Wild Yam
Overview
Wild yam is a plant that has been promoted as natural DHEA. It contains diosgenin, which can be used in the lab to create steroids like DHEA and estrogen.
Although some people use wild yam as a source of these steroids, the body can't make estrogen and DHEA from wild yam. This conversion has to be done in a lab. There might be other chemicals in wild yam that act like estrogen in the body. Only some types of wild yam can be eaten.
People most commonly use wild yam as a "natural alterative" to estrogen therapy for symptoms of menopause, infertility, menstrual problems, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support any of these uses.
Although some people use wild yam as a source of these steroids, the body can't make estrogen and DHEA from wild yam. This conversion has to be done in a lab. There might be other chemicals in wild yam that act like estrogen in the body. Only some types of wild yam can be eaten.
People most commonly use wild yam as a "natural alterative" to estrogen therapy for symptoms of menopause, infertility, menstrual problems, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support any of these uses.
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