According to Chinese medical books, Hu Aishan Mountain "is mainly used to treat injuries, tonify deficiency, dispel cold and heat, tonify middle energizer, strengthen muscles and bones, and be smart after long service". The yam in pharmacy is dried with iron bar yam, which can generally be used as medicine, soup or porridge, and has a powdery taste. The iron stick yam produced in wen county, Henan Province is the best.

The yam in the supermarket is relatively fresh and is generally used for cooking, porridge or soup. It tastes crisp.

The effect of yam in pharmacy is better than that in supermarket, just like the famous Liuwei Dihuang Pill, which needs iron yam.