Yucca Schidigera Extract
Species Name: Yucca schidigera
Also Known As: Mojave Yucca, Yucca glauca (Eastern) Yucca brevifolia (Western), Soap-tree, Soapweed, Soapwell, Soap Root, Adam's Needle, Bear Grass, Dagger Plant, Our-Lord's-Candle, and Spanish Bayonet.
Indigenous to the Mojave and Sonoran Desert of Southeastern California, Baja California, Southern Nevada and Western Arizona, Yucca Schidigera or the Mojave Yucca is a flowering succulent plant.
This evergreen tree grows to a height of about sixteen feet.
Yucca schidigera along with other Yucca plant species were used as food by Native Americans and early California settlers.
Yucca leaves contain high levels of soapy compounds known as saponins, which was historically used to make soap and shampoo. It is also used as a foaming agent in some beverages and food, particularly in root beer.
What is yucca schidigera extract? The yucca schidigera extracts are made from both the stalk and the root. The extract is typically found in capsules, tincture and liquid form for either internal or external applications.
Home Remedies Using Yucca Schidigera Extract
Benefits of Yucca Schidigera Extract
Historical use of yucca schidigera includes Native American tribes treating conditions like psoriasis, dandruff, hair loss, skin sores and inflammation, and joint inflammation due to rheumatism and arthritis with a poultice made from the leaves of the plant. It was also used as a dental floss, and taken internally as a treatment for headaches and asthma.
Today this extract is believed to have antiviral, antifungal, antiprotozoal, and antibacterial effects. It is used in the treatment of Giardia and even in the prevention of blood clots. Topically it is still used in soaps, natural shampoos and as a treatment for dandruff and hair loss.
Current research on the yucca species of desert plant indicates that the saponins in yucca might be a precursor to cortisone. As cortisone prevents the release of toxins from the intestines restricting the growth of cartilage, yucca has been indicated to have possible use in treating arthritis and other soft tissue inflammatory diseases.
Medical laboratory testing done on yucca has shown that, "An extract of one species of yucca has been found to fight melanoma cells in test tube studies."
Side Effects of Yucca Schidigera Extract
The extract is generally accepted as safe based on yucca schidigera’s long history of use as a food. It can, however, cause loose stools or diarrhea if several times the recommended amounts are taken.
Safety in young children, pregnant or nursing women, or those with severe liver or kidney disease has not been established.
Because yucca schidigera extract may have some estrogen-like results, it should not be used by women with breast cancer. Utilizing this extract consecutively for more than three months is not recommended as it may interfere with the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins.
