(Dioscorea villosa)

Wild Yam root was first discovered by Japanese researchers in 1936. They found that several Mexican yam species produced the steroid diosgenin. Progesterone is produced from these steroid drugs. Mexican women had used wild yam as a contraceptive for centuries. Today the most popular and widely used birth control pill in the world is derived from wild yam. American herbalist have used wild yam for decades for painful menstruation, ovarian pain, cramps and problems with child birth. Wild yam root has also been used for gallbladder pain, to lower cholesterol and blood pressure.