alleviates antibiotic-associated diarrhea, modifies intestinal microbiota, and increases the level of short-chain fatty acids in mice. Incorporate it into your night-time routine as a nourishing cream to help you drift off into a peaceful sleep. Wild yam is a plant that has been promoted as natural DHEA because it contains diosgenin, which can be used in the lab to create estrogen and DHEA. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. There are various other names for wild yam, such as colic root, devil’s bones, rheumatism root, or China root.

The antifungal activity and membrane-disruptive action of dioscin extracted from Dioscorea nipponica. Evaluating the evidence for over-the-counter alternatives for relief of hot flashes in menopausal women. CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. Wild yam is most commonly used for alleviating menopause symptoms, such as night sweats and hot flushes.

One study published in the journal, Life Sciences, in 1996 that explored the benefits of wild yam revealed that older people taking wild yam had lower triglyceride levels 9 – a type of fat found in the blood.

One of the many names that wild yam goes by is ‘rheumatism root’, which dates back to when it was regularly used to treat joint and muscle pain (rheumatism) in the 19 th century.Some preparations of wild yam may contain progesterone, but only because a synthetic version of progesterone (medroxyprogesterone acetate or MPA) has been added to them. But in studies of people, cholesterol levels have not gone down -- although fats in the blood (triglycerides) have decreased. Wild Yam contains steroidal saponins, including diosgenin (a naturally occurring compound), which is a precursor remarkably similar to our own hormone, progesterone. For these reasons, you should take herbs with care, under the supervision of a health care provider.

Some of the polysaccharides from Chinese yam reduce blood sugar, while others have strong antioxidant properties. People who have hormone-sensitive conditions, such as breast cancer or uterine fibroids, should not use wild yam. However, there have been no studies of the safety or efficacy of these preparations in the management of menopausal symptoms. After menopause, women have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease due to a drop in oestrogen, which supports their heart health. Consuming wild yam may be a natural way of promoting these hormones in the body, which could have certain medical benefits.One of the only studies available on the topic found that the 23 women who applied a wild yam cream over a 3-month period experienced no changes in their menopausal symptoms.