YUCCA

Latin Name: Yucca glauca

Alternate Names: Spanish Bayonet, Guardian Of The Desert, Needle Palm, Soapweed

Family: AGAVACEAE

Parts Used: Root.

Properties: Alterative, Anti-inflammatory, Antirheumatic, Laxative.

Internal Uses: Arthritis, Gout, Prostatitis, Rheumatism, Urethritis

Internal Applications: Tea, Tincture, Capsules.

The fresh (undried) flowers of Yucca are being investigated for their anti-tumor activity. It appears that Yucca helps the body break down organic waste material.

Topical Uses: Balding, Dandruff, Sprains

Topical Applications: Poultice of root for sprains. When the root is chopped and mixed with water, it lathers, making an excellent biodegradable soap or shampoo. It is good for dandruff and hair loss. Leaves have been used as fiber for rope, mats and basket material.

Culinary uses: Flower stalks are cooked as a vegetable, before the flowers open. The flowers can be eaten in salads, made into tempura or added to stir fry dishes. The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked.

Energetics: Sweet, Cool.

Chemical Constituents: Saponins.

Contraindications: Use only dried root. Long term use may impair the assimilation of fat soluble vitamins, such as A, D, E and K. There is a procumbens moth that lives in the flowers and also pollinates it, so before eating the Yucca flowers, spread them out for a few hours so that the moth can fly away.

Comments: The name Yucca comes from the Caribbean name for cassava, which was once considered part of this genus.

The common name Yucca includes the species Yucca filamentosa, Yucca baccata and other Yucca species, which are used interchangeably with Yucca glauca.

-- Phil in KS (cshomestead@planetkc.com), April 10, 2002