This plant is said to have a lot to offer: contraceptive and rejuvenating, a helper for PMS and menopausal symptoms, and a supporter in the fight against all kinds of diseases. We're talking about wild yam, the wild yam root. In this article, we'll look at some of the frequently made claims and check their scientific reliability.
May we introduce: Wild Yam
The genus yam ( Dioscorea ) includes 350 to 800 species. One of these is the wild yam ( Dioscorea villosa L. ). It looks and tastes similar to the sweet potato, but is not related to it. Toxic when eaten raw, it is nevertheless a common vegetable in many countries in South America, Africa and the Caribbean.
Today, the largest growing areas are in Nigeria, Ghana and the Ivory Coast.
The plant's tuberous roots are striking and have been used in folk medicine since the 18th century to treat coughs, menstrual cramps and stomach upsets, as an article on the website of Mount Sinai Hospital in New York explains.
The dried rootstock, the rhizome Dioscoreae villosae rhizoma , is used as a medicinal herb (preserved parts of plants, fungi, animals or microorganisms). But in fact its most common use is still as a cream that is said to relieve the symptoms of menopause and premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
This is what matters with the yam root: Diosgenin
What makes the yam root valuable for medicine is a substance that is similar to the body's own steroid hormones. The so-called diosgenin is the starting material for the production of important hormones.
Diosgenin was identified by Japanese scientists in 1936 - a discovery that led to the synthesis of one of the most important female sex hormones. In the late 1930s and early 1940s, researcher Russell E. Marker succeeded in synthesizing progesterone from diosgenin. This is the hormone that prepares the uterus for pregnancy and also serves to maintain the pregnancy.
Let’s see what science has to say about yam.
Does wild yam actually have pharmacological properties?
The wild yam root is said to help treat numerous ailments. However, scientific research on these uses is limited or even refuted. Here are some facts:
Wild Yam is said to help with menopausal symptoms
In alternative medicine, wild yam cream is most commonly used as an alternative to estrogen replacement therapy to relieve menopausal symptoms such as night sweats and hot flashes. However, a study published in the journal Pharmacological Reviews found no evidence of this.
This also applies to the research results published in the journal Endocrinology & Metabolism Clinics of North America .
There is still a lack of clinical studies to confirm the effectiveness of yam root in menopausal symptoms.
Wild Yam could help with arthritis
But things look better when it comes to inflammation. Wild yam root may have anti-inflammatory effects. Traditionally, it has been used to treat arthritis, which causes pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints, according to a study in the Journal of Analytical Methods in Chemistry .
In fact, in vitro studies from 2004 show that diosgenin extracted from wild yam could protect against the progression of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Although promising, further human research is needed to confirm these results.
It could help with hormonal imbalance
The diosgenin of the wild yam is the basis for the production of progesterone, estrogen, cortisone and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), which are used for medicinal purposes.
However, there are no reliable studies showing that the body itself can convert diosgenin into these steroids. Currently, diosgenin can only be converted in a chemical process within a laboratory environment.
The influence of yam on skin health
Wild yam is often an ingredient in many anti-aging skin creams. An in vitro study published in the journal Steroids showed that diosgenin may promote the growth of new skin cells and thus have anti-aging effects.
The potential depigmenting effect of diosgenin was also investigated.
Excessive sun exposure can sometimes lead to small, flat, brownish patches on the skin, also known as hyperpigmentation. Although harmless, these are less desirable for cosmetic reasons.
However, creams containing wild yam have so far proven ineffective for this application. This was the conclusion of a 2018 review published in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology .
Despite everything: Wild Yam shows some positive trends
Although intensive research on humans is still lacking in many areas, the wild yam root - especially the diosgenin it contains - shows promising approaches in a number of other areas:
- In a 2015 animal study, diosgenin extract significantly lowered blood sugar levels and helped prevent kidney damage caused by diabetes.
- In another animal study lasting four weeks, the diosgenin extract reduced the animals' total and LDL cholesterol levels several times over.
- Preliminary in vitro studies, the results of which were published in the journal Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics , suggest that wild yam extract could protect against breast cancer or slow its progression.
- The antibacterial effect of diosgenin has also been confirmed in experiments on disease-causing yeasts.
But here too - as is often the case with yams - further studies are necessary.
What about side effects and interactions
In general, creams and ointments containing wild yam extracts are considered safe to use. However, your skin may become irritated if you are allergic or sensitive to wild yam.
However, if you stick to the daily doses prescribed by the various providers, you should not have any problems.
People suffering from conditions such as endometriosis, uterine fibroids or certain forms of cancer should avoid wild yam products due to possible hormone interactions. People with protein S deficiency - a genetic disorder that increases the risk of blood clots - should also avoid taking supplements containing wild yam, a 2021 study suggests.
Wild yam may interact with estradiol, a sex hormone used in certain forms of birth control and hormone replacement therapies, according to a page on the U.S. National Library of Medicine .
Therefore, you should consult your doctor if you still want to use them.
How to use Wild Yam
The wild yam root is available in many different forms: for external use as creams or vaginal gels, for oral use as powder, tea or capsules.
Creams and gels are usually applied to the chest, stomach or inner thighs once or twice a day. Of course, you should wait to shower afterwards.
When it comes to taking medication, it's best to follow the manufacturer's instructions. In any case, you should make sure that you take a high-quality product that does not contain any artificial preservatives.
Conclusion: Wild Yam can help in unexpected areas
Wild yam or yam is a sweet potato-like plant with a tuber root that has been used as a medicinal drug by indigenous peoples for centuries.
And even though it has shown promising results in animal and in vitro tests, for example in regulating cholesterol and blood sugar levels, as an anti-inflammatory agent for arthritis or in fighting certain types of cancer, it cannot fulfill the many promises of healing that are advertised on the Internet. This is particularly true of its effect on symptoms of menopause or PMS.
Be sure to talk to your doctor if you want to use wild yam as a dietary supplement to find the right dosage for you.
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