Yams is a medicinal plant that has been known to us for hundreds of years and is often used for women's ailments and beyond due to its healing effects.
Here you can find out everything you should consider when using yams and why it is so good for the female hormonal balance.
Yam root - what it can do
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In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), yams have been used since the beginning of time to strengthen physical health. Native Americans used yam root for all sorts of female ailments and often as a contraceptive. The latter is, of course, not scientifically proven, but its healing effect on abdominal pain, cramps, and inner balance is. That is why it is still often taken for PMS and menstrual problems today.
By the way: Yam root is the ancestor of the birth control pill.
Because it contains a hormone - diosgenin - which is very similar to human progesterone. The first contraceptive pill was made from it in the 1930s.
But yams are not only particularly beneficial for women's ailments. The wild plant is said to have a bone-strengthening effect and thus can prevent osteoporosis. The substances it contains help with calcium absorption, which strengthens bones and is supposed to slow down the premature breakdown of bone structure. In addition, the proteins collagen I and laminin B2 are promoted, which support bone formation in the body.
Women in menopause can also benefit from the positive power of yam root. Just as with PMS and menstrual problems, the hormonal balance is regulated here too. This resolves mood swings, hot flashes, and other ailments that menopause brings. The increased diosgenin content in yams has a similar structure to progesterone and can therefore counteract estrogen dominance. This means that hormones are brought back into balance and can thus be in a good state of equilibrium again.
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Yams for PMS
A particularly important area of action of the medicinal plant concerns numerous women of all ages. The PMS period before the monthly period. The hormone-regulating effect can provide relief for premenstrual syndrome and help women cope better during this time. Complaints during this sensitive time can include headaches, abdominal pain, mood swings, digestive problems, sleep disturbances, breast tenderness, and many others.
The root contains numerous vitamins, minerals, and the aforementioned hormone-like diosgenin, which can rebalance our hormone levels. Diosgenin is the precursor of progesterone, which is responsible for the female cycle. The minerals zinc, iron, manganese, and copper, as well as vitamins B and C, help with blood formation and a balancing body function.
Yams for men
In addition to the aforementioned areas of action of this medicinal plant, we have so far left out one group: men.
They too can benefit from the healing effects of yam root. Men also produce the hormone estrogen, though to a much lesser extent than women. But they too can also suffer from estrogen dominance. Although men do not have typical symptoms of PMS, they can also experience mood swings and other challenges. For example, yam root extract is said to help with weak beard growth, against mood swings, or against sexual disinterest and restlessness. A healthy prostate function in men can also be supported by the regular consumption of yam root.
What to consider when preparing it
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When preparing and consuming yam root, you should make sure that it is not eaten raw. In its raw state, it contains toxins that can be harmful to our human organism, so it should always be fried or cooked before consumption.
The whole root can usually be found in Asian stores. You can prepare it similarly to potatoes or sweet potatoes by peeling it and cooking it in salted water. You should always discard the water, as the toxin oxalic acid transfers into the water.
All our articles are written by nutritionists and checked for content quality by expert specialists.
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