The Indomie generation will not know this type of yam 😁😁
YAM THAT TREATS GOITRE, SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS, PAINS, TUMORS, SKIN CANCERS, REDUCES SUGAR LEVEL AND DOES MUCH MORE…
One sunny afternoon, approximately 35 years ago, “Amalu-iwu-aku” my paternal grandmother of blessed memory fondly called “Ee-Eee” drew my attention to a plant. Actually, it was a specie of yam known as AERIAL YAM or AIR POTATO in English, ‘ADU’ in Igbo, ‘ISU-EMINA’ and ‘DOOYAR BISA’ in Yoruba and Hausa languages respectively. The scientific name is Dioscorea bulbifera.
She told me that it was one of the best medicines for WHITLOW. I remember in humility asking her how she came about her knowledge. She smiled and said, “My son, ‘ Ndị-mmụọ ‘ (spirits) taught me this and I have not failed a case of whitlow applying this remedy”.
I looked at her in bewilderment but somehow, I was convinced of her assertion because I had witnessed 3 or 4 women suffering from whitlow cured and freed from pain after grandmother applied fresh poultices from a substance which I didn’t know then was ‘ADU’ around their infected finger nails.
There and then, grandma was revealing her long-held secret to me almost in a hush voice.
I was satisfied with the transmitted recipe, however, the idea of ‘spirits’ tutoring her or being responsible for her plant medicinal knowledge left me a bit unsettled. There were many such encounters with her those days; any healing recipe she taught me, she quickly asserted that flesh and blood didn’t teach her but “ndị-mmụọ ” (spirits) did.
Now I know better; “the Lord gives it to his own people in their dreams”. The apparent mystery is now solved. I was simply interacting with a gifted woman that was open to nature; was open to guidance from nature beings and benevolent spirits or angels if this is more comfortable for you.
With my current knowledge of herbal medicine, I am thrilled each time I run through the medicinal actions of “Adu” (Dioscorea bulbifera) and discover among other health benefits, that it is actually also indicated for whitlow as grandma told me decades ago.
The anti-inflammatory (against inflammation), antitumor (dissolves tumour), antimicrobial (fights germs) and analgesic (pain relieving) properties of ‘Adu’ have been scientifically studied and established.
You see what I mean? The “illiterate” may not know the science of pharmacognosy or pharmacology but they certainly do know and have facts about healing plants. That calls for a blend of scientific and indigenous knowledge.
In his book on plants, Prof. Tolu Odugbemi noted that ‘Adu’ has mystic properties and is also utilized as/or for diarrhea, dysentery, constipation, anthelmintics, antidote for snake and scorpion venom, coughs, mental problems, diabetes, weak erection, breast enlargement, fever, rheumatism and antimicrobial.
Let’s explore a few other medicinal benefits of ‘Adu’ in details.
1.TREATMENT OF GOITRE
Tubers of “Adu” (D. bulbifera) are steeped in white wine for a week which is traditionally recommended as infused wine and taken daily to get benefits in TREATMENT OF GOITRE. Formulations have profound applications as clinical medicine to treat THYROID GLAND (Sougata Ghosh etal, 2015).
2.EXCELLENT FOR DERMAL (SKIN ) CONDITIONS
“In particular they are used externally, usually as a poultice, to treat wounds, sores, boils and inflammations; in dressings for treating dermal(skin) parasitic and fungal infections; or crushed, mixed with palm oil, and massaged onto areas of rheumatism, and for troubles of the breasts and for jiggers.” (Plants for a future)
3.BACTERIAL AND FUNGAL INFECTIONS
D. bulbifera (“Adu”) is known to be used for treatment of sexually transmitted diseases like GONORRHEA and SYPHILIS in addition to sore throat in Chinese medicine. In Congo it is used against parasitic and fungal infections. Its aqueous (water) extract showed superior activity against ESCHERICHIA COLI while ethanol (alcohol) extract was found to be potent against STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS and CANDIDA ALBICANS (Sougata Ghosh etal, 2015).
4.PROTECTS THE STOMACH (Gastroprotective properties)
Dioscorea bulbifera (“Adu”) extracts have been proven to show gastroprotective function. (Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology, 2015)
5.INFLAMMATION AND PAIN
D. bulbifera is used to treat inflammations associated dispersal of “LUMPS ”, HERNIA , SPRAIN , INJURY and TESTICULAR INFLAMMATIONS . RHEUMATIC PAIN and BREAST PROBLEMS are relived in Congo and Gabon respectively by an ointment prepared by incorporation of bulbils into palm oil. It is also used as ANALGESIC and antispasmodic. (Sougata Ghosh etal, 2015).
What are the lessons for us?
1.Africans need to go back to the basics even in matters of dietetics.
2. Our genetic makeup (built over thousands of years) is molded from foods which most modern day Africans detest or are no longer in touch with largely due to ignorance and partly for no reason or for no just cause.
3. With this monumental NUTRITION DISCONNECT, modern diseases take their toll on our bodies.
4.There is need for an urgent rethink on matters of foods and feeding habits for that matter if we must expect good health for our race in the future.
PLEASE contact your grandmothers if you are interested in COOKING and EATING this specie of YAM. 😁. THIS IS NO JOKE FOR THERE IS A PROCEDURE TO PREPARING IT ENTAILING VERY THOROUGH COOKING TO REMOVE COMPOUNDS THAT MAY CAUSE DISTRESSING SYMPTOMS.
