Wild yam is a plant that people have used for centuries in alternative medicine. 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.
In this article, we investigate the potential medicinal uses of wild yam and the evidence supporting them. We also look at how to take it and its safety and side effects.
Benefits and uses
Some believe that wild yam may help treat symptoms of
Menopause and rheumatoid
Arthritis.
The bulb and roots of wild yams contain a chemical called diosgenin, which can influence the production of several useful
Hormones in humans, such as
Estrogen or dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). Consuming wild yam may be a natural way of promoting these
Hormones in the body, which could have certain medical benefits.
However, at present, there is little evidence to support any medical applications of wild yam. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have yet to evaluate wild yam for its safety or effectiveness.
Some of the potential medical uses of wild yam include:
Menopause symptoms
Some traditional medicine practitioners suggest using wild yam as an alternative to
Estrogen replacement therapy for treating symptoms of
Menopause. The theory is that wild yam may increase or stabilize
Estrogen levels in the body to help relieve a person�s symptoms.
However, there is very little evidence to support these claims. One of the only studiesTrusted Source available on the topic found that the 23 women who applied a wild yam cream over a 3-month period experienced no changes in their menopausal symptoms.
Rheumatoid
Arthritis
Some traditional medicine practitioners believe that wild yam has
Anti-inflammatory properties and use it to treat rheumatoid
Arthritis.
Rheumatoid
Arthritis is a chronic condition that causes
Inflammation of the joints. This can cause
Pain and stiffness that restricts mobility in people with the condition.
It is possible that wild yam might reduce this
Inflammation and have a positive effect on symptoms, but there is little evidence to support this.
Blood Sugar regulation
Wild yam also contains a chemical called dioscoretine, which some people think helps with the regulation of
Blood Sugar levels. Wild yam could be useful in regulating
Blood Sugar levels in people with
Diabetes. However, the effect of dioscoretine on
Blood Sugar has only been studied in animals so far. It is unclear whether it would have the same effect in humans.
Cramps and
Muscular Pain
Other proponents of wild yam, believe that it has anti-spasmodic properties, which are substances that reduce
Muscle Spasms. This anti-spasmodic property means that wild yam might be useful for reducing
Cramps and
Muscular Pain related to pre
Menstrual syndrome (
PMS), for example. However, more research is needed to support this.
How to take wild yam
Consuming wild yam is rare due to its bitter taste. However, it is available in a variety of formulations, including:
� tablet
� capsule
� tincture
� cream
� tea
� powder
Many of these formulations of wild yam are available to purchase online.
How much wild yam to take depends on several factors, such as:
� the person�s health condition
� the person�s age
� the formulation of the wild yam
However, scientific studies have yet to determine a safe and effective dosage range for wild yam. It is therefore essential to consult a medical professional before taking wild yam. Always read the packaging carefully before using.
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322423
