Wild Yam

Properties: bitter, antispasmodic, antirheumatic, anti-inflammatory, diaphoretic

Systems Affected: glandular, circulatory, digestive

Common Names: colic root, china root, rheumatism root

Folk history and use

Wild yam root has traditionally been used to treat any type of muscle spasm and inflammatory condition. It is especially associated with relief of inflammatory bowel conditions, arthritis, rheumatism, colic and spasmodic dysmenorrhea.

Folk lore talks about wild yam as being the anti-miscarriage herb for women and has been used in our equine practise to provide specific nutrition to the pituitary gland in order to keep the progesterone levels of pregnant broodmares up in order to maintain pregnancies once pregnancy is confirmed. This is especially beneficial for broodmares who have a history of absorbing the foal at any stage of the pregnancy or the owner who would like a natural alternative to regumate. Unlike chastetree berry which should be discontinued at time of conception, it can be used safely during pregnancy. We have also had great success in using the wild yam to aid pituitary gland function and is useful for many equine conditions. Is a good supplement for horses diagnosed with cushings, or are pre-cushinoid candidates. All our older horses receive it periodically during the year and especially in the coldest months of winter to help them cope with the stress of environmental challenges. Our older broodmares now receive it all the way through their pregnancy. Our cold climate puts alot of pressure on the broodmares especially in January and February where you hear of mares aborting at 8-9 months. This simple addition to the diet can assist the mare to stay strong healthy and pregnant. For a modest cost of about $ 25 per month you have a foal to sell in the spring, instead of starting all over again and losing that year of productivity, which really is very costly to the breeder who loses a foal due to lowered progesterone levels in the broodmare.

Wild yam is an excellent herb for horses that have been in heavy competition and race horses from the rack, as it helps to rejuvenate an exhausted adrenal gland. This indirectly helps reduce the stress on the liver and has a direct effect on horses that are nervous and excitable. This alone helps the show horse to stay relaxed, focused and successful. In humans it has also shown a benefit for lowering cholestoral and blood pressure levels.

Medicinal properties

The action of wild yam is based entirely on its steroidal glycosides. The mechanism of their action is probably quite different for each one that consumes it. The body manufactures a wide variety of compounds out of the building blocks provided by the wild yam root. This could explain the balancing effects it has on the digestive and reproductive systems.

Chemical constituents are astringent compounds (tannins), bitter compounds (saponins, sapogenin, yamogenin), and mucilaginous compounds (polysaccharides, mucilage).

A nutritional analysis provided by the book Nutritional Herbology indicates the following wild yam root nutrients: calcium, chromium*, cobalt*, fiber, iron, magnesium, manganese*, niacin, phosphorus, potassium, riboflavin, selenium, silicon, sodium*, thiamine, vitamin a, and d and zinc*. *devotes high concentration levels.

For information on this or any of our large selection of equine products contact:

Sharon Stebeleski, BPE, Irid. Herbalist
NATURALLY YOURS
Box 526 Lorette, Manitoba ROA OYO
(204) 878-2493
E-mail: info@healinghorsesnaturally.com
Visa Accepted

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