Wild Yam

Scientific names: Dioscorea villosa

Common names: Wild yam root also is known as colic root, yuma, devil's bones, rheumatism root, and China root.

Efficacy-safety rating:

●●...Ethno or other evidence of efficacy.

Safety rating:

●...Little exposure or very minor concerns.

What is Wild Yam?

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Dioscorea villosa is a twining vine native to the central southeastern US and found less frequently in the Appalachian region. A Chinese species, Dioscorea opposita, also is occasionally found in herbal commerce. There are more than 500 species of Dioscorea worldwide.

What is Wild Yam used for?

Traditional/Ethnobotanical uses

Wild yam was popularized by the Eclectic medical movement in the 19th century for its supposed antispasmodic properties and prescribed for biliary colic and spasm of the bowel. More recently, it has been promoted for the relief of nausea in pregnancy, and for amenorrhoea and dysmenorrhea. Further indications have been reported for urinary tract infections, rheumatoid arthritis, cholera, nervous excitement, and gas expulsion.

Hormone replacement

Much of the current herbal use of wild yam is predicated on the misconception that the diosgenin contained in the product can be converted by the human body into steroid hormones, particularly progesterone, through the intermediate dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). This notion appears to be based on diosgenin's use as a synthetic precursor of cortisone and of the steroids found in birth control pills. There is no scientific evidence to support the notion that diosgenin or dioscin can be converted by the body into human hormones.

Topical formulations of Dioscorea also are poorly understood, though it is unlikely that they can serve as “progesterone replacement” vehicles. The sale of supplemental DHEA as an “anti-aging” product has carried over to Dioscorea by analogy. In fact, several products containing Dioscorea and DHEA are available.

Miscellaneous uses

Dioscorea has been promoted for the treatment of menstrual dysfunction, nausea in pregnancy, urinary tract infections, rheumatoid arthritis, cholera, nervous excitement, and gas expulsion. The root of D. villosa is reported to be diaphoretic and expectorant. However, research reveals no clinical data regarding the use of wild yam for any condition.

What is the dosage of Wild Yam?

Wild yam root was used traditionally as a diaphoretic and expectorant at doses of 0.4 to 4 g/day. There are no recent clinical studies to substantiate this dosage.