Treatment for soft tissue swellings. Yucca is a succulent that grows freely in the southern United States. Native American tribes used the fresh leaves of the yucca for treating numerous conditions, including psoriasis, dandruff, hair loss, skin sores and inflammation, including joint inflammation due to rheumatism and arthritis. Healers have used a tea brewed from yucca leaves to treat asthma and headaches. Recently, research suggests that the saponins in yucca are a precursor to natural cortisone, which prevents the rapid release of toxins from the intestines that restrict the growth of cartilage, making yucca useful in treating arthritis and other soft tissue inflammatory diseases.
