Yams and sweet potatoes

[shb]

Yams and sweet potatoes arent nightshades? Why are white potatoes different then yams and sweet potatoes?

[Roy Collins]

Although the common name of "potato" is used for all three of these plants, each one is a different species and from different plant families.

The common, white or Irish potato is in the nightshade family, whose scientific name is Solanum tuberosum.

The yellowish colored sweet potato is in the morning glory family, whose scientific name is Ipomea batatas.

The reddish colored yam is a species of Dioscorea which is in the same family as Wild Yam, all of which conatin varying amounts of diosgenin, a precursor of progesterone used to make contrceptive pills and steroids.

Most people who work in produce departments in food markets do not know the difference between sweet potatoes and yams. The taste is also very similar.

In peace, Roy

[Bruce Paine]

Roy and shb,

Here is something that I posted somewhere else late last April:

Now about those yams...these are not the so-called yams that one
finds in the vegetable section of most markets and health food stores.

Most of those yams are a misnomer because they are actually a variety
of sweet potatoes, and if you are getting the yam product in a cream or
capsule form then it is like getting refined grains, you are getting an
unbalanced product that often is missing certain key ingredients.

The true yam is called yama imo, jinenjo, or mountain potato (Dioscorea
opposita, D. villona) ( http://www.nhk-chubu-brai
ns.co.jp/DDT-E/gifu/shirotori/
jinenjyo.html http://www.shizuoka.isp.ntt-west.co
.jp/wnn-c/ikidane/iki_0010E/
shibayama01.html ).

According to Rebecca Wood in her "THE NEW WHOLE FOODS ENCYCLOPEDIA: A Comprehensive Resource for Healthy Eating" says, "...Sweet tasting and warming, jinenjo contains hormonal precusors that affect the menstral cycle and help reduce pain.

In fact jinenjo extract was the original source for diosgenin in birth control pills; currently it is synthesized.

Jinenjo contains allantonin, which is medicinal for stomach ulcers
and asthma. It yields the antiflammatories steroids and cortison, which treats rheumatism. It strengthens the lungs, spleeen-pancreas, and kidneys,
increases stamina, rejuvenates; supports the liver and gallbladder,
and is used for treatment of various digestive disorders. Jinenjo contains
even more starch digesting enzymes than daikon does..."

Int the movie, "The Replacements" ( http://us.imdb.com/Title?0191397 ) the hero (Keanu Reeves) gets a massage on an injury with a cream countaining wild yam and he heals rather quickly.

Roy Steevensz used to talk about the yang gentle strength of yama imo that with a skin so tender you can cut it with your fingernail, jinenjo can break through granite that is in it's way as it grows downwards.

This same vegetable can help persons healing various digestive disorders.

Thank you, very much.

Bruce Paine

[shb]

Thanks Roy and Bruce!

[Roy Collins]

Bruce. According to my sources, YAM is the common name applied to perennial herbs in the monocot genus Dioscorea. The genus, which contains approximately 200 species, is native to tropical regions throughout the world. It is cultivated for its edible tubers, which grow up to 8 ft long and 100 lbs in size.

Jinenjo is one type of YAM but is not the “true yam” as you stated. It is also NOT the original source of diosgenin as you stated. The original source is the Wild Yam, (Dioscorea villosa). Wild yam is also a good antispasmodic for digestive and reproductive system, especially helpful for irritable bowel syndrome or for menstrual pain.

According to English herbalist Penelope Ody (who also is a student of TCM): “The wild yam was the original starting point for making the first oral contraceptives – thanks to the hormonal compound, diosgenin, it contains.”

In peace, Roy

[Teri]

Is there a source I can mail order these potatoes from? I would love to try them!

[Bruce Paine]

Teri,

Here's some more information on these mountain yams:

http://www.pref.aomori.jp/nourin/yasai/no-e03.html

Here's one place to order Jinenjo:

Oregon Exotics Nursery
http://www.exoticfruit.com/index.html

but if you have an oriental or Japanese market in your town or city, if they don't have it, they can get it.

You can also go to the central produce terminal of any large city and veither buy exotic vegetables there or have them order it for you.

Which city do you live in or near?

Thank you, very much.

Bruce Paine

Originally Posted by Teri

Is there a source I can mail order these potatoes from? I would love to try them!

So the true way to tell if a yam is a yam is by it's reddish color?

How much different can a store-bought yam and wild yam be in diosgenin content?