Wild Yam

The wild yam is native to both Central America and North America. Some of the many known names for wild yam include rheumatism root, devil’s bones, colicroot, Mexican yam, and China root. They use the wild yam root as an herbal remedy and for therapeutic purposes. In ancient civilizations, the Aztecs used wild yams for alleviating pain. People in many parts of the world use wild yam extract for many different medical purposes.

Some women use a cream of wild yam for breast enhancement, progesterone cream with wild yam, wild yam extract as a PMS remedy and menopausal symptom relief supplement. Many believe that diosgenin and other wild yam components let it imitate progesterone and additional hormones, which they believe helps it work as a PMS remedy and corrects hormonal imbalances. There is very little scientific evidence to support wild yam benefits or wild yam cream benefits but many people find that it works for them along with relief from:

• Muscle pain
  
• Menstrual cramps
  
• Muscle cramps
  
• Anti inflammatory
  
• Arthritis
  

Used as a moisturizer, vitamin E enrich wild yam cream rubbed into the upper arms, belly, and using wild yam cream and breast massage, makes the skin feel soft. The suggested wild yam cream dosage is using one half teaspoon twice daily. Women using wild yam cream for breasts skin softness find it often relieves menopausal symptoms such as vaginal discomfort and dryness, night sweats, and hot flashes. Some believe taking wild yam for breasts reduces their risk of breast cancer although these wild yam breast results are not scientifically proven.

Wild yam is available in gel and cream, which is rubbed into the skin while wild yam supplements are available in tinctures, liquids, dried root, and capsules, taken by mouth. Available in many health food stores, some combine vitamins, minerals, and other herbs with the wild yam or add synthetic progesterone to their wild yam creams although many fail to advertise this. In homeopathic medicine, dried or fresh wild yam is added to liquid extracts.

Although wild yam side effects are few because there is no known toxicity, some individuals taking excessive levels have reported diarrhea and nausea but the side effects stop when they decrease the amount of wild yam they take. When using wild yam for breasts or for other purposes, always talk to your physician or herbal specialist first. Wild yam should not be used by women breast-feeding or by pregnant women.