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35.
YUCCA SCHIDIGERA
Eng.=
Yucca or Cassava; Ind. = Yuca
Habitat
and Description
It
is a desert tree that grows to a height of 15 to 60 feet. It is generally
grown in south-western United States.
The most important ingredient is the plant saponin.
It has a high content of vitamin A, B complex and C
Parts
used : Root
Actions
: Anti-inflammatory,
carminative, analgesic, and digestive.
Therapeutic
uses
·
In
Arthritis and related disorders
Yucca
has long been used to reduce arthritic pain.
It has been found that the plant is highly useful to patients
suffering from gastrointestinal disturbances associated with Arthritis. It
is possible that yucca blocks release of toxins from the intestines which
inhibit normal formation of cartilage.
Its juice has been found to be effective for Arthritis.
It corrects digestive tract disorders and relieves symptoms of
rheumatoid Arthritis and osteoarthritis.
It is also used for sprains and joint inflammations.
·
Other
uses
It
is highly useful in case of digestive problems such as acidity,
constipation and indigestion. It
helps to form a protective coating on the intestinal walls.
It is also useful in migraine and headaches. It helps to reduce cholesterol and is there by useful in case
of hyperlipidemia. It is also
used for the treatment of scabies, sores and allergic dermatitis.
Mode
of Administration and Dosage
It
is generally taken in the form of decoction or powder.
For decoction, the powder of the root in a dose of 5 gm is boiled
in a cup of water. Two to
three cups can be taken daily in divided doses.
Precaution
It
is relatively safe. The plant
has been used in foods as a foaming agent.
However, it has been found that consuming high doses of yucca may
lead to haemolysis, i.e. break-down of red blood cells.
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