Wild Yam Herb Health Benefits and Properties - Research and Studies

A small number of animal studies suggest the wild yam herb may help lower blood sugar in diabetic animals; however, further research is needed to confirm this effect in humans, according to a report in the March 2005 issue of the West Indian Medical Journal.

Powdered wild yam can reduce elevated cholesterol levels and increase disease-fighting antioxidant activity, according to a recent animal study in the May 2005 issue of the Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology.

While most studies have found that supplementing with wild yam does not raise hormone levels, one recent controlled study - reported in the August 2005 issue of the Journal of the American College of Nutrition - replaced two-thirds of dietary staples (primarily rice) with yams. Researchers found hormone, cholesterol and antioxidant levels improved significantly in this group of postmenopausal women. The women ate approximately 390g of yam (Dioscoreaalata) daily for 30 days. However, since the study's results are not consistent with previous studies, further research needs to be done to confirm and understand them.

Animal studies suggest that the wild yam herb may decrease the anti-inflammatory effects of indomethacin and, possibly, other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, although this has not been studied in humans.

Other animal studies suggest that a closely related yam species, the bitter yam or African yam, may lower blood sugar levels. It is not known if wild yam has any effect on blood sugar levels in humans, so caution is advised if you take insulin or drugs by mouth to lower blood sugar levels.

Wild Yam Pages | Wild Yams - History and Methods of Use | Wild Yam Benefits on Health | Wild Yam Root, Wild Yam Extract and Mexican Wild Yam - More Information and Benefits | Benefits of Wild Yam Cream, Gel and Lotion | Wild Yam Herb Health Benefits and Properties - Research and Studies | Side Effects of Wild Yam - also Safety, Caution and Contraindications

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