Evidence supporting the use of: Wild yam
For the health condition: Hot Flashes

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Synopsis

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

Wild yam (Dioscorea villosa) has a long history of traditional use for women’s health, including the management of menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes. Herbalists and folk medicine practitioners have recommended wild yam for centuries, largely based on the belief that it acts as a natural source of hormones or as a phytoestrogen, which could help balance hormonal fluctuations that cause hot flashes. The root contains a compound called diosgenin, which can be chemically converted into steroid hormones like progesterone in the laboratory. However, the human body does not naturally convert diosgenin into hormones, and consuming wild yam or its extracts does not increase hormone levels in people.

Modern scientific studies have not substantiated the efficacy of wild yam for hot flashes. Clinical trials are limited and generally of low quality, with most showing no significant difference between wild yam and placebo for relief of hot flashes or other menopausal symptoms. The use of wild yam for this purpose remains rooted in tradition rather than evidence-based medicine. Therefore, while wild yam is commonly marketed and used for menopausal support, including hot flashes, this use is justified primarily by tradition, and the scientific evidence supporting its effectiveness is weak (rated 1 out of 5).

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