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According to Scott Cunningham in his beguiling book, Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs, a cross of yucca fibers twisted together and placed on the hearth, protects the house from evil.

First nations peoples of the American Southwest, for whom the yucca is a very functional plant, have their own magical legends: A small wreath of yucca fibers on a person's head will enable the wearer to assume any form desired. Jumping through a hoop of yucca fibers will transform the person into an animal.

Yucca

The yucca, native of the Mojave Desert, is a small shrub with a rosette of sword-shaped leaves 60 to 90 centimeters long, rising from a very short stem. When soil and temperature conditions are right, a 150 to 180 centimeter long spike develops from the rosette, bearing clusters of lily-like flowers. A particular moth, genetically programmed for stuffing a little ball of pollen into the cup-shaped stigma of each flower, is responsible for pollinating the yucca. As with fig wasps and acacia ants, the relationship is symbiotic and vital for the survival of both plant and insect as the moth lays its eggs in the flower's stigma. In fact, yuccas cultivated elsewhere, where yucca moths are absent, will not produce seeds unless they are hand pollinated. Yuccas are also known as soap tree or soap root. Early settlers learned from the natives that the saponins in the roots make an effective foaming shampoo or soap. One half to one cup of the chopped fresh or dried root is boiled in one and a half cups of water until suds form.

These same steroidal saponins are the main medicinal ingredients in the plant, acting as anti-inflammatory agents and blocking the release of toxins from the intestines that inhibit normal function of cartilage. Herbalists therefore frequently prescribe yucca as a remedy for both osteo and rheumatoid arthritis. Here's a typical formula: six parts yucca root, four parts Devil's claw, three parts black cohosh root, two parts prickly ash bark, two parts ginger root and two parts licorice root. Make a decoction and drink one cup two to three times daily. If taken alone, the dosage for yucca root is about 14 grams per day.

The saponins do not enter the bloodstream, but act on the intestinal flora to regulate the balance of the bacterial and yeast colonies in the colon. By stimulating friendly flora and inhibiting others, yucca saponins may indirectly promote the absorption of other nutrients and reduce toxins.

There is no toxicity associated with yucca, although excessive consumption can result in some intestinal cramping and diarrhea. The addition of ginger to the formula will lessen this problem. Long-term heavy intake of yucca is to be discouraged as it's believed this will result in reduced absorption of fat-soluble vitamins.

Yucca's anti-inflammatory qualities also alleviate rheumatism, gout and urethral and prostate inflammation. Recent research has found that a chemical in fresh yucca flowers combats B16 melanoma in test tube studies and in mice, but there's no evidence so far of its effectiveness with human melanoma.

Other medicinal uses for yucca include cardiac stimulation, diuretic, blood purifier and cholagogue (promotes the flow of bile into the intestine as a result of contraction of the gallbladder).

Both the flowers and the fruit of the yucca are edible and were important foods for the First Nations people of the American Southwest. Only eat the flower petals however as the centers are extremely bitter.

Here's a recipe for Hot Yucca Salad:
· 2 bunches arugula, carefully cleaned and dried
· 4 Tbps. extra virgin olive oil
· ½ cup pecans
· 20-30 yucca flowers, bitter centers removed
· 1 Tbps. red wine vinegar

Arrange arugula leaves on plates. Heat olive oil in a small skillet. Add pecans and cook quickly over a medium-high heat, stirring frequently. As pecans begin to darken, toss in yucca flowers. Keep them moving in the pan, cooking for no more than two minutes. Spoon the pecans and yucca over the arugula.

Add the vinegar to the hot pan. Keep it away from your face as it will sizzle. Deglaze any brownings that may have stuck to the pan. Spoon vinegar over salads. Serve immediately. Serves four. (Recipe from Edible Flowers: From Garden to Palate by Cathy Wilkinson Barash).

References:
1. Herbalpedia: Published by The Herb Growing & Marketing Network, Silver Spring, PA. Edited by Maureen Rogers (2006).
2. The Natural Pharmacy, Skye Lininger, DC, Alan Gaby, MD, Steve Austin, MD, Donald J. Brown, ND, Jonathan V. Wright, MD (Healthnotes Inc. 1999).
3. Bartram's Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine, Thomas Bartram (Marlowe & Company, 1995).
4. Nutritional Herbology, Mark Pedersen (Wendell W. Whitman Company, 1998).
5. Edible Flowers: From Garden to Palate, Cathy Wilkinson Barash (Fulcrum Publishing 1993).
6. Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs, Scott Cunningham (Llewellyn Publications, 1997).

"Yucca" was first published in alive magazine.

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