We have, in the above, two graphic picture of the opposite states, which may be called hyperaesthesia and anaesthesia, both attended with abnormal irritability.

In the ordinary nomenclature, these two states are termed eroticism and impotence, and are both attended by its peculiar type of spermatorrhoea.

If the reader will refer to Lallemand, he will find that author lays great stress on the necessity of distinguishing between

1.     spermatorrhoea from an exaltation of function

2.     spermatorrhoea from depression of function.

He-regards the two conditions as necessarily opposite, or requiring very different remedies. In homoeopathic practice, however, it is well known that one and the same remedy may be, and often is, applicable to the two kinds of spermatorrhoea. The reason of this can only be explained by accepting the dual action of medicinal agents.

After his pathogenetic experiments. Dr. Gushing proceeded to test the curative value of Dioscorea in spermatorrhoea.

 

[Sigrid Häse]

Die Yamswurzel ist primär giftig, nur gut gewässert und gekocht ist sie genießbar, dann sehr energiehaltig, ähnlich Kartoffeln. Viele Symptome des Mittelbildes sich auf den Magen-Darm -

trakt beziehen. Kolikartige Leib-/Magen-/Bauchschmerz (Nabel), Durchfall, Aufstoßen erfolglos – irgendetwas wälzt sich in den Därmen und kann nicht verdaut werden.

>: alle Symptome durch Strecken (gerade machen) und rückwärts Beugen (ausweichen).

Bevor die Yamswurzel gewässert wird, wird sie weichgeklopft (aufgeweicht und gerade gemacht) – erst dann ist sie für die Verdauung zu gebrauchen.

Der Mensch, der das Mittel braucht, ist zu unflexibel, um Lösungen zu suchen, muss vom Schicksal weichgeklopft werden, um endlich zu trotzen und sich aufzurichten.

Hunger ist so ein Weichklopfer. In Hungerperioden zeigt sich, wer wirklich stark ist, und Hunger ist ein ganz großes Thema in einem Kontinent, der wenig Wasserreserven hat.

Nur die ganz Starken können dort überleben.

Dioscorea ist das einzige homöopathische Mittel, das eine Paukenhöhlenentzündung des Ohrs heilt.

Auch in diesem Symptom stehen das „Weich - klopfen“, und die Wut darüber, nicht dazu-zu-ge-hören.

 

 

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