Dioscorea Villosa – The Homeopathic Remedy for Colicky Pains & Gall-Stone Colic

• Common Name: Wild Yam
• Family: Dioscoreaceae
• Kingdom: Plant
• Source: Prepared from the fresh root
• Miasm: Sycotic
• Thermal: Chilly patient

Sphere of Action

Acts primarily on the gastrointestinal tract, nerves, and muscular system, especially the abdominal and pelvic organs. It is a chief remedy for colic, especially biliary or intestinal.

Key Clinical Indications

Colic / Abdominal Pains:

• Violent, twisting, griping colicky pains
• Pains radiate to back, arms, chest
• Relief from bending backward or standing erect
• Flatulent colic, wind colic, and neuralgic abdominal pain

Biliary Colic / Gallstones:

• Severe pain from gallbladder region radiating to other areas
• Sharp, shooting pains up and down abdomen
• Useful in chronic hepatic or duodenal colic

Neuralgias:

• Neuralgia of bowels, stomach, chest
• Pains shoot in various directions, with great restlessness

Male Genital Complaints:

• Drawing pain in spermatic cords, especially right side
• Pain extends to testicles and thighs
• Sexual weakness, emissions, with pain

Characteristic Symptoms

• Twisting, writhing abdominal pain relieved by bending backward, not forward (opp. of Colocynthis)
• Patient prefers to stand erect or walk
• Pain radiates in all directions
• Passing flatus does not relieve the pain
• Pain changes place constantly

Mental Symptoms

• Irritable, restless due to pain
• Cannot sit still, moves constantly for relief

Modalities

Worse From	Better From
Lying down, bending forward, evening	Standing erect, stretching, open air

Potency & Dosage

• Common potencies: 3X, 6C, 30C
• Frequent repetition in acute colic cases
• Can be used in tincture for lower potency applications

Relationships

Complementary	Compare With	Antidotes
Colocynthis	Colocynthis (but < by bending forward), Mag phos	Chamomilla, Nux vomica

Mnemonic for Dioscorea Villosa

“D-I-O-S”

• Distressing colic with radiation
• Irritable, restless, better bending backward
• Opposite of Colocynthis (which is better forward)
• Spermatic cord pain, shifting abdominal neuralgia

One-Line Summary

Dioscorea is best for colic and abdominal pain that radiates in all directions and is relieved by bending backward or standing upright.