Formulas
What is wild yam root used for
In contrast to other yams, wild yam has a non-edible, fibrous and knotted rhizome that is dried instead. Somewhat bitter, most brew wild yam root with other tea herbs to improve flavor. It can also be used to make infusions and tinctures and to make skin creams and lotions.
Wild Yam Tea
- Add wild yam root
- Add tea of preference to boiling water
- Steep
- Strain
- Sweeten with honey to taste
Wild Yam Health Benefits
What does wild yam root do?
People most commonly use dried wild yam root as a "natural alternative" to estrogen therapy to help symptoms of menopause, infertility, menstrual problems, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses of wild yam root.
Wild yam root benefits
Dried wild yam root is said to help manage numerous conditions, though scientific research on these uses is either limited or largely disproves them. Today, it’s most frequently processed into a topical cream, which is said to alleviate symptoms associated with menopause and premenstrual syndrome (PMS) today.
Native Americans boiled wild yam root to produce a tonic to counter various complaints, including occasional indigestion and abdominal cramping. They also applied the liquid to swollen joints. The effects of wild yam root, also known as colic root and rheumatism root, are largely due to steroidal saponins.