Wild Yam

Products

Wild yam is commercially available in the form of capsules and as an ointment (e.g. Phytopharma Wild Yam). It is approved as a dietary supplement and not as a drug. is further included in alternative medicine remedies such as homeopathics.

Stem plant

The parent plant of the yam family (Dioscoreaceae) is native to North America. The name of the perennial climber is derived from the Greek physician Dioscorides.

Medicinal drug

The dried rhizome, Dioscoreae villosae rhizoma, is used as a medicinal drug.

Ingredients

The constituents include starch, steroid saponins such as diosgenin (aglycone), dioscin (glycoside), and alkaloids such as dioscorin.

Effects

The preparations are lipid-lowering. The use for menopausal symptoms is based on a misunderstanding. The yam root has been used for chemical synthetic extraction of female sex hormones and other steroid hormones (e.g., progesterone from diosgenin). However, when ingested or applied topically, this conversion does not occur in the body (!)

Fields of application

  • Menopausal symptoms
  • Menstrual cramps
  • Disorders of lipid metabolism, hyperlipidemia.
  • Numerous traditional applications

Adverse effects

Possible adverse effects include digestive discomfort and allergic contact dermatitis with topical use.