Native to eastern North America, wild yam (Dioscorea villosa) grows from Ontario, Canada, to Florida, thriving in damp, sandy soils along woodland edges and thickets. This twisting, climbing vine has heart-shaped, deeply veined leaves and long, tuberous rhizomes. While bitter in taste and not typically eaten, wild yam is valued for its wellness-supporting properties.
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.
Common preparations include decoctions, liquid extracts, and multi-herbal formulations.
Precautions
No known precautions. Consult a healthcare practitioner before use, especially if pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
