Yucca Extract Health Benefits

Yucca is a shrub that is part of the lily family and native to North America and Mexico. It has stiff, evergreen leaves and white-green flowers. Extracts of the yucca plant have a long history of use in folk medicine for a variety of health promoting purposes. As with any herbal remedy, however, talk to your healthcare practitioner before supplementing with yucca.

Nutritional Benefits

Yucca contains the minerals calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium and zinc; as well as vitamins B1, B2, B3 and C. Yucca also contains the phytochemicals saponins, beta-carotene, resveratrol, sarsapogenin and tannins. Phytochemicals are antioxidant compounds found in plants that prevent free radical induced damage in the body and thereby help to prevent and treat disease in humans. The exact mechanism of action of yucca is unknown, however the primary active ingredient is thought to be the saponins, which is a phytochemical and plant steroid with antibacterial, antifungal, anti-parasitic and anti-inflammatory properties.

Lowers Cholesterol

Oregon State University states that the saponins in yucca demonstrate cholesterol lowering activity in humans. Preliminary research suggests that the saponins in yucca extract bind to cholesterol and prevent it from being absorbed in the intestines. The saponins have also been found to help facilitate the excretion of excess cholesterol from the body. As such, the "Journal of Inflammation" states that yucca extract helps to lower both total and low density lipoprotein or "LDL" cholesterol levels in humans.

Reduces Arthritis Symptoms

Yucca has been used for many years for the treatment of arthritis symptoms such as pain and swelling, both by Native Americans and more recently by the nutraceutical industry. The March 2006 edition of "Journal of Inflammation" states that scientists are not exactly sure how yucca helps to treat arthritis symptoms, however it is hypothesized that the anti-inflammatory, anti-protozoal and antioxidant properties are at least partially responsible for yucca's beneficial effects on arthritis. Phyllis Balch adds in her book "Prescription for Nutritional Healing" that yucca is also beneficial for the treatment of osteoporosis.

Additional Purported Benefits

Due to the saponins, yucca also help to treat fungal infections and giardiases which is a parasitic disease caused by the giardia lambia parasite. Additional purported uses for yucca include the treatment of colitis, hypertension, inflammatory disorders and migraines; and the purification of the blood states Drugs.com and Balch. These uses are based on anecdotal reports however, and not solid scientific evidence.

Considerations

Yucca can be found in tablet, capsule and liquid extract form. Yucca supplements are generally considered non-toxic; however, excessive amounts of yucca may cause loose stools. In addition, yucca should not be taken for more than three months at a time due to its potential to reduce the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins in the body.