Wild Yam (Dioscorea villosa)
Contains diosgenin, a phytosteroid that may ease menopausal symptoms and menstrual discomfort through non-hormonal pathways.
Wild Yam has been used for centuries in traditional medicine for women's health concerns. It contains diosgenin, a phytosteroid that was historically used as a precursor to synthesize hormones in laboratories. While the body cannot convert diosgenin to hormones directly, wild yam may support hormonal balance through other mechanisms.
Contains plant steroids with potential hormonal effects
May help relax smooth muscle
How Wild Yam works โ from molecular targets to health outcomes. Click an edge to see supporting research.This visualization is in beta โ pathways are being refined and expanded.
250-500mg extract daily
Loading: Not required
Take with food
| Form | Type |
|---|---|
| ๐Standardized extract capsules | Recommended |
| ๐งชDried root powder | Alternative |
| ๐งTincture | Alternative |
Look for extracts standardized to diosgenin content.
Minimum: 4 weeks
Optimal: 12 weeks
Cycling: May cycle with menstrual cycle or use for 2-3 months then reassess
Note: Often used as part of herbal formulas for women's health.
May help with menopausal symptoms
Traditional use for menstrual cramps
Avoid; safety not established
May have additive effects
Tip: Take with food
Top studies from 13+ peer-reviewed papers
Cai B et al. โข Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity (2020)
โKeywords related to glioma, ischemia, memory, aging, cognitive impairment, Alzheimer, Parkinson, and neurodegenerative disorders were searched in the databases based on DG and its derivatives.โ
Sahu P et al. โข Steroids (2020)
โThis hormone progressively declines at the rate of 2% per year.โ
Wu FC et al. โข Food & function (2019)
โIt is noteworthy that newly synthesized DSG derivatives and DSG delivery systems have good antithrombotic activity and pharmacokinetic characteristics.โ
Depypere HT et al. โข Maturitas (2014)
โThe results of RCTs of the hop flavonoid 8-prenylnaringenin are conflicting.โ
Shou C et al. โข Chinese journal of integrative medicine (2011)
โFuture larger and better controlled studies testing the effectiveness of these treatments are needed.โ
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