METHOD TYPE: Contraceptive/Morning After
BEST TIME TO USE METHOD: Immediately/Before missed period
ALSO KNOWN AS: Colic Root, Rheumatism Root, Chinese Yam, Bitter Yam, Dioscorea Villosa, Aluka, China root Devil's bones, Mexican wild yam, Shan-yao, Yuma.
WARNINGS:
- If you have any condition that might be made worse by exposure to estrogen, don’t use wild yam. Conditions include breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, endometriosis, and uterine fibroids.
- People with protein S deficiency have an increased risk of forming clots., and Wild Yam may increase clotting. If you have protein S deficiency, avoid using wild yam.
POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS:
- Some people have experienced nausea when taking large doses.
- Contains dioscorin, which can be toxic in large amounts.
- May interact with some birth control medications and other hormone therapies that contain estradiol.
HOW IT WORKS:
- Wild yams contain a sapogenin called diosgenin, which is a precursor to progesterone.
- It is considered a "plant estrogen" which produces estrogenic effects, shown to relieve female problems.
HOW TO USE:
- Wild yam is available as a tincture, liquid extract, powder extract, or in tablet or capsule form.
- The common dosage is 2-3 mL (40-100 drops) of the tincture three to four times a day.
- The capsules or tablets may be taken in a dosage of one or two taken three times per day.
- The liquid extract should be taken at a dosage of 10-40 drops three to four times per day.
EFFECTIVENESS:
- Used only as a contraceptive; Wild Yam can actually help prevent miscarriage in women who are already pregnant.
- Not enough scientific evidence to support it working.
COMMON USES AND KNOWN HEALTH BENEFITS:
- Antispasmodic
- Relieves nausea associated with morning sickness and can help prevent miscarriage for women who are already pregnant.
- Has been used to relieve the after-pains of childbirth.
- Reduces fatigue, inflammation, pain and stress related to menstruation.
- Diaphoretic
- Alleviates symptoms of menopause and PMS such as hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes, and vaginal dryness.
- This herb has also been shown to lower blood pressure (temporarily) and cholesterol levels in the blood.
WHERE ITS FOUND:
- Grows in Mexico, Canada and the United States.
TRADITION AND HISTORY:
Used to treat
- cancer
- diarrhea
- colic
- muscle spasms
- painful menstruation
- rheumatism
- diuretic
- expectorant
- Ease the passage of gallstones
- Natural contraceptive; causes temporary sterility
- colic
- gallbladder disorder
- hypoglycemia
- irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- kidney stones
- neuralgia
- rheumatism
REFERENCES AND RESOURCES: