Herb latin name: Dioscorea tokoro


Family: Dioscoreaceae (Yam Family)



Medicinal use of Dioscorea tokoro:

The roots are antirheumatic, antiseptic, antitussive and contraceptive. They are also used for desensitization. A decoction of the root is used in the treatment of arthritis, rheumatism and prostatitis. It is also a resolvent for blood clots. The roots of most, if not all, members of this genus, contains diosgenin. This is widely used in modern medicine in order to manufacture progesterone and other steroid drugs. These are used as contraceptives and in the treatment of various disorders of the genitary organs as well as in a host of other diseases such as asthma and arthritis.

Description of the plant:



Plant:
Perennial Climber


Flowering:
September
to October

Habitat of the herb:

Thickets in lowland and foothills all over Japan. Mixed forests, bamboo forests, usually along ravine sides from near sea level to 1,000 metres in China.

Edible parts of Dioscorea tokoro:

Tuber - cooked. It should be soaked or boiled in lye before use since it is said to be poisonous raw.

Propagation of the herb:

Seed - sow March to April in a sunny position in a warm greenhouse and only just cover. It germinates in 1 - 3 weeks at 20°C. Prick out the seedlings as soon as they are large enough to handle and grow on in a greenhouse for their first year. Plant out in late spring as the plant comes into new growth. Basal stem cuttings in the summer. Division in the dormant season, never when in growth. The plant will often produce a number of shoots, the top 5 - 10 cm of the root below each shoot can be potted up to form a new plant whilst the lower part of the root can possibly be eaten. Tubercles (baby tubers) are formed in the leaf axils. These are harvested in late summer and early autumn when about the size of a pea and coming away easily from the plant. They should be potted up immediately in individual pots in a greenhouse or cold frame. Plant out in early summer when in active growth.

Cultivation of Dioscorea tokoro:

Thickets in lowland and foothills all over Japan. Mixed forests, bamboo forests, usually along ravine sides from near sea level to 1,000 metres in China.

Known hazards of Dioscorea tokoro:

Edible species of Dioscorea have opposite leaves whilst poisonous species have alternate leaves. The root of this species is said to be poisonous raw.

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.