Wild Yam

Wild yam is a vine that can grow up to twenty feet. Commonly found in damp environments in North and Central America, extracts of wild yam have been used in medicine for years.

Wild yam provided the earliest building blocks for cortisone and birth control hormones. The steroid hormone DHEA is also evident in wild yam. This hormone, in its raw form, is used in many prescription medicines for disease.

Many treatments

Over the years wild yam has been used by herbalists in their treatments for asthma, dysentery, gallstones, muscle spasms, menopause and rheumatoid arthritis.

Side effects to consider

The benefits of wild yam can also exacerbate other conditions. Liver disease and hormone conditions may worsen. Wild yam will actually cause prostate cancer to grow. Pregnant women should avoid it as well.

The steroid hormone in wild yam can cause hair loss in men and may stimulate hair growth in women. Women using too much wild yam (over 25 milligrams per day) may experience voice changes that are irreversible.

Lighter side effects of wild yam include nausea, acne and oily skin.

Dosages

Wild yam is available in many forms including a liquid for ingestion, oil for external use, teas, powders and even a chewing gum. Each unique form will come with its own specifications for safe dosage. Here are some general guidelines:

An oral dose of 2-4 grams taken three times a day is recommended.

As a liquid take 2-4 milliliters in water, three times a day.

DHEA is available as a dietary supplement. Doses should not exceed 50 milligrams a day without medical referral.

Exciting research

Preliminary research shows the DHEA may soon be used to treat AIDS, multiple sclerosis and lupus. The hormone is already a part of some medications. No research has yet suggested using wild yam alone to combat these serious conditions. For now, it should not be relied upon, and a physician should always be consulted before incorporating wild yam into medical treatment of any nature.