Wild Yam P.E.
Specification: Diosgenin 16%, 20%, 98% HPLC.
Appearance: White fine powder.
Odor: Characteristic.
Identified Scientific Name: Dioscorea Villosa. Synonyms: Colic-root, Devil's-bones, Rheumatism Root, Wilde Yamwurzel, rheumatism root, China root, devil's bones, yuma, Mexican wild yam, wilde yamwurzel, wild Mexican yam. Parts used: Dried rhizome and roots. The fruit is a three-winged capsule containing winged seeds. Introduction: When it was decided to review the wild yam and related Dioscorea species it was probably in ignorance of the complexity of the task. This is a fascinating plant with many uses in folk lore and also in the history of the development of modern pharmacy. The number of species is quite overwhelming (over 600) and the ethnobotanical use most interesting.
Function: Dioscorea root contains diosgenin, which has anti-fatigue, anti-inflammatory, anti-stress, hypocholesterolemic, and estrogenic effects. Dioscorea is antispasmodic, and could be helpful for nausea of pregnant women (morning sickness), spasmodic hiccough and asthma. Most women experience lack of progesterone, not estrogen. Natural progesterone supplements are used to balance estrogen. Natural progesterone has a structure similar to that of human progesterone and is made form plant fats; One of such fats is diosgenin. Wild Yam is reach in diosgenin, so it became the most popular source of natural progesterone.