Wild Yam and Yucca

Wild Yam (Dioscorea villosa)  Active Compounds: Steroidal saponins, based on diosgenin: dioscin, dioscorin, and others

Remedies For:  Anti-spasmodic, anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic, hepatic, cholagogue, diaphoretic, antibilious.

This valuable herb was at one time the sole source of the chemicals that were used as the raw materials for contraceptive hormone manufacture. In herbal medicine Wild Yam is a remedy that can be used to relieve intestinal colic, to soothe diverticulitis, ease dysmenorrhoea and ovarian and uterine pains. It is of great use in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, especially the acute phase where there is intense inflammation. Known to stimulate the body’s own production of precursor hormone DHEA useful for increasing vitality, immune function, settling nervous system.

Traditional herbalists recommend this herb for: bilious colic; other forms of colic with spasmodic contractions; yellow skin and conjunctiva, with nausea and colicky pains; tongue coated, paroxysmal abdominal pain, and a stomach deranged; frequent small, flatulent, alvine passages; colic, with tenderness on pressure; sharp abdominal pain, made worse by motion.

Combinations : To relieve intestinal colic it may be combined with Calamus, Chamomile and Ginger. For rheumatoid arthritis it may be used with Black Cohosh.

Yucca (Yucca schidigera)

Active Compounds:  The saponins from yucca are the main medicinal agents in the plant. They have both a water-soluble and fat-soluble end and therefore act like soap. The authors of the study looking at patients with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis speculate that yucca saponins block release of toxins from the intestines which inhibit normal formation of cartilage. An extract of one species of yucca has been found to fight melanoma cells in test tube studies.

Native Americans used the soapy leaves from yucca for numerous conditions. Poultices or baths were used for skin sores and other diseases as well as for sprains. Inflammation of all sorts, including joint inflammations, and bleeding were also treated with yucca. Some report that the Native Americans washed their hair with yucca to fight dandruff and hair loss.

Yucca is useful for the treatment of:

cancer
osteoarthritis
rheumatoid arthritis

Scientists have isolated a strong anti-tumor factor from fresh yucca flowers, which disappears when the plant wilts or dies. This was reported in a series of animal tests.

Safety:  Yucca and other saponins can cause red blood cells to burst (known as “hemolysis”) in test tubes. The level to which this occurs when the saponins are taken by mouth is unknown. However, yucca is approved for use in foods as a foaming agent (particularly in root beer). Since there have been no reports of problems with hemolysis in root beer drinkers, we can assume that yucca herbal supplements are generally safe.