Wild Yam root extract is an extract of the rhizomes of the wild yam, Dioscorea villosa. Wild yam extract contains glycoside and steroidal saponins, diosgenin, alkaloids, tannins, phytosterols, and starch.

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Wild yam and DHEA
Some websites claim that Mexican wild yam contains DHEA precursors and has been shown to help support healthy hormone production. Mexican wild yam does not have DHEA. Furthermore, the human body does not have the enzymes necessary to convert wild yam saponins or other substances into DHEA or other hormones. How does wild yam or diosgenin influence hormone levels?

Does wild yam cream help menopause symptoms?
I am familiar with only human study evaluating the role of wild yam cream for symptoms of menopause.

Effects of wild yam extract on menopausal symptoms, lipids and sex hormones in healthy menopausal women.
Climacteric. 2001 Jun;4(2):144-50. Komesaroff PA, Black CV, Cable V, Sudhir K. Baker Medical Research Institute, PO Box 6492, St Kilda Central, Melbourne 8008, Victoria, Australia.
Many women seek alternatives to hormonal therapies for the management of menopausal symptoms. Among the treatments currently popular are extracts of wild yam, which are applied topically in the form of a cream. These preparations are known to contain steroidal saponins, including diosgenin, which has been claimed to influence endogenous steroidogenesis. We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study of the effects of a wild yam cream in 23 healthy women suffering from troublesome symptoms of the menopause. After a 4-week baseline period, each woman was given active cream and matching placebo for 3 months in random order. The average age of the subjects was 53 years and average time since last period 4 years. At baseline, the average body mass index was 27, cholesterol level 5.7 mmol/l and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) level 74 IU/l; estradiol levels were undetectable in the majority of cases. After 3 months of treatment, no significant side-effects were reported with either active treatment or placebo, and there were no changes in weight, systolic or diastolic blood pressure, or levels of total serum cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, FSH, glucose, estradiol, or serum or salivary progesterone. Symptom scores showed a minor effect of both placebo and active treatment on diurnal flushing number and severity and total non-flushing symptom scores, and on nocturnal sweating after placebo, but no statistical difference between placebo and active creams. This study suggests that short-term treatment with topical wild yam extract in women suffering from menopausal symptoms is free of side-effects, but appears to have little effect on menopausal symptoms.

Wild yam benefit
Claims abound on the internet or magazine articles that "Wild yam offers health benefits. It is believed by some that wild yam can stimulate the ovaries to produce a balance of progesterone and estrogen, making it a popular alternative to synthetic hormones for women who experience symptoms of PMS or menopause."
   Thus far there does not seem to be much research to support the above claims regarding the role of this plant for easing symptoms of menopause. However, this does not mean that wild yam supplements don't have other health benefits.

Side effects of wild yam root extract
Wild yam root extract does not appear to have any noticeable side effects.

Wild Yam root research
"Bust enhancing" herbal products.
Obstet Gynecol. 2003 Jun;101(6):1345-9. Fugh-Berman A.Department of Health Care Sciences, George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC,
"Bust enhancing" herbal products are widely advertised. No clinical trials have been published. These products contain a variety of ingredients, including grains, hops, saw palmetto, dong quai, chaste-tree berry, wild yam, kava, fennel, black cohosh, and fenugreek. Several of these herbs are hormonally active; for example, hops contain 8-prenylnaringenin, a phytoestrogen that is more potent than other dietary phytoestrogens. Many bust-enhancing dietary supplements contain substrates for Fusarium, a fungus that produces zearalenone, a potent estrogen that has been associated with breast enlargement in humans and other species. The use of bust-enhancing products should be discouraged because of lack of evidence for efficacy and long-term safety concerns.

Wild Yam herb emails
Q. Does wild yam cream have progesterone?
   A. No. Wild yam cream itself does not have progesterone, and rubbing it on one's skin will not increase blood or skin progesterone levels.

Q. I read somewhere that taking wild yam root, wild yam extract, or rubbing wild yam cream leads to breast enlargement. Is this true?
   A. I have not seen any studies that support the use of wild yam cream for breast enlargement.

Q. I have read that wild yam is good for the stimulation of natural progesterone production. Do you agree with this?
   A. Wild yam is not converted into progesterone. We have not come across research as to whether wild yam stimulates natural progesterone release.

I have a question regarding wild yam. I am not seeking medical advice, just an opinion of the possibities of taking this herb. Can it possibly trigger ovulation and menstruation in a post-menopausal woman who has not had a menstrual cycle in four years? And who has undergone thyroid radiation / ablation and has been on a synthetic thyroid hormone (Levoxyl) for about two years? This is in addition to taking a resveratrol, flaxseed oil, omega-3, a multi-vitamin, C with rose hips, cinnamon, D, selenium, and a mega dose of calcium. Again, I’m not asking as a patient but information seeker.
    It's difficult to say since there are so many variables involved including thyroid hormone use and the use of several other supplements. As a general rule, wild ham is very weak effect on hormone levels, if any, compared to estrogen hormone or progesterone.

Do you happen to sell yam hormonal creme for women?
    Not at this time.

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