Evidence supporting the use of: Wild yam
For the health condition: PMS Type S

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Synopsis

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

Wild yam (Dioscorea villosa) has a long history of use in traditional herbal medicine for a variety of women’s health issues, including menstrual discomforts like those seen in PMS Type S (which is characterized by symptoms such as swelling, breast tenderness, and bloating, believed to be related to excess estrogen or water retention). Traditional herbalists have used wild yam as a "natural progesterone" source, although wild yam itself does not contain progesterone; rather, it contains diosgenin, a compound that can be chemically converted in the laboratory (not in the human body) into progesterone or other steroids. This misconception has contributed to its use in PMS formulas intended to balance hormones or ease premenstrual symptoms. However, clinical evidence supporting wild yam’s efficacy for PMS—particularly Type S—is minimal or lacking. Most support comes from anecdotal use and traditional herbal texts rather than scientific studies. There are no high-quality randomized controlled trials demonstrating that wild yam extract or supplements have a significant effect on PMS symptoms in humans. Thus, its use is justified by tradition and historical herbal practice, but current scientific evidence is weak and does not substantiate its effectiveness for this particular indication.

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