Dioscorea Villosa – Wild Yam

The mother tincture is prepared from the fresh underground parts of Dioscorea villosa L., gathered after flowering. N.O. Dioscoreaceae.

The main indications are:

Gastro intestinal colics. Eructations of large quantities of tasteless air. Pain in the left hypochondrium and in the centre of the abdomen, beginning in a small spot and radiating out, starting during eating and persisting. Thin stools. Pancreatitis.

The author had the opportunity of proving homoeopathic Dioscorea Villosa, and in so doing he was particularly troubled by the violent stomach-pains, which always began during meals and persisted, so that he could only ever eat half as much as he wanted.

The pains were localised in the left hypochondrium and radiated towards the cen- tre and as far as the heart. They were only relieved by standing upright. The pain could also extend along the sternum and into the arm, however. There were also general complaints in the intestines, worse when lying down, with rumblings and discharge of much flatus, and colics with a tendency to bend double, relieved by walking about.

Dioscorea Villosa is also suggested by renal colics with pains which extend into the extremities.

Besides liver and biliary conditions, in which it is said to ease the passage of stones, Dioscorea is also indicated in stomach cramps. It should be tried in renal colic, and in diarrhoea which drives the patient out of bed first thing in the morning. The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Dioscorea villosa, published the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal

Gazette) for dioscorea villosa: colic of the gastro intestinal tract.