Wild Yam: Prevents or Enhances Conception?

Hi there,

I hope you can clear up some confusion i'm having about taking wild yam. I am 39 and trying to conceive for the first time. 

This is what Susun had said about the Wild Yam on the Healing Wise site:

Wild yam can help you ovulate when taken daily for the first two weeks of your
cycle. It can help you hold a conception when taken for the last two weeks of the
cycle. It can prevent conception if taken daily.

Take wild yam to increase fertility from the first day of your period until ovulation.
When taken every day it is considered a contraceptive.

This made perfect sense until I found the opposite info in the New Menopausal Years by Susun. On page 174 under Wild Yam it says: "Wild Yam can be used to prevent pregnancy (3 cups tea daily) or to increase fertility (dropperful of tincture 1-3 times a day), for the last two weeks of menstrual cycle.

So which is it? Do I take wild yam for the first two weeks or the last two weeks to increase fertility? I'm confused. Not to mention numerous other sources said to take it AFTER ovulation (the last two weeks), that if taken before ovulation it can actually prevent ovulation!

My issue is that i'm not ovulating, but still have a menstrual cycle. And when I do ovulate it's all over the place, right after my period, in the middle of the cycle. It has a mind of its own, so I have no idea when to take the wild yam, and even if did know, with the seemingly contradiction in advice, I still wouldn't be sure when to take it.

I've always trusted Susun's advice. I have all her books and she is the first herbal mind I go to when i need great info on herbs, but seeing opposite advice has left me confused. I'm sure, I'm just not understanding it correctly, so please help to clear up.

Thanks! Hope to hear from you soon.

 

 

Hi,

It can be confusing! Wild Yam is one of those herbs that has a wide range of effects, depending on when you take it and the form it is taken in. Hence the reason it can be used both as a contraceptive and yet at the same time promote fertility. Also, it seems that the substances within wild yam needs to go through the digestive process to cause change, one reason why topical use is showing to be of no use.

It can cause different results in hormones to different people due to your own gut flora (I would make sure to incorporate organic full-fat yogurt in diet if not doing so) ...SO... after all is said and done, to increase fertility in normal situations, consensus is to take small doses (a cup of tea or 10-20 drops of tincture) daily during the first half of the cycle from onset of menses until mid-period. Only use either tea or tincture.

 

FROM SUSUN: "In either case, the effect seems to be triggered by the large amount of hormone-like substances found in this root. When taken daily, these substances may be converted into progesterone, thus decreasing the possibility of conception. When taken for the two weeks preceding ovulation, these substances may be converted into LH and FSH, hormones which are needed to make the egg ready to be fertilized."

 

If you haven't already, I would investigate some other ways of increasing your fertility as well. Number one for Susun is to be drinking red clover blossom infusions. Only use infusions as the teas and capsules have been ineffective for this use.

Instructions for making red clover infusion.

You will need a quart canning jar, an ounce of herb by weight, and a kettle big enough to boil at least a quart of water. Put the dried herb into the jar. It will fill it about 1/3 full. Pour the boiling water over the dried herb, filling the jar. Cover tightly and steep four hours or overnight. Strain out the herbal material. Drink the remaining liquid at room temperature, over ice, or heated up. Be sure to use dried clover blossoms; fresh ones don't infuse well. The usual dose is one to four cups of infusion daily for 12-18 months.

Another wonderful ally for fertility issues is vitex (chasteberry). This herb is slow-acting but powerful and long-term use is not a problem. http://www.susunweed.com/Article_Vitex_RedMoonHerbs.htm

 You can also speak with Susun during her Free hotline Tuesday evenings between 7:30-9:30 pm eastern time or by appointment for a moderate fee (15min/$30 or 30min/$50).  For a free consultation, call 845-246-8081 on Tuesday evenings May through October, 7:30-9:30pm EST. For a private phone consultation, go to: www.herbalmedicinehealing.com/store/

Just let us know if you need any further assistance.

Blessings,

Kim

Wise Woman Team
www.wisewomanweb.com

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Comments

[Karen]

I just came across this site and am so grateful for the explanation of Wild Yam. My Naturopath proscribed Wild Yam tablets to me to be taken daily. The first two months were fine, but the two months following I stopped menstruating. She felt it was just a case that I didn't ovulate. However, as this has never happened to me before, I met with a second naturopath who advised that I should only take Wild Yam after day 16 till I menstruate. I have never had a problem falling pregnant, just holding it. I was so confused having received two different opinions from two different professionals. However it's clear now that the original naturopath needs to do some study.

Thanks again!