Wild Yam
Latin Name: Dioscorea Villosa
Other Name: American Yam, Chinese Root, Colic Root
Type: Herb
Wild yam is a twinning, tuberous vine with heart-shaped leaves that is native to North America and China.
People have used it for centuries in alternative medicine for various ailments like menstrual discomforts, colic and coughs. Its root, or rhizome is used in commercial preparations as it contains diosgenin, a phytoestrogen that can promote the production of several hormones in humans such as dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and estrogen. As such, some traditional medicine practitioners use wild yam to relieve menopausal symptoms like hot flushes, low mood, night sweats and etc. by stabilising the level of estrogen.
Wild yam is also believed to have anti-spasmodic properties that might be helpful for reducing cramps and muscular pain associated with premenstrual symptoms. In addition, wild yam is also used to manage joint inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis, due to its potential anti-inflammatory properties.
Share
Stay Inspired with Health Trends
28 Feb 2025
Women's Wellness by the Decade: An International Women's Day Focus
International Women’s Day falls on 8 March and this is a special day to celebrate all strong, unique, capable, and talented women around the world!
Every woman wants to age gracefully – from your 20s to 50s and beyond. There are steps you can take during each phase of life to keep you well and healthy. This is your guide to women’s wellness through the decades.
04 Feb 2025
How Burned Out are You?
“Leave it to me, I can handle this!” - This is what most would say, but how much one can manage before it’s too much?
03 Nov 2024
Is The Sunshine Vitamin Really Enough?
“Sunshine is all you need for your daily dose of Vitamin D”, or is it?
13 Oct 2023
Make No Bones About It
Do you know? Bones need more than just calcium to stay strong.
08 Jul 2023
Glycation And How It Ages Our Skin
Love sweet treats? Better think twice before popping them in your mouth. Glycation occurs when there are excess sugars forming bonds with your body’s proteins and fats, which results in advanced glycation end products (AGEs) that may be harmful to health and skin. Read to find out more!