Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 1

Wild yam (Dioscorea villosa) has been traditionally used in herbal medicine, particularly in North America and Europe, to support various women’s health concerns, including menstrual irregularity. The root contains compounds called diosgenin, which can be chemically converted into steroid hormones like progesterone in the laboratory. However, it is important to note that the human body does not perform this conversion naturally after ingestion. The traditional use is based largely on the belief that wild yam can help balance female hormones and regulate menstrual cycles, possibly easing symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and menopause as well.

Despite its historical use, scientific evidence supporting wild yam’s effectiveness for menstrual irregularity is minimal. Most of the available research has focused on its use for menopausal symptoms, and even in these cases, results are inconclusive or show little to no benefit over placebo. No robust clinical trials directly support its use for menstrual irregularity. The continued popularity of wild yam for this purpose is primarily rooted in tradition and anecdotal reports, rather than scientific validation. Health authorities and review articles generally do not recommend wild yam for menstrual issues due to this lack of evidence. Therefore, while wild yam is commonly used in traditional herbal practice for menstrual irregularity, modern science does not currently substantiate its efficacy for this condition.

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