Yam Extract or Natural Progesterone
The following has been composed to help clear up the
confusion over the efficacy (effectiveness) or proper use of Yam extract
(Dioscorea Villosa) and Natural Progesterone.
The Health & Science WebSite is the first site on the Internet to offer
educational information for natural progesterone cream. Consequently, we
have received many letters from women who are suffering due to the fact
that they have not responded to a variety of traditional treatments and/or
have been using a "yam cream" as the following letter demonstrates:
Dear Health & Science,
I am currently distributing a wild yam product, and although it seems to
benefit many of my customers initially, I am finding that I am losing
re-orders because it doesn't seem to do enough.
After reading your article about the difference between diosgenin and
progesterone, I am interested in distributing your product and gradually
phasing out the other product. (especially since the other product doesn't
quite do enough for me either!)
Please fax me distributor information at *** or e-mail me at : ***
Thank you,
A. P.
Complicating matters is the fact that a number of companies
on the internet are claiming or implying that their "yam creams" contain Natural
Progesterone, when, in fact, an examination of their ingredients reveals that
they only contain Wild Mexican Yam extract. In fact, some companies have even
stated: "This plant makes a substance identical to the progesterone produced by
the human body.!" or that one the components in their product has "progesterone
activity."
All of the research that we have reviewed on Progesterone demonstrates that it
is supplemental Natural Progesterone that will produce an increase in saliva &
serum levels of progesterone, not Yam extract. (It is important to note that
Yam contains plant saponins that have been shown to benefit women's health.
However, what is at issue are biological progesterone levels and progesterone's
balancing effects on estrogen and subsequent relief from the symptoms of
Menopause & PMS and its ability to correct the conditions of Infertility &
Osteoporosis.)
In his current book, "What Your Dr. May Not Tell You About Menopause" on page
270, Dr. Lee states "…there is no evidence that the human body converts diosgenin
(found in Mexican Wild Yam) to hormones."
Dr. David Zava, (Ph.D. in Bio Endocrinology whose focus has been progesterone
and estrogen receptor activity) is the laboratory director of Aeron LIfe Cycles,
one the foremost hormone testing facilities in the world. Dr. Zava has tested
progesterone levels for many thousands of women and responded with the following:
"In response to your question about wild yam steroids - do they convert into
progesterone? The answer is no, there are no enzymes in the human body that
will convert diosgenin, the active component of wild yams, into progesterone.
This does not mean diosgenin is without activity in the body as it has been
used by phytotherapists for centuries as an adaptagen."
As a further disservice to the women who suffer with the symptoms brought on
by "estrogen dominance" some company representatives will tell you that Yam
extract (diosgenin) is molecularly the same as Natural Progesterone and that
users of their "progesterone cream" will find the same benefit as they would
with a cream that really contains USP Natural Progesterone.
The current published research and clinical experience do not support that
claim.*
*A review of the Med-Line Database (5/1/95 & 4/10/96) bought up more than 5,000
published studies completed on "Progesterone" between 1992 & 1996.
(k=progesterone)
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