Chinese Yam, which is also called dioscorea opposite and shan yao, is an ornamental vine that is native to Asia, where it can be found growing w ild on hill slopes and in valleys. In china, Chinese yam is mainly produced in Henan province; other regions like Hunan, Jiangxi, Guangdong and Guangxi provinces are also produced. All of them provide cultivated herbs. With the heart-shaped leaves, Chinese Yam can grow to 9.75 ft (3 m) high and 5 ft (1.5 m) wide, and it produces small white flowers which have a cinnamon-like aroma. Small tubers form in the axials (the angles between the leaves and the stem). These pea-sized tubercles are harvested in the late summer or early fall and are used to propagate the plant.

Normally, it takes three or four years to reach maturity of Chinese Yam, although fairly large roots may be harvested from well-developed plants after the first year. Chinese yam is a spindle-shaped, thick, hard root or tuber that is white on the inside. After the rough bark is removed, the root is washed and allowed to dry in either the shade or the sun. The dried root is rehydrated in water and then cut into slices. Known as the fairy food, Chinese Yam is famous for its root. After the rough bark is removed, the root is washed and allowed to dry in either the shade or the sun. The dried root is rehydrated in water and then cut into slices.

Benefits
The root of Chinese Yam contains diosgenin, mucilage, choline, starch, sugar, protein, free amino acids, abscisin, vitamin C, amylase, and so on. Therefore, it plays an important role in the health care and TCM.

The first is the medicinal value. It has been researched that Chinese Yam has preventive and therapeutic effects on regulating the isolated intestinal movement, helping digestion, promoting cellular and humoral immune responses, lowering blood sugar, inhibits oxidation, and more. In the view of TCM, it also can replenish qi, nourish blood, invigorate spleen and supplement qi. Besides, in combination with licorice root it can nourish Yin and generate body fluid while combined with Chinese privet it can invigorate the spleen and stop diarrhea. For example, fuyan pill, combined with Chinese Yam and other natural herbs, is effective on curing many gynecological diseases, such as PID, fallopian tube problems, Endometriosis etc. As you can see now, its medicinal uses are enormous.

In addition, the edible value of Chinese Yam is also huge. it can be used by people of all ages. For women, due to blood-qi deficiency, most of them are suffering from hands and feet cold all the time, Chinese yam chicken soup is a very good option; for men who are suffering from stomach problems caused by stress, Rice Chinese yam cake is an ideal pain reliever; for the elderly who are especially susceptible to illnesses like colds because of relatively weak constitution, yam ribs soup can be a good remedy; for babies, dried Chinese yam baby food is the best choice.