Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Barbasco is a common name for various plants in Latin America, most notably species of the genus Dioscorea (wild yam), such as Dioscorea mexicana and Dioscorea composita. These plants have a long history of traditional use in indigenous medicine for a variety of ailments, including as an aid to women's reproductive health. The connection between barbasco and the "progesterone body system" comes from the fact that barbasco yams contain high levels of diosgenin, a plant steroid that can be chemically converted in the laboratory into progesterone and other corticosteroids. This conversion, however, does not occur naturally in the human body through consumption of the raw plant or its extracts. The industrial synthesis of progesterone from diosgenin revolutionized hormone therapy and birth control in the mid-20th century. Despite this, there is no strong scientific evidence that consuming barbasco or wild yam directly increases progesterone levels or supports the progesterone system in humans. Some traditional herbal practices use wild yam for menstrual or menopausal symptoms, likely due to this historical association, but clinical studies have not demonstrated a direct hormonal effect. Thus, the use of barbasco to support the progesterone body system is grounded primarily in tradition and historical context rather than direct scientific evidence.

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