Wild Yam

Wild yam has been used for centuries by Native Americans and early Americans for treatment of a variety of ailments. The herb, also known as colic root, has a relaxing effect. As the name suggests, an early use was to relieve colic in babies. Be sure to consult your child's pediatrician before giving your child any alternative treatment. But there are several other ways that wild yam can be used to improve health.

Special Precautions of Wild Yam

• Be careful not to use the fresh plant, because MedicinalHerbInfo.org warns that it can cause vomiting. Instead, purchase wild yam capsules, or the extract can be used to make an herbal tea.
• Use of wild yam is not recommended for pregnant women or for children.

The benefits of Wild Yam are

• Menstruation & Menopause Relief : The University of Maryland Medical Center tells us that because of its antispasmodic properties, wild yam is often used to relieve menstrual cramps and pain from endometriosis. The Alternative Nature Online Herbal website states that wild yam is also commonly used to help relieve the uncomfortable symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes, night sweats and mood changes. However, wild yam has not been proven effective for these ailments in clinical studies. Make a tea by adding 1 tsp. of powdered wild yam root to 1 cup of hot water and simmering for 30 minutes. No more than one cup of the tea each day is recommended.
• Blood Sugar and Cholesterol Regulation : According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, wild yam contains a substance called dioscoretine, which has lowered blood sugar levels in animal studies. In a separate study, the U.S. National Library of Medicine states that a substance contained in wild yam, diosgenin, was shown to be very promising in raising HDL (the "good" cholesterol) and lowering LDL (the "bad" cholesterol).
• Digestion Aid : Another use for wild yam is to aid digestion, as explained on MedicnalHerbInfo.org. Wild yam tea is helpful in alleviating flatulence and generally improving the function of the liver and gall bladder. As in the previous treatments, the clinical studies are inconclusive even though some people swear by the herb.
• wild yam contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, making it useful in treating other ailments, such as asthma, neuritis and rheumatoid arthritis, and for regulating the metabolism. Again, there are no studies that confirm its effectiveness. Be sure to check with your physician or pharmacist to make sure there will be no harmful interaction with any medications you are already taking for these conditions.