Evidence supporting the use of: Dioscorea nipponica
For the health condition: Gout

Links: Go back one page, Tool main page, Ingredients list, Health conditions list, Body systems list

Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Dioscorea nipponica, also known as Japanese yam or "chuan shan long" in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has been historically used in East Asian medicine to manage symptoms associated with gout and other inflammatory joint diseases. The use of D. nipponica in gout is primarily founded on traditional practices rather than robust scientific validation. In TCM, the plant’s rhizomes are considered effective for "dispelling wind-dampness" and "relieving pain," which are concepts used to describe symptoms akin to those seen in gout, such as joint swelling and pain. Some historical texts and pharmacopeias list D. nipponica as an ingredient in formulas intended for joint disorders.

Modern pharmacological studies have identified that D. nipponica contains steroidal saponins, like dioscin, which exhibit anti-inflammatory effects in some in vitro and animal models. A few small-scale studies in China suggest potential uric acid-lowering and anti-inflammatory properties, but these findings are preliminary, lack rigorous clinical trial design, and have not been widely replicated or validated in larger human studies. Overall, while there is historical and anecdotal support for its use in gout, scientific evidence remains limited to preclinical research and low-quality clinical data, and therefore, its use is best characterized as traditional rather than firmly evidence-based.

More about Dioscorea nipponica
More about Gout

Products containing Dioscorea nipponica

We currently have no products on Vitabase that contain this ingredient.