Evidence supporting the use of: Dioscorea
For the body system: Adrenal Cortex

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Synopsis

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

Dioscorea, commonly known as wild yam, has a long history of traditional use, especially in herbal and natural medicine systems. It is often promoted for supporting women’s health, particularly around menopause, and is sometimes claimed to support adrenal health due to its role in traditional "hormone-balancing" formulas. The rationale is that diosgenin, a compound found in Dioscorea, is a precursor in the laboratory synthesis of steroid hormones, including corticosteroids and sex hormones. However, there is no scientific evidence that diosgenin is converted into these hormones within the human body after ingestion. The connection to adrenal cortex support is thus based on traditional beliefs rather than clinical trials or biochemical validation. There are no robust human studies demonstrating that Dioscorea or its extracts directly support or enhance adrenal cortex function, hormone production, or stress response. In summary, while Dioscorea is traditionally used in some herbal blends purported for adrenal or hormonal support, there is minimal scientific evidence to substantiate these claims.

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