Dioscorea villosa

The homeopathic remedy dioscorea is prepared from the tuberous roots of the wild yam (botanical name Dioscorea villosa) and has numerous therapeutic uses. Wild yam is a perennial vine, has a tuberous root and bearing greenish-yellow leaves whose shape resembling the heart. This plant species is native to America and Canada where it is found growing up nearly everything in its vicinity. When growing in the wild, this vine is found to almost suppress the smaller shrubs with its rapid growth around them and is also high in the undergrowth of taller trees. In fact, currently, wild yam is found growing in several regions of the world including Asia, the United States and Mexico. For several centuries people have been using the wild yam for therapeutic purposes. Wild yam or Dioscorea villosa is also known by several other common names, such as rheumatism root, colic root and devil's bones - some of these names give a hint regarding the therapeutic utilities of this plant. Since the ancient times, wild yam has been a very popular and well accepted remedy and the Native Americans used it extensively to treat a number of health conditions. Wild yam also formed an important part of many herbal medicines that are still used to treat a number of health problems. Wild yam is a very beneficial herbal remedy for women and has been used to treat a number of health problems endured by them. In fact, this herb has a long history of being used in the treatment of an assortment of female health conditions - including hot flashes, menstrual cramps, vaginal dryness and PMS (premenstrual syndrome). In addition, wild yam has proved to be effective in curing morning sickness among pregnant women as also to alleviate pains endured during childbirth. Wild yam encloses a vital antioxidant known as beta carotene. In fact, Dioscorea villosa also possesses anti-inflammatory properties. Besides, the tuberous roots of wild yam also enclose a chemical substance that is akin to the female hormone progesterone. This chemical substance is known as diosgenin and has been used to manufacture the first ever oral contraceptive to prevent unwanted pregnancy. It is believed that topical application of creams and lotions prepared from the tuberous root of wild yam on a woman's skin activates the body's natural progesterone production. In the present times, Dioscorea villosa is still extensively used to synthetically produce the hormone progesterone as well as other steroidal medicaments. n addition, extracts from the wild yam roots are also used as an alternate for estrogen cream that facilitates neutralizing vaginal dryness in women. However, generally it is no longer advisable to apply this cream during pregnancy for it may harm the fetus. Dioscorea Villosa also has several other therapeutic uses. For instance, this plant, precisely its root extract, is used to treat headaches, insomnia, migraines, rheumatoid arthritis as well as respiratory problems, especially asthma. In addition, wild yam has also been used to treat a wide variety of digestive disorders including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) - a persistent condition of habitual abdominal pain with constipation and / or diarrhea as well as colic (convulsive abdominal or bowel pain) in babies. Usually treatments with wild yam are done by boiling the dehydrated tuberous roots of the plant harvested in autumn. The medicines administered to treat the above mentioned conditions are in the form of infusions prepared from the dehydrated roots or by including the root extract in ointments, creams and capsules. As is the case with using any other homeopathic remedies, extra caution needs to be exercised while using Dioscorea Villosa. In fact, any contact with the freshly obtained wild yam plant may result in severe headaches, diarrhea and vomiting. People enduring certain health problems should never use wild yam remedies. For instance, it is not advisable to recommend medications prepared from the tuberous rood of wild yam for people suffering from liver ailments as well as certain types of cancers, including prostate, uterine and breast cancers. Since the wild yam remedies are likely to enclose alcohol and sugar, people having diabetes and also alcoholics ought to be extra careful while using these medications. Dioscorea Villosa is a minor homeopathic remedy that is used more or less solely for treating colic and abdominal pain. In addition, it is very effective in alleviating the emotional symptoms that are related to colic in infants, such as anxiety, restiveness and irritability or tetchiness. Usually such symptoms worsen when the babies eat anything, when they are lying down and during the night. On the other hand, infants suffering from colic feel better and the symptoms improve when they are stretching out, moving about and while burping or belching.

Uses

Wild yam and the homeopathic remedy dioscorea prepared from the roots of the plant are thought to be useful for the endocrine system. This homeopathic remedy is helpful in regulating the female system, especially when they endure menstrual and menopausal problems. In addition, dioscorea is very effective in treating infertility among women. When Dioscorea Villosa is used in combination with dandelion and chaste berry, wild yam is very effectual in curing morning sickness, especially in pregnant women. The homeopathic remedy dioscorea has a notable action in curing several types of pains, particularly colic, harsh affections of the abdominal and pelvic organs. In addition, this medication is also useful in treating flatulence. Such pains are similar to those of neuralgic and dioscorea is an effective medication for alleviating the problems. In fact, colic pains worsens when the patient bends forward or they are lying down and the symptoms improve when the patients are standing straight or bending backwards. Often people enduring violent spraining colic which takes place in convulsions something like the intestines were seized and entwined by someone with powerful hands. In addition, the patients also experience a riveting pain in the region of the umbilicus or the navel. The homeopathic remedy dioscorea is also beneficial for people having poor digestion, people who endure flatulence following any meal and those who drink plenty of tea. In such cases of colic pains, the tenderness spreads out from the abdomen to the back, arms and chest. The pains also abruptly move to different parts of the body and even affect the terminal areas, such as the fingers and toes. In homeopathy, dioscorea is also prescribed for treating gallbladder stone as well as renal colic. In addition, this homeopathic remedy also facilitates providing relief from rheumatism, lumbago (tenderness in the lower or lumbar region of the back or loins) and sciatica. In such cases, the ache travels rapidly down the thighs. In fact, the pain is more on the right side and the condition improves when the patient is in a completely still position. Turning to the homeopathic remedy dioscorea not only helps to cure the basic problem, but also provides relief from the associated symptoms. As aforementioned, people enduring colic pains often experience grasping pain in the abdominal region around the navel or umbilicus. They also experience brutal drawing colic accompanied by convulsions at regular intervals, something like the intestines being gripped and entwined by a strong person with powerful hands. The homeopathic remedy dioscorea is essential as well as beneficial for women who have endometriosis (presence of endometrium in areas in addition to the lining of the uterus) and also suffer from uterine pain. Women who will derive maximum benefits from this homeopathic remedy are those who experience great pain while bending their back. Such type of pains have a tendency to become more intense when they are lying down in certain positions, which actually differ from one individual to another. In addition, using wild yam as a medicine helps to reduce the presence of triglycerides in the system by lowering the cholesterol absorption.