Herb module

Shan Yao

Chinese Yam RhizomeDioscorea opposita

A gentle, food-like root that steadily supports the Spleen, Lungs, and Kidneys and helps the body hold on to Jing.

★ Chief herb in Kidney MeridianAlso inHydration · Neró

Shan Yao is the starchy root of the Chinese yam, a plant eaten as a vegetable and valued in Traditional Chinese Medicine as a mild, steady tonic. It appears in Zoi's Hydration | Neró™ and Kidney Meridian™ formulas, where it is used to tonify the Spleen, Lungs, and Kidneys together. It is also traditionally used to astringe Jing, helping the body keep hold of its deepest reserves.

Best functions

Tonifies the Spleen and nourishes Stomach Yin
Traditionally used to settle loose stools
Tonifies Lung Qi and nourishes Lung Yin
Tonifies Kidney Yin and astringes Jing
Research has looked at its allantoin content for supporting the lining of the gut

Fascinating facts

The name Shan Yao is commonly translated as 'mountain medicine.'
It is also an everyday food. The root is sliced into soups and stir-fries, and when grated raw it becomes noticeably slippery.
Noa's notes call Shan Yao "the triple tonic" because it is linked with three organ systems at once: the Spleen, the Lung, and the Kidney.
Zoi's Kidney Meridian™ sheet notes that animal research suggests Dioscorea, along with several partner herbs in the formula, may help protect the kidney.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine

Shan Yao is neutral in nature, with a sweet flavor, and enters the Kidney, Lung, and Spleen channels. In Traditional Chinese Medicine it is considered a tonic herb.

Go deeperDownload the fact sheet on the Kidney Meridian page

Biomedical deep dive

Shan Yao Chinese Yam Rhizome

From the Zoi Medicinals fact sheets’ Biomedical Details, with lines from Noa’s herb notes marked “Noa’s notes”.

On the fact sheet

Shan Yao (Chinese Yam Rhizome, Dioscorea oppositae) is neutral and enters the KI, LU, and SP meridians; tonifies Spleen, nourishes Stomach Yin, stops diarrhea, tonifies Lung Qi, nourishes Lung Yin, tonifies Kidney Yin and astringes Jing. Hydration | Neró · Kidney Meridian sheets

Key active constituents

The fact sheets don’t name constituents for this herb.

Pharmacology and mechanisms

Dioscorea, with Rehmannia, Moutan and cinnamon, is reported to reduce fasting blood glucose and insulin resistance.
Dioscorea, with Moutan, is reported to lower urinary protein and serum creatinine, two markers of kidney strain.
Dioscorea is among the Kidney Meridian herbs with anti-inflammatory properties shown in animals to slow damaging changes and protect the kidney.
Diosgenin (a plant sterol building block) is anti-inflammatory and may modulate hormones. Noa’s notes
Anti-diabetic: improves insulin sensitivity and lowers blood sugar after meals. Noa’s notes
Allantoin supports the gut microbiome and the integrity of the gut lining. Noa’s notes

What the research says

A total saponin extract of Dioscoreae hypoglaucae rhizoma eased diabetic kidney damage in an animal model (Lee et al., Am J Chin Med 2002).
The Kidney Meridian sheet also cites a 2016 study on urinary protein and creatinine for Dioscorea (Guo et al., Drug Des Devel Ther 2016).

Safety, interactions and cautions

Every Zoi fact sheet: do not use if pregnant or breastfeeding unless directed by your health care practitioner.
Avoid in excess Dampness or Damp-Heat, or Damp stagnation with a thick greasy tongue coat (Traditional Chinese Medicine terms). Noa’s notes

In these Zoi formulas

★ Kidney Meridian (#3 on the fact sheet)
Hydration | Neró (#4 on the fact sheet)

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not meant to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.