Mount Erlang Chinese Yam

Mount Erlang Chinese Yam

　　The Chinese yam, originally named "shanyao" (pronounced "yu"), has undergone many name changes throughout history and boasts numerous local and alternative names. Additionally, it is also known as mountain yam, mountain grass, wild yam, and sweet potato.

　　The Ming Dynasty’s Li Shizhen held the Chinese yam in high esteem. According to *Compendium of Materia Medica*, “The white color of the yam benefits the lungs, its sweet taste benefits the spleen, and its rich juice nourishes the kidneys. It can moisten the blood vessels, consolidate qi transformation, calm coughs, soothe wheezing, strengthen the will, and nurture the spirit.” According to *Tang Materia Medica*, “The yam (Chinese yam) from Mount Erlang on the Shu Road is of superior quality.”

　　Mount Erlang Chinese yam is a premium variety among yam plants in the Dioscorea genus, cultivated from wild yams through artificial breeding. The plant can grow over 3 meters tall, with multiple branches and green leaves. The tuber is cylindrical, with a light brown skin covered in dense rootlets. The flesh is white, firm, starchy, and highly adhesive, holding together even after prolonged cooking. The tubers can reach up to 100 cm in length and 5–15 cm in diameter. A single plant can produce tubers weighing 1.5 kg, with heavier ones reaching 3–5 kg. Mount Erlang Chinese yam has a short growth cycle (8 months) and high yield (averaging 4,000–5,000 kg per mu).

　　Yam holds a very important place in traditional Chinese medicine. For example, "yam noodles" in *Proper Diet for Health* are made primarily from wheat flour and yam powder. Regular consumption can replenish weakness, enhance vitality. The dehydroepiandrosterone found in Mount Erlang Chinese yam can improve human life quality, boost vitality in middle-aged and elderly people, delay signs of aging, and help prevent or slow down malignant tumors, diabetes, arteriosclerosis, heart disease, obesity, and Alzheimer's disease.

　　Yam is highly nutritious and is considered one of the best health foods of the 21st century, earning the reputation of “living ginseng.” It holds significant market potential and development value in daily health care and anti-aging. In recent years, as part of agricultural restructuring, Tianquan County has vigorously developed yam production. It has now established a thousand-acre yam ecological park with an annual output of nearly 5 million kg, and has become a well-known yam-producing region in the province, integrating production, processing, and sales.