Wild yam is a perennial vine found in the US, Mexico, and Asia, used for centuries to treat female ailments, digestive problems, and more. It contains beta-carotene, anti-inflammatory properties, and a chemical similar to progesterone. Caution should be taken when using it.
Wild yam (Dioscorea villosa) is a tuberous perennial vine with heart-shaped greenish-yellow leaves. This vine often wraps itself around the branches of other plants to support itself. Wild yam is found in many parts of the United States, Mexico, and Asia and has been used medicinally for centuries. Also known as Yuma, colic root, devil’s bones, and rheumatism root, it was a folk remedy used both by Native Americans and other types of herbal medicines to treat various problems.
The most common medicinal use of Dioscorea villosa was for the treatment of female ailments. Wild yam has had a long history of use in treating everything from menstrual cramps and premenstrual syndrome (PMS) to hot flashes and vaginal dryness. It has also been used to treat morning sickness in pregnant women and to relieve labor pain.
This plant contains an important antioxidant: beta-carotene. Dioscorea villosa also contains anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, the root of the wild yam contains a chemical similar to the female hormone progesterone. This chemical, called diosgenin, was used to make the first oral contraceptive.
When creams made from the root of Dioscorea villosa are applied to a woman’s skin, they are believed to trigger the body’s natural production of progesterone. Today, wild yam is still widely used to make this hormone and other steroid drugs. It is also used as a substitute for estrogen cream, which helps combat vaginal dryness in women. Its use during pregnancy is generally no longer recommended.
Other medicinal uses of Dioscorea villosa include the treatment of insomnia, headaches and migraines, asthma, and rheumatoid arthritis. Wild yam has also been used for various digestive problems, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and colic in babies. Most wild yam remedy treatments involve boiling the roots of the plants, which are harvested in the fall and dried. The remedies are given as infusions or the extract is added to creams, ointments, and capsules.
As with any homeopathic remedy, caution should be exercised when using Dioscorea villosa. The fresh plant can cause severe vomiting, diarrhea, and headache. Wild yam remedies should not be used with certain health conditions, such as liver disease, or certain types of cancer such as uterine, prostate, or breast cancer. Caution should also be taken for people with diabetes or alcohol dependence, as the remedies may contain sugar and alcohol.
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