YUCCA
Agavaceae
Common name: Yucca
Latin name: Yucca filamentosa
Other names: Adamยดs Needle, Spoonleaf Yucca
Family: Agavaceae
Habitat: The Yucca plant is native to the deserts of the southwestern United States and Mexico. It can also be found in parts of the eastern United States and West Indies. It grows best in moist, well-drained, deep soils.
Description: Yucca plant is a short to medium sized evergreen shrub. It has stiff, erect and spreading leaves and a tall flower spike with yellowish-white pendulous flowers.
Parts used: Root, leaves
Useful components: Saponins
Medicinal use: Native Americans used the leaves in treatments of skin lesions, inflammation and sprains. Traditional use of Yucca also included treatment of asthma and headaches. Saponins found in Yucca root are responsible for its various actions beneficial for our health. It is considered very useful in treatment of arthritis, joint pains and inflammations, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Steroidal saponins reduce pains and swellings associated with these illnesses. Yucca can also promote colon health and is very useful in prevention of colon cancer. Recent researches have shown that Yucca root can also help lowering cholesterol levels. Yucca extract is also used to treat a variety of other conditions, such as migraine headaches, colitis, ulcers, wounds, liver, kidney, and gallbladder disorders.
Safety: Some herbs could react with certain medication. Therefore it is advisable to contact your doctor/herbalist before consumption of any herb.