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What herbalists say about wild yam root
Wild yam is a popular herbal contraceptive. Wild yam does not interfere with the normal monthly cycle. Women taking it continue to ovulate as usual. It is speculated that this herb’s mechanism of action renders the unity of the egg and sperm ineffective, although it is not known how this is possible. One benefit of using the wild yam for contraception is that a woman can become pregnant as soon as one or two months after discontinuing use of the herb. Wild yam is not known to have negative side effects. (Nature’s Field July/August, 1995 pg. 7)
As with many herbs, traditionally, there have been many uses for wild yam root. Known by the scientific name Dioscorea villosa, wild yam root is described by Dr. John Christopher as haveing the following therapeutic actions – antispasmotic, relaxant (sedative,) stimulant, antibilious, diaphoretic, expectorant, diuretic, hepatic, chologogue, stomachic, tonic, anti-emetic, anti-rheumatic, anti-asthmatic and emetic (large doses.) Dr. Christopher goes on to describe some of the actions more specifically and then lists no less than two dozen specific conditions in which wild yam root has proven effective. (see School of Natural Healing, by Dr. John Christopher.)
Humbart Santillo maintains that wild yam root is used in many gland balancing formulas because of the presence in its chemical make-up of the steroid-like substances used to make pharmaceutical birth control pills. He goes on to list many of the same uses and conditions listed by Dr. Christopher. At the end of his entry on wild yam, Mr. Santillo includes the following note – “When given for afterbirth pains, it is better to use ten drops of the tincture in cold water. The hot decoction causes too great of relaxation to the uterus and could permit hemorrhage. (see Natural Healing with Herbs, by Humbart Santillo.)
If you ever have occassion to sample it, you will find that the decoction or tea is particularly unappetizing because of the strong bitter taste of the herb.
Welsh herbalist, David Hoffman, gives a short entry on wild yam that briefly echoes some of the uses set forth by both Christopher and Santillo. (see The Holistic Herbal, by David Hoffman.)
Willa Shaffer's recommendations for using Wild Yam Root
for contraception
Take 1650 mg. of Mexican wild yam twice daily morning and evening. Take for two months before it is effective. Do not take the birth control pill during this time. Antibiotics and herbal antibiotics including goldenseal, echinacea, garlic, oregon grape and more than 6,000 mg. of vitamin C weakens the desired effect. St. John’s Wort may also weaken the desired effect of the wild yam. Tylenol® and other acetominophens such as panadol and aspirin-free Anacin® may also interfere with the desired action of the wild yam. It is possible that ANY drug may interfere with the wild yam.
From Wild Yam: Birth Control Without Fear, by Willa Shaffer
Other uses of wild yam root
Native American cultures have a long history of treating a variety of ailments with Wild Yam root.
Modern science has revealed the mechanisms behind Wild Yam’s health benefits and expanded its uses to the pharmaceutical industry; however, the folk applications of the herb remain popular among herbalists.
TREAT HORMONAL IMBALANCES
It is thought that Wild Yam properties help regulate menstrual cycles and support uterine health in menopausal and postmenopausal women.
ELIMINATE EXCESSIVE CHOLESTEROL
Some research suggests that the Wild Yam root may help eliminate the excess of cholesterol, thus preventing the accumulation of plaque in the arterial walls.
PROMOTES ORGAN HEALTH
There is evidence that Wild Yam root promotes uterine and liver health.
BREAST HEALTH
Preliminary studies suggest wild yam may act as an anti-invasive agent in breast health.
ANTI-FUNGAL
Several studies show wild yam has powerful anti-fungal properties and may help fight yeast and other fungal infections.
diosgenin from wild Yam
Most Wild Yam benefits have been attributed to steroidal saponins, chiefly diosgenin. Wild yam has been found to contain about 3.5% diosgenin,
The chemist Russell E. Marker isolated diosgenin from Mexican Wild Yam. Thus, in the 1940s and 1950s, virtually all steroid hormones for medical use were derived from diosgenin from Mexican Wild Yam, this included the birth control pill.
In its early days, Living Earth encapsulated North American Wild Yam. After learning that diosgenin was isolated from Mexican Wild Yam, Living Earth switched to using Mexican Wild Yam exclusively and found it to be far more effective.
While there is no clinical evidence that the body can use diosgenin in any way to synthesize steroid hormones, but anecdotal evidence suggests that Mexican Wild Yam has a hormonal-like effect on the body.
references
Accatino L, Pizarro M, Solis N, Koenig C. Effects of diosgenin, a plant derived steroid, on bile secretion and hepatocellular cholestasis induced by estrogens in the rat. Hepatology. 1998;28(1):129-140.
Ali Z, Smillie TJ, Khan IA. Cholestane steroid glycosides from the rhizomes of Dioscorea villosa (Mexican wild yam). Carbohydr Res. 2013;370:86-91.
Aumsuwan P, Khan SI, Khan IA, et al. The anticancer potential of steroidal saponin, dioscin, isolated from wild yam (Dioscorea villosa) root extract in invasive human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 in vitro. Arch Biochem Biophys. 2016;591:98-110.
Aumsuwan P, Khan SI, Khan IA, et al. Evaluation of wild yam (Dioscorea villosa) root extract as a potential epigenetic agent in breast cancer cells. In Vitro Cell Dev Biol Anim. 2015;51(1):59-71.
Bhandari MR, Kawabata J. Bitterness and toxicity in wild yam (Dioscorea spp.) tubers of Nepal. Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 2005;60(3):129-35.
Boban PT, Nambisan B, Sudhakaran PR. Hypolipidaemic effect of chemically different mucilages in rats: a comparative study. Br J Nutr. 2006;96(6):1021-1029.
Bone K, Mill S, eds. Principles and Practices of Phytotherapy, Modern Herbal Medicine. London: Churchill Livingstone; 2000.
Carroll DG. Non-hormonal therapies for hot flashes in menopause. Am Fam Physician. 2006;73(3):457-464. Review.
Chang WC, Yu YM, Wu CH, Tseng YH, Wu KY. Reduction of oxidative stress and atherosclerosis in hyperlipidemic rabbits by Dioscorea rhizome. Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 2005;83(5):423-430.
Cho J, Choi H, Lee J, Kim MS, Sohn HY, Lee DG. The antifungal activity and membrane-disruptive action of dioscin extracted from Dioscorea nipponica. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2013;1828(3):1153-1158.
Foster S, Tyler VE. Tyler’s Honest Herbal. Binghamton, NY: The Haworth Herbal Press; 2000:381-382.
Haimov-Kochman R, Hochner-Celnikier D. Hot flashes revisited: pharmacological and herbal options for hot flashes management. What does the evidence tell us? Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2005;84(10):972-9. Review.
Kelley KW, Carroll DG. Evaluating the evidence for over-the-counter alternatives for relief of hot flashes in menopausal women. J Am Pharm Assoc (2003). 2010;50(5):e106-115. Review.
Komesaroff PA, Black CV, Cable V, Sudhir K. Effects of wild yam extract on menopausal symptoms, lipids and sex hormones in healthy menopausal women. Climacteric. 2001;4(2):144-150.
Manda VK, Avula B, Ali Z, et al. Characterization of in vitro ADME properties of diosgenin and dioscin from Dioscorea villosa. Planta Med. 2013;79:1421-1428.
Park MK, Kwon HY, Ahn WS, Bae S, Rhyu MR, Lee Y. Estrogen activities and the cellular effects of natural progesterone from wild yam extract in mcf-7 human breast cancer cells. Am J Chin Med. 2009;37(1):159-167.
Taylor M. Alternatives to conventional hormone replacement therapy. Compr Ther. 1997;23(8):514-532.
Zava DT, Dollbaum CM, Blen M. Estrogen and progestin bioactivity of foods, herbs, and spices. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1998;217(3):369-378.
legal
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
additional cautions
Wild yam can interact with medications that contain estrogen.
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