Wild Yam ~Dioscorea villosa

Wild Yam

Latin name: Dioscorea villosa

Family: Dioscoreaceae

Part used: root

Habitat: North America

Main constituents: diosgenin, phytosterols

Energetics: bitter, cooling, bitter

Main herbal actions: autonomic nerve relaxant

Minor herbal actions: hypoglycemic

Main medicinal uses: pain that is spasmodic, shooting, shifting, and aching; conditions related to low progesterone/high estrogen related problems, dysmenorrhea, spasmodic diarrhea

Minor medicinal uses: inflammation of large joints

Preparations: decoction: 1 tsp/cup water; 1:2.5 dry strength liquid extract: 20-60 drops 1-4 times daily; tincture: 45% EtOH 3-5 ml tid, capsules: 6 grams per day (Khalsa)

Contraindications: unknown

Toxicity: unknown

Sources: Sharol Tilgner, N.D.: Herbal Medicine from the Heart of the Earth; Bastyr U. monographs

Module 3

Native Americans used it but it was over harvested.  Found in other countries like Mexico – plenty left.

Source of plant hormones used in the original birth control pills. Not a source of viable hormones if eaten in the kitchen.

In the lab, it has to be processed to make the hormones bio-available.  Progesterone is made in the lab of Wild Yam.

In TCM, it is a Liver support  remedy – therefore used as a stomach distress, gas, indigestion.

In TCM, the liver support indirectly supports menstrual cramps.

Popular Wild Yam cream – it is the soy based cream that has progesterone, but not the Wild Yam.  Soy has compound that are similar to steroid hormones in the human body, but are not directly – not bio-identical directly.  Conversion is done in the lab.

Sweet Potatoes are in the Morning Glory Family, and Yams are in the Dioscorea Villosa family.

Diosgenin

Diosgenin is the steroid sapogenin found in Wild Yam
From tubers of Dioscorea wild yam
Aglycone, diosgenin
commercial synthesis of cortisone, pregnenolone, progesterone, other steroids