Some women experience unwanted symptoms during the years leading up to their last menstrual period and afterward. Hormone replacement therapy, the conventional treatment for controlling menopausal symptoms, brings with it an increased risk of heart disease, breast cancer and blood clots, according to Medline Plus, a branch of the National Institutes of Health. Women seeking a natural alternative may use wild yam paste. Alternative treatments and herbal remedies focus on healing without the use of drugs, but consult your doctor before starting a wild yam treatment program.
Herb Features
Wild yam paste contains an extract from the Mexican yam plant. Wild yam is not the root vegetable of the same name that appears in sweet potato side dishes at Thanksgiving, according to the Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine. Use of this herb may be more effective when taken internally as a tea or a tincture.
Benefits
Reducing hot flashes, night sweats, weight gain, rapid heartbeat and other menopausal symptoms are among the intended benefits of using wild yam paste. The Food and Drug Administration does not evaluate wild yam paste, reports Drugs.com, so the effectiveness of the creams and their full range of side effects are unknown.
Method of Use
Women rub a small amount of wild yam paste into their skin daily, usually in a fatty area, such as the lower abdomen, the underside of the breasts or the inner thigh. The exact dosage amount depends upon the strength of the cream.
Research
Wild yam paste sells as a natural hormone replacement alternative to synthetic hormone therapy in health food stores. However, an Australian study reported in the June 2001 edition of the journal "Climacteric" concluded that wild yam has little effect on easing menopausal symptoms.
Considerations
While topical wild yam preparations are generally safe when used as directed, Drugs.com advises pregnant women and those with plant allergies not to use the product unless directed to do so by a doctor. In addition, do not combine wild yam paste with other forms of wild yam, including teas, capsules and tinctures. Discontinue using wild yam paste and consult your doctor if you experience any side effects.
References
- Medline Plus: Wild Yam
- "Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine, Volume 2"; Jacqueline L. Longe; 2005
- "Climacteric"; Effects of wild yam extract on menopausal symptoms, lipids and sex hormones in healthy menopausal women; P.A. Komesaroff et. al.; June 2001
- Drugs.com: Wild Yam
- University of Marland Medical Center: Wild Yam
