Potential medicinal uses for wild yam include the treatment of menopause symptoms, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and muscular cramps. There are various other names for wild yam, such as colic root, devil's bones, rheumatism root, or China root. While there are over 600 species of wild yam, only 12 are edible.
Does wild yam help balance hormones?
The presence of diosgenin in wild yam, which has been shown to help balance the endocrine system and tone the liver, may also help block the absorption of cholesterol.
What are the side effects of wild yam?
When taken by mouth: Wild yam is possibly safe when used for up to 12 weeks. It's usually well tolerated, but taking large amounts might cause vomiting, upset stomach, and headache. When applied to the skin: Wild yam is possibly safe when applied to the skin.
Is wild yam good for vaginal dryness?
Some women claim that creams containing wild yam help with vaginal dryness. However, there is no good research supporting this claim. Also, extracts of wild yam have not been found to have estrogen- or progesterone-like activities. Some of the products may have synthetic medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) added.
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