Evidence supporting the use of: Wild yam
For the health condition: Progesterone (low)

Links: Go back one page, Tool main page, Ingredients list, Health conditions list, Body systems list

Synopsis

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

Wild yam (Dioscorea villosa) has been traditionally used in herbal medicine, particularly by Native American and early European herbalists, for various women's health concerns, including menopausal symptoms and menstrual discomfort. The use of wild yam to support low progesterone is rooted in the belief that it contains compounds (notably diosgenin) that are precursors to steroid hormones like progesterone. However, while diosgenin can be chemically converted into progesterone in a laboratory setting, the human body cannot perform this conversion simply by ingesting wild yam or its extracts. Most commercial "natural progesterone" creams are made with lab-synthesized progesterone from diosgenin, but the plant itself does not yield bioavailable progesterone when consumed or applied topically. Scientific studies have failed to demonstrate that wild yam has any significant effect on human progesterone levels, and reputable clinical guidelines do not support its use for this purpose. Therefore, while its use is "traditional," the evidence base is very weak, and it should not be relied upon for managing low progesterone levels.

More about wild yam
More about Progesterone (low)