Wild Yam (Dioscorea villosa)
Native to eastern North America, wild yam grows from southern Ontario, Canada, to Florida, and stretches from the Great Plains to Rhode Island. This twisting, climbing perennial vine thrives in damp, sandy soils along woodland edges and thickets. Recognized for its heart-shaped, deeply veined leaves and long, tuberous rhizomes, wild yam has a bitter taste and is not typically consumed as food but is valued for its traditional wellness uses.
Wild yam has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for thousands of years, dating back to the Divine Husbandman’s Classic of Materia Medica. Indigenous North American healers also utilized its roots and rhizomes, and later, European settlers incorporated it into American folk herbalism.
Clarifying the Connection to Progesterone
There is widespread misinformation regarding wild yam and progesterone. While wild yam contains saponins, which yield diosgenin, a steroid-like compound, the human body cannot convert diosgenin into progesterone. Only laboratory processing can manipulate diosgenin into human hormones, meaning wild yam contains no natural progesterone.
Our Wild Yam Powder
Our wild yam powder is made from wild-harvested roots. It is commonly prepared as a decoction, liquid extract, or blended into multi-herb formulations.
Precautions
No known precautions. Consult a qualified healthcare practitioner before using herbal products, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
