Wild Yam - The Herb

General description and domicile:
A perennial vine that is found in Eastern and Central America. It grows in hedges or entwined in trees. It has a long, knotty, branched root disproportionably large to the plant, has little or no scent and very little taste other than an acrid aftertaste.
There are many varieties of the Dioscorea family that occur in tropical areas. Some are edible but others, like Dioscorea Hirsuta are poisonous.
Many of the varieties of Dioscorea are used in the pharmaceutical industry for the extraction of saponins used in the preparation of steroids.

Part used and extraction:
The dried root or rhizome is used.
 

Remedy preparation:
The dried root or rhizome is normally taken in powdered form or as a fluid extract prepared from dried root.
The roots, when dried, lose their therapeutic value after about a year so it is important to always use freshly dried roots.
 

History:
Best known for its value in treating colic, abdominal pain and menstrual cramps.
 

Used for treatment of:

Colic.

Abdominal pain

Rheumatism

Hormone replacement. Because Wild Yam contains steroidal saponins it has been the focus of hormone therapy. However to date this is not supported by clinical studies (Ref: Her-1)

Properties:
Antispasmodic
Anti-inflammatory


Constituents:

Steroidal Saponins: Sometimes referred to as nortriterpenes steroidal saponins are not true triterpenes since their C27 ring skeletons cannot be broken up into isoprene units. Some steroidal saponins are used as precursors of sex hormones and are thought to be responsible for estrogenic activity of some herbs.

Alkaloids Typical alkaloids are alkaline organic vegetable substances containing one or more nitrogen atoms. This nitrogen base is capable of combining with acids to form crystalline salts. Most alkaloids are derived from amino acids while a few are derived from isoprene units. Alkaloids are white or colourless solids containing oxygen (oxygen free alkaloids are few and far between and then can only exist as liquids) Most alkaloids are not water soluble, extraction is normally by tincture.
Alkaloids are found in about one quarter of all flowering plants. Thousands of alkaloids have been identified from a large number of plants where the alkaloid can be present in virtually every part of the plant or just a specific part like rhizome, leaf or seed.
Alkaloids generally have profound physiological impact on the human body and nervous system effects are predominant.
Many alkaloids are used as extracted and refined compounds derived from the actual plants or synthesised compounds in pharmaceutical drugs.
Several Alkaloids are banned in many countries because of the extreme impact on the nervous system (strychnine for instance is a deadly poison in very small doses) and the habit forming nature of some of the alkaloid compounds.