Wild Yam
Natural Healing Herbs
Wild yam was used to make the first birth control pills in the 1960's. It was commonly used in Native American medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Other Names
This herb is also known as Dioscorea villosa, devil's bones, Mexican yam, China root, white yam, yuma, Atlantic yam, and colic root.
Appearance
This herb flourishes in damp woodland areas. It is a creeping plant with banches that grow horizontally on the ground. It has large green, heart-shaped leaves and grows clusters of small yellowish flowers in the spring. It has light brown tuber roots.
Origins
The plant is native to North America and China.
Parts Used
The root is used in a powder, cream, extract or pill form.
Medicinal Uses
This herb is commonly used as a natural progesterone product, but the chemical contained in the plant (diosgenin) cannot be converted to progesterone by the body. It can only be converted in a labratory. It can be used for a variety of other ailments though.
- infertility
- nerve pain
- menstrual cramps
- nausea
- high cholesterol
- PMS
- high triglycerides
- abdominal cramps
You can by this herb and many others at Mountain Rose Herbs.
Side Effects and Warnings
This herb can cause nausea, vomiting and diaherra if taken in large doses.
Don't use it if you're pregnant or nursing.
Talk to your doctor before taking it with a prescription medication.
If you found this information useful, check out my complete listing of herbs at my Herb Index. You can find a listing of ailments and their natural treatments on my Free Home Remedies page.
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