Ayurvedic Herb

Wild Yam (has a safety note)

BotanicalDioscorea villosaAlso calledColic root, American wild yam, Devil's bones, Rheumatism root

A twisting, woody root from North American woodlands with a bitter, earthy taste, known in old herbals as colic root.

* Safety note: Has hormone-like activity in lab studies; read the cautions if you have a hormone-sensitive condition. Read the cautions

Wild Yam, root

Wild yam is a slender twining vine of eastern North American woodlands with heart-shaped leaves and a knobbly, woody root. It is not the sweet yam of the dinner table. Dried and simmered, the root makes a thin, bitter, earthy tea. Early American herbalists called it colic root and used it for griping, crampy discomfort.

You may have read that wild yam is a source of natural progesterone. It is not. The root contains diosgenin, a plant compound that chemists can turn into hormones in a laboratory, but wild yam itself does not contain progesterone, and there is no evidence the human body can convert diosgenin into progesterone. Wild yam is also not part of classical Ayurveda, and we found no reliable Ayurvedic profile for it.

Ayurvedic Properties

Not described in classical Ayurveda, and we have not found a reliable modern Ayurvedic profile, so most of its energetics are shown as unknown. The Ayurvedic Institute lists a related Asian yam, Dioscorea opposita, as astringent, bitter and cooling, but we found no reliable profile for this North American species.

RasaTastes
  • Bitter
ViryaHeating or cooling
Not known
VipakaPost-digestive effect
Not known
AgniEffect on digestion
Not known

There is no Ayurvedic basis; Western herbalists used it for crampy digestive discomfort rather than to kindle appetite.

GunaQualities
Not known
TridoshaEffect on Vata, Pitta and Kapha
  • Vata: not known
  • Pitta: not known
  • Kapha: not known
  • decreases (calms that dosha)
  • increases (can aggravate it)
  • neutral or balancing
  • not known
  • V Vata · P Pitta · K Kapha

Wild yam has no established place in Ayurveda, so we do not rate its effect on the doshas. Its plain taste is bitter.

Traditional Uses

  • Traditionally used to support comfort when the belly feels crampy or tight, in 19th century American herbalism (hence the old name colic root).
  • Traditionally used to support relaxed muscles in Western folk herbalism.
  • Traditionally used to support women through monthly and midlife changes in Western herbal practice, though studies in people are few and mixed.

How People Use It

  • TeaGently simmer 1 teaspoon of dried root in 1 1/2 cups of water for 15 minutes, then strain. The tea is bitter, so a slice of ginger or a few fennel seeds makes it easier to drink. Keep to an occasional cup.
Try This

Wild Yam, Ginger and Fennel Decoction

A warm, earthy cup for a crampy afternoon.

  • 1 teaspoon dried wild yam root
  • 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
  • 1 thin slice fresh ginger
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  1. Combine the wild yam, fennel and ginger with the water in a small pan.
  2. Bring to a gentle simmer, cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
  3. Strain into a mug and sip slowly while it is warm.
  4. Enjoy it as an occasional cup rather than a daily habit.

Pairs Well With

Cautions

  • Wild yam does not contain progesterone, and the body cannot turn it into progesterone. Do not rely on wild yam teas or creams labeled 'natural progesterone' in place of medical care.
  • In laboratory studies wild yam and its compound diosgenin show weak estrogen-like activity. If you have a hormone-sensitive condition, such as breast, uterine or ovarian cancer, endometriosis or fibroids, or take hormone therapy or hormonal birth control, talk with your doctor before using it.
  • Avoid wild yam during pregnancy and while breastfeeding; its safety is not known.
  • In animal studies, wild yam extract harmed the kidneys. Avoid it if you have kidney disease.
  • Large amounts may upset the stomach and cause nausea or vomiting.
  • Please consult a qualified practitioner or your doctor before using wild yam, especially if you take any regular medication.

In Our Shop

Organic Wild Yam Root

Organic Wild Yam Root, from $12.75. Weighed and packed by hand at our Rockville Centre studio.

Shop Wild Yam →

Sources and Further Reading

This page shares how herbs are traditionally used in Ayurveda and other herbal traditions. It is for general education only and is not medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, and herbs are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Please talk with your doctor or a qualified practitioner before using herbs, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or managing a health condition.