- Treats Menstrual Cramps
- Helps with any Menopausal Symptoms
- Nausea and Morning sickness
What is it?
In the 18th and 19th centuries, wild yam ( Dioscorea villosa ) was used
by herbalists to treat menstrual cramps and problems related to
childbirth. The subsequent discovery of a substance contained in wild
yams revolutionized the pharmaceutical industry. The tubers, or fleshy,
root-like parts, of wild yams (not to be confused with the sweet potato
yam) contain diosgenin, a steroid-like substance that is involved in
the production of the hormone progesterone. Diosgenin has served a key
role in the making of hormones and the development of the birth control
pill, two of the major advances in plant drug medicine this century.
Wild yam continues to be used for treating menstrual cramps, nausea and
morning sickness associated with pregnancy, inflammation, osteoporosis,
menopausal symptoms, and other health conditions.