College of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion

College of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion

 

AYURVEDIC HERB SUPPLEMENTS

Wild Yam (Dioscorea villosa)

A superb antispasmodic for all forms of colic, from intestinal to menstrual. Bitter.

How Does This Ayurvedic Herb Supplement Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

2-3 months of use are required for hormonal action. Caution with so called "Wild Yam Progesterone Creams" - typically they are not even made from Wild Yam. Additional, progesterone supplements create extra burden on the liver, without addressing the root cause of estrogen dominance.
Ayurveda Wild Yam Whole Plant Large

Suggested Use

1 dropper full 2x/day or as directed by your practitioner.
See guidelines for tinctures?

Metabolic Nature of Wild Yam

See a complete list of all biocharacteristics.

METABOLIC NATURE

Metabolic Nature

Ayurveda assesses metabolic imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (gunas). Aggravating them weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which biocharacteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct metabolic imbalances before you get sick. Every biocharacteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite biocharacteristic.

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COLD

ABOUT COLD BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold refers to anything that reduces body temperature, metabolism, and blood flow.

LEARN MORE ABOUT COLD

TASTES

The 6 Tastes

Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food. Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body. Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food. Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods. Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion. Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste. One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes. The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below?

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ASTRINGENT

ABOUT ASTRINGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Astringency is characterized by constriction, drawing together, or drying.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ASTRINGENT

BITTER

ABOUT BITTER BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Bitter taste has cholagogue action - it is cold, clear, light, and stimulating. It increases digestive enzymes and is laxative, and drying.

LEARN MORE ABOUT BITTER

DOSHAS

The Three Doshas / Body Types

Ayurveda is a metabolic theory of medicine that explains individual health, tendencies, and disease patterns through the concept of doshas, which can be understood as your metabolic patterns and tendencies.

Each dosha reflects a distinct metabolic nature and describes strengths & weaknesses in bodily function, and how these affect energy levels, digestion, susceptibility to disease, and many other tendencies.

Your metabolic nature not only affects your physical characteristics, but also influences your mental thought patterns, confidence, and enthusiasm.

Ayurveda balances these metabolic strengths & weaknesses to support your body's vitality and prevent recurrent disease cycles. This support is a critical aid, especially in chronic or incurable disease conditions.

The 3 metabolic body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha).

Through dosha, Ayurveda empowers people to identify metabolic imbalances early, break repetitive patterns of disease, and cultivate habits that support long-term vitality and well-being.

Ultimately, these metabolic patterns also provide a framework for understanding yourself, including body, mind, and spiritual tendencies.

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PACIFIES
Kapha pacifying Pitta pacifying Vata pacifying

GREEK MEDICINE / TEMPERAMENTS

The Four Temperaments / Humors

Ayurveda & Greek Medicine were the dominant form of medicine along the Silk Road from England to China and South Asia. They work by assessing your metabolic type, patterns, and nature. Greek medicine recognizes 4 metabolic temperaments, Melancholic, Choleric, Sanguine, and Phlegmatic.

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PACIFIES
CHOLERIC

ABOUT CHOLERIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Has a hot and dry metabolic nature. Enthusiastic, vibrant and bright. In excess burns up fluids and ojas, irritable. Corresponds to high bilirubin in the blood that irritates and heats up the body and liver.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CHOLERIC

MELANCHOLIC

ABOUT MELANCHOLIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold and dry metabolic nature. Colicky, tense. Withdrawn, pensive, anxious, and hesitant.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MELANCHOLIC

PHLEGMATIC

ABOUT PHLEGMATIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Wet & cold. When out of balance becomes congested, stagnant, and overweight. Loving, trusting, and patient.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PHLEGMATIC

SANGUINE

ABOUT SANGUINE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Hot & moist. Full-blooded, vigorous. Vivacious, social, and epicurean. Bullish.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SANGUINE

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Wild Yam
Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

(see all)
Antacid

ANTACID

Herbs that neutralize acidity in the gastrointestinal tract, the stomach in particular.

SEE ALL 'ANTACID' FOODS / HERBS

,
Carminative

CARMINATIVE

Stimulates the release of gas. Helpful for bloating or cramping abdominal pain. Propels food downward. Carminatives typically expel gas by relaxing the muscles of the intestines.

SEE ALL 'CARMINATIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Analgesic

ANALGESIC

Pain reliever, reduces pain without eliminating sensation. Also known as anodyne.

SEE ALL 'ANALGESIC' FOODS / HERBS

,
Nerve Growth Tonic

NERVE-GROWTH-TONIC

Stimulate neurite / axon growth, promotes regeneration.

SEE ALL 'NERVE-GROWTH-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

,
Neuroprotective

NEUROPROTECTIVE

Repairs / restores damaged nerves. Protects nerve health.

SEE ALL 'NEUROPROTECTIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Diaphoretic

DIAPHORETIC

An herb that induces sweating, often by dilating blood vessels close to the skin.

SEE ALL 'DIAPHORETIC' FOODS / HERBS

Anti Inflammatory

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

Reduces inflammation in the body. Different herbs and carriers target different body systems.

SEE ALL 'ANTI-INFLAMMATORY' FOODS / HERBS

Diuretic

DIURETIC

Herbs that promote urine formation, thereby flushing the kidneys and urinary tract while eliminating any excess water retention. As diuretics reduce water retention, they are often used to reduce blood pressure.

SEE ALL 'DIURETIC' FOODS / HERBS

Contraceptive

CONTRACEPTIVE

Herbs that reduce fertility or prevent conception. There are no reliable herbal contraceptives!

SEE ALL 'CONTRACEPTIVE' FOODS / HERBS

,
Estrogenic

ESTROGENIC

Increases estrogen, helpful in menopause. Estrogen is anabolic and increases muscle growth, bone density, and moisture.

SEE ALL 'ESTROGENIC' FOODS / HERBS

,
Progesteronic

PROGESTERONIC

Progeserone is the pregnancy hormone. It raises body temperature (Pitta), and suppresses menstruation. It is generally more extroverted.

SEE ALL 'PROGESTERONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Muscle Relaxant

MUSCLE-RELAXANT

Herbs that relax muscles. Helpful for chronic pain or tension as well as healing from physical trauma.

SEE ALL 'MUSCLE-RELAXANT' FOODS / HERBS

,
Antispasmodic

STRONG ANTISPASMODIC

Herbs that reduce or inhibit muscle spasms or cramping, such as in asthma, menstruation, hear palpitations, migraine, or IBS.

SEE ALL 'ANTISPASMODIC' FOODS / HERBS

Constituents:
Saponins

SAPONINS

Can be used to make soap. Saponins stimulate mucus membrane secretion, liquefying mucus for easy removal (expectorant).

SEE ALL 'SAPONINS' FOODS / HERBS

Foods with a Similar Nature to Wild Yam

  • Nigella (black cumin)

    Nigella (black cumin) has these Actions in Common

    Diuretic, Analgesic, Carminative, Anti-inflammatory, Diaphoretic, Antispasmodic

    LEARN MORE

  • Mustard Powder

    Mustard Powder has these Actions in Common

    Analgesic, Diaphoretic, Antispasmodic, Diuretic, Carminative, Muscle-relaxant

    LEARN MORE

  • Mustard Seed

    Mustard Seed has these Actions in Common

    Carminative, Muscle-relaxant, Analgesic, Diaphoretic, Antispasmodic, Diuretic

    LEARN MORE

  • Mustard

    Mustard has these Actions in Common

    Carminative, Muscle-relaxant, Analgesic, Diaphoretic, Antispasmodic, Diuretic

    LEARN MORE

  • Turmeric

    Turmeric has these Actions in Common

    Anti-inflammatory, Nerve-growth-tonic, Antispasmodic, Neuroprotective, Analgesic, Carminative

    LEARN MORE

  • Cardamom

    Cardamom has these Actions in Common

    Carminative, Analgesic, Diaphoretic, Antispasmodic, Diuretic

    LEARN MORE

  • Chamomile

    Chamomile has these Actions in Common

    Antispasmodic, Analgesic, Carminative, Anti-inflammatory, Diaphoretic

    LEARN MORE

  • Fennel Seeds

    Fennel Seeds has these Actions in Common

    Carminative, Analgesic, Diuretic, Antispasmodic, Estrogenic

    LEARN MORE

  • Fenugreek

    Fenugreek has these Actions in Common

    Diaphoretic, Anti-inflammatory, Diuretic, Carminative, Estrogenic

    LEARN MORE

  • Basil

    Basil has these Actions in Common

    Antispasmodic, Diuretic, Carminative, Anti-inflammatory, Diaphoretic

    LEARN MORE

  • Allspice

    Allspice has these Actions in Common

    Muscle-relaxant, Antispasmodic, Analgesic, Carminative, Anti-inflammatory

    LEARN MORE

Herbs & Supplements with a Similar Nature to Wild Yam

  • Ashwagandha

    Ashwagandha has these Actions in Common

    Neuroprotective, Progesteronic, Analgesic, Anti-inflammatory, Antispasmodic, Diuretic, Muscle-relaxant, Nerve-growth-tonic

    LEARN MORE

  • Lemon Balm

    Lemon Balm has these Actions in Common

    Muscle-relaxant, Nerve-growth-tonic, Neuroprotective, Analgesic, Antispasmodic, Carminative, Diaphoretic

    LEARN MORE

  • Black Cohosh

    Black Cohosh has these Actions in Common

    Analgesic, Anti-inflammatory, Antispasmodic, Diaphoretic, Estrogenic, Muscle-relaxant, Progesteronic

    LEARN MORE

  • Yarrow

    Yarrow has these Actions in Common

    Diuretic, Estrogenic, Analgesic, Anti-inflammatory, Antispasmodic, Carminative, Diaphoretic

    LEARN MORE

  • Motherwort

    Motherwort has these Actions in Common

    Muscle-relaxant, Analgesic, Anti-inflammatory, Antispasmodic, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Estrogenic

    LEARN MORE

  • Black Haw

    Black Haw has these Actions in Common

    Analgesic, Anti-inflammatory, Antispasmodic, Carminative, Muscle-relaxant, Progesteronic

    LEARN MORE

  • Cramp Bark

    Cramp Bark has these Actions in Common

    Estrogenic, Muscle-relaxant, Analgesic, Anti-inflammatory, Antispasmodic, Carminative

    LEARN MORE

  • Chastetree Berry

    Chastetree Berry has these Actions in Common

    Analgesic, Antispasmodic, Diuretic, Estrogenic, Muscle-relaxant, Progesteronic

    LEARN MORE

  • Blue Cohosh

    Blue Cohosh has these Actions in Common

    Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Estrogenic, Muscle-relaxant, Analgesic, Antispasmodic

    LEARN MORE

  • Pennyroyal

    Pennyroyal has these Actions in Common

    Carminative, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Muscle-relaxant, Analgesic, Antispasmodic

    LEARN MORE


Joyful Belly is a recognized college of biocharacteristics medicine.

TRADITIONALLY INDICATED FOR
THESE SYMPTOMS

Wild Yam may be beneficial for these symptoms. The suitability of any herb supplement for a condition is highly dependent on the individual. Please see your doctor before using this herb supplement to treat a medical condition.

CONTRAINDICATED FOR
THESE SYMPTOMS

Wild Yam may be harmful or contraindicated for these symptoms. Please see your doctor before using this herb supplement to treat a medical condition.

Herb Drug Interaction Risk

Here are some potential herb drug interactions with Wild Yam. Please see your health care provider for more information.

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What is Ayurveda?

Founder of Joyful Belly Ayurveda, John Immel, answers the question ‘What is Ayurveda?’

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* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The information and products on this website are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.