Wild yam (Dioscorea
Wild yams typically grow in damp, wooded areas or in thickets. They are a perennial vine, with knotted and woody roots. They are usually a pale-brown color. Wild yams are not like sweet potato yams that many people are familiar with. Unlike sweet potatoes, wild yams are not fleshy.1
Wild yams have been a traditional remedy used by Native Americans for hundreds of years.2
Wild Yam Health Uses and Health Benefits
Wild yam health benefits come from its compound called diosgenin. Diosgenin is a plant-based estrogen (phytoestrogen), which mimics the female hormone. Estrogen can be chemically converted into progesterone, another female reproductive hormone. For this reason, many women take wild yam supplements as part of hormone replacement therapy. This is because as women age, their estrogen and progesterone levels decline.1
Traditional wild yam uses have included helping treat baby colic. This is because wild yam benefits for digestion help to reduce flatulence and bloating, which can help soothe colic in newborns.2
Wild yams also have natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Other possible wild yam benefits include:
Wild yam uses include being a natural remedy for the following conditions:
Wild Yam Side Effects and Precautions
There are no known serious wild yam side effects. However, some research indicates that wild yam may interact with certain birth control medications. If you are taking birth control medications, do not take wild yam without first consulting a physician.1
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