Shan Yao - Dioscorea opposita

Professional Data
 Pin Yin
Shan Yao
 
 Latin
Rhizoma Dioscoreae
 Introduction Back to Top
Rhizoma Dioscoreae is the dried rhizome of Dioscorea opposite Thunb. (Fam. Dioscoreaceae). The drug is collected in winter when the stem and leaf are withered, deprived of root stock, washed clean and deprived of outer bark and fibrous root, fumigated with sulfur, and then dried. Otherwise thick large straight and dried rhizome is sorted, soaked in clean water until the central portion of the drug gets wet and softened thoroughly, then fumigated with sulfur, cut two ends to smooth plane and rubbed on a board to become cylindrical in shape, dried in the sun and finally polished. It is known as "Guang Shanyao".
 Western medical Back to Top
The herb is indicated in the treatment of pectoris angina, aplastic anemia, urethral syndrome, diabetes, uterine bleeding and diarrhea, etc..
 Eastern medical Back to Top
  • Pattern: Invigorates the Spleen, nourishes the Lung, supplements the Kidney, arresting seminal emission, reduces urination.
  • Properties: Sweet, neutral.
  • Channels entered: Lung, Spleen, and Kidney.
 Chemical constituents Back to Top
The herb contains mucilage, choline, ureidohydantoin, arginine, amylase, and amylum, etc..
 Pharmacological actions Back to Top
Various effects

Water infusion of shan yao could promote the generation of interferon and increase the amount of T cells. It could elevate camp level in tumor cells and inhibit its proliferation.

Water extract of shan yao had anti-arthritis effect, clear urine protein and restore renal function.

 Clinical Studies Back to Top
Pectoris angina

Pectoris angia of yin and Kidney deficiency: shu di 25g; shan yu rou, gou qi, sheng shan yao, fu ling, mai dong, 15g each; xi yang shen, wu wei zi, chi shao, dan pi, chen pi, 10g each; dan shen 20g. Water decoction, 1 dose every day. 118 cases were treated and 104 effective.

Aplastic anemia

Aplastic anemia of Spleen and Kidney yang deficiency: shu di 24g, dang shen, shan yao, 15g each; shan yu rou, tu si zi, gou qi, bu gu zhi, dang gui, 12g each; lu jiao jiao (melt) 10g; rou gui 9g; fu zi, bai zhu, 6g each; gan cao 3g. 1 dose every day, water decoction. 30 out of 35 treated cases were effective.

Urethral syndrome

Bu Qi Gu Pao Tang: huang qi, shan yao, 20g each; dang shen 15g; fu ling 12g; yang pao fen (powder of goat bladder), sang piao xiao, bai zhu, du zhong, 10g each; sheng ma, yi zhi ren, 6g each; wu yao, 8g. 1 dose every day, water decoction. It had therapeutic effect on 25 cases of urethral syndrome to different degrees.

Diabetes

huang qi 30~60g, sheng shan yao, shu di, xuan shen, 20g each; cang zhu, dan pi, 15g each; dan shen 30g; huang lian 9~15g. Water decoction, 1 dose every day, 1 month as a course of treatment, blood sugar lowering medicine was also applied. 17 cases of diabetes were treated and 15 were effective.

Uterine bleeding

chao shan yao, tu shao bai shao, mo han lian, nu zhen zi, yi mu cao, 30g each; e jiao, 10g; shan yu rou 12g; dang gui, gan cao, ba ji tian, 9g each; 1 dose every day, water decoction. 50 cases of uterine bleeding were treated and 46 were effective.

Infantile diarrhea

Shan Zhu Tang: shan yao 9g; shan zhu yu, huang qin, ying su ke, 3g each; long yan rou, ge gen, che qian zi, 4g each. Water decoction. 892 cases of infantile diarrhea were treated, and all were effective except 16 cases.
 
 References Back to Top

Except those noted, all references come from Weng Weiliang, et al., Clinical Chinese materia medica, Henan Science & Technology Press, 1998