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Yellow Yam

original: 黃藥 (huangyao); Dioscorea bulbifera. Also known as the Air Potato or Yellow Yam. In the context of traditional Chinese medicine, this plant is primarily used to "clear heat" and "resolve toxicity," particularly for ailments involving the throat and thyroid, or to stop bleeding.

The woodcut illustration on this page provides a visual guide for identifying the Yellow Yam. The upper portion of the image displays a stalk with large, heart-shaped leaves emerging from a prominent, bulbous tuberous root—the part of the plant most valued for its medicinal properties. The lower portion depicts a branching woody stem, illustrating the plant’s habit as a climbing vine.