Wild yam comes from a plant native to both North and Central America and is not in any way related to yam sweet potatoes. This herb has been widely used as a general pick-me-up tonic, with the Aztecs having recognised wild yam's ability to help relieve pain.
Health Benefits of Wild Yam
As well as being used as a tonic, wild yam has also been understood to have certain properties similar to the hormone progesterone. In The Essential Guide to Vitamins, Minerals and Herbal Supplements, Brewer (2010) highlights key health benefits and healing properties associated with wild yam, to include the following:
- is rich in steroidal saponins, including disogenia (used in oral contraceptive pills)
- helps improve mood, feelings of well-being
- reduces colic symptoms
- relieves period pain cramps
- helps treat uterine contractions (as in labour pain)
- eases gallstone pain
- can be used a a remedy for endometriosis pain
- has anti-inflammatory properties
- help treat rheumatoid arthritis symptoms
- can be used for diverticulitis sufferers
- contains antioxidant properties
- increases beneficial levels of good cholesterol
In Healing Supplements, Lakin et al. (2006) identify some further health benefits related to wild yam, as follows:
- helps treat joint pain
- relieves premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms
- may ease some menopausal symptoms
- muscle relaxant properties
- aids digestion
- helps reduce irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms
Wild Yam Forms, Dosage and Side Effects
Wild yam is available in several different forms, as a capsule, cream, tablet, tincture, softgel and dried herb, for making wild yam tea. According to Brewer (2010) the typical dosage of wild yam in capsule form is between 250-500 mg, either once or twice a day, while Lakin et al. (2006) recommend taking wild yam, as follows:
- wild yam tincture – half teaspoon three or four times daily
- wild yam tablet – 500 mg twice daily
- wild yam softgel – 500 mg twice daily
- wild yam tea – three cups a day
Making wild yam tea is quick and simple: just buy some dried wild yam herb from the health food store, place two or three teaspoons in a cup and add hot water. Then leave for around 15 minutes to cool down. Side effects associated with taking wild yam as a herbal remedy are relatively rare, usually only occurring when one takes very high doses. Excessive wild yam dosages have been reported to result in symptoms such as nausea and diarrhoea.
As highlighted above, wild yam is native to North and Central America, and has been used since as far back as the Aztecs to help relieve pain. Wild yam has anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, relaxant and antioxidant properties. The herb is used to relieve period pain and premenstrual syndrome symptoms, menopausal symptoms, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), indigestion, colic, arthritis and gallstone pain.
Sources:
Brewer, S. (2010) The Essential Guide to Vitamins, Minerals and Herbal Supplements London: Constable Robinson
Lakin et al. (2006) Healing Supplements London: Reader's Digest
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.
Kate Le Page - Kate Henning-Le Page writes about eating disorders, body image and recovery issues. She specializes in anorexia recovery.
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