Yucca as an herb

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Herb & Supplement Encyclopedia:

Yucca

Scientific Names

Forms

Traditional Usage

Overview

Active Ingredients

Suggested Amount

Drug Interactions

Contraindications

Side Effects

References

Scientific Names:

Yucca baccata TORR., Y. schidigera Roezl ex Ortgies, Y. brevifolia, Y. glauca, Y. mohavensis Engelm., Y. arborescens Trel. [Fam. Agavaceae]

Forms:

Yucca juice (externally); saponin extracts of the dried whole plant or root

Traditional Usage:

- Antinflammatory- Baldness (externally)- Bone and Joint Conditions- Cellular Regeneration- Cleansing - Dandruff (externally)- Detoxifying - Gastrointestinal Disorders- Hair Wash- Headache- High Cholesterol- High Triglycerides- Hygiene- Hyperglycemia- Shampoo- Skin Conditions (externally)- Soap- Sprains (externally)- Stomach Disorders- Styptic- Painful Joints - Vascular Disorders- Wounds

Overview:

The water extracts of various species of yucca, Yucca baccata TORR., Y. schidigera Roezl ex Ortgies, Y. brevifolia, Y. glauca, Y. mohavensis Engelm., Y. arborescens Trel. [Fam. Agavaceae], were used by Native American Indians in salves or poultices for healing sores, wounds, skin diseases, sprains and broken limbs. Yucca plant juice was also used topically to soothe painful joints. Hair shampoos were also prepared for treating dandruff and baldness. Yucca saponin extracts have also been used internally for treating painful bone and joint conditions, hyperglycemia and stomach disorders. Saponins, precursors of cortisone that bind toxins in the intestines and prevent their release, are also produced naturally in the body by the adrenal glands. A human double-blind clinical trial with a saponin-containing yucca extract has been reported to reduce symptoms of swelling, pain and stiffness in approximately half of 150 patients suffering from acute bone and joint pain. Positive results were seen within days for some participants, whereas others responded only after several weeks to months. Another human double blind clinical trial documented the effects of yucca saponin extracts for lowering vascular pressure, reducing high cholesterol and normalizing triglycerides in 212 patients suffering from acute bone and joint disorders coupled with vascular disease. Yucca is said to work best in conjunction with optimized diet and exercise routines. Yucca extracts are also said to relieve headaches and improve vascular and gastrointestinal function. Animal studies have shown that a saponin-containing leaf extract has powerful anti-inflammatory activity against carrageenan-induced inflammation. Potent activity against abnormal growths has also been documented for a polysaccharide-containing extract of Y. glauca, as well as for the saponin called tigogenin found in several yucca species. Yucca root extracts are also used in tonics designed to help the body cleanse and detoxify, particularly for removing putrefactive substances from the gastrointestinal tract.

Active Ingredients:

Yucca contains: Terpenoids including various saponins isolated from different yucca species, including tigogenin and chlerogenin, yuccagenin and kammogenin, sarsasapogenin, markogenin, higogenin, neo-tigogenin, neo-gitogenin, hecogenin, gloriogenin, diosgenin (trace) and smilagenin. Eight steroidal saponins were recently isolated from Yucca schidigera Roezl., including three novel furostanol glycosides and five known spirostanol glycosides. Furostanol glycosides made up only 6.8% of total saponins isolated