Wild yam and other plants with similar constituents continue to be the main source of these drugs. Another compound, dioscoretine, has been shown to lower blood sugar levels in diabetic rabbits. An extract of wild yam was found to have antioxidant properties. 3 Wild yam is also considered to be a strong antispasmodic and is potentially anti-inflammatory. However, wild yam saponins or other constituents may have properties similar to these compounds.
Pharmaceutical progesterone is made from wild yam using a chemical conversion process.
Women who require progesterone should consult their nutritionally oriented physician and not rely solely on wild yam or other herbs. Many people take up to 2-3 ml of wild yam tincture three to four times per day. Alternatively, one or two capsules or tablets of the dried root can be taken three times each day. Some people may experience nausea when taking large amounts of wild yam. The Herb Book .