Herbs - Yucca - Ailments / Situations Where Used

Yucca was the source of natural soap used by Navajo Indians for washing their hair and for bathing. They would also combine it with iodine to restore sight in blind animals. Yucca contains steroidal saponins similar to the mexican wild yam used to produce progesterone hormones. This natural source of progesterone is used in gynecology for bleeding of the womb and in menstrual disorders. The saponins also help resolve the clumping of blood cells and have a tendency to stimulate the flow of bile which, in turn, has a tonic effect on the liver and digestion.

Yucca is an excellent anti-inflammatory (due to the saponins) and is used for arthritis, rheumatism, and for urethral and prostatic inflammation. The plant has good blood purifying properties and is handy in skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, boils, and abscesses. Yucca has quite a reputation in its ability to shrink tumours and a water extract has been shown to have anti-cancer properties against B₁ melanoma in mice.

The plant is used mainly for hormonal imbalances, inflammations, varicose veins, skin conditions, ulcers, and to cleanse the gallbladder.