Progesterone is a steroid hormone involved in the female menstrual cycle, pregnancy (supports gestation) and embryogenesis of humans and other species. Progesterone belongs to a class of hormones called progestogens, and is the major naturally occurring human progestogen.
Progesterone is commonly manufactured from the yam family, Dioscorea. Dioscorea produces large amounts of a steroid called diosgenin, which can be converted into progesterone in the laboratory.
Outside progesterone-producing animals such as humans, progesterone-like steroids are found in Dioscorea mexicana. Dioscorea mexicana is a plant that is part of the yam family and resides in Mexico. It contains a steroid called diosgenin that is taken from the plant and is converted into progesterone. Diosgenin and progesterone are found in other Dioscorea species as well.
Another plant that has been discovered to indirectly contain progesterone is Dioscorea pseudojaponica that resides in Taiwan. Research has showed that the Taiwanese yam contained saponins, steroids, which are converted to diosgenin. From diosgenin, it can produce progesterone.
Another plant that is found to contain these steroids that convert to progesterone is a wild yam called Dioscorea villosa. One study showed that the Dioscorea villosa contains 3.5% of diosgenin. There are many other Dioscorea species of the yam family that contribute to the production of progesterone, but there is one new species found. Dioscorea polygonoides has been researched and found 2.64% of diosgenin that was recognized by testing it with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Many of the Dioscorea species that originate from the yam family grow in countries that have tropical and subtropical climates”….wikipedia
Wild Yam is increasingly used for menopause symptoms, wild yam has traditionally been used to ease cramps and muscle pain, especially pms pain and colic, throughout the body. Wild yam use has been in the treatment of inflammatory arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis.
Menopause symptoms : Wild yam is best known, and most commonly taken, for menopause symptom relief. Given the herb’s undoubted hormonal activity, there are good reasons for thinking that it can be taken to improve symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, and menopausal insomnia, although it is probable that the steroid compounds in wild yam are not converted to to the active hormones in the human body that would thus make it effective for menopause symptoms, perhaps there is another mechanism at work.
Most experts recommend that for best results, the extract should be taken for several weeks to see if it alleviates this menopause symptom. Wild Yam combines well with black cohosh for menopausal and rheumatic problems.
Natural Progesterone Cream
Wild yam natural progesterone cream, applied to the skin rather than taken internally, has received much publicity as a menopause treatment . A number of clinical studies have failed to find any benefit in relieving menopause symptoms in menopausal women, although there are undoubtedly women who have experienced relief of menopause symptoms with natural progesterone cream.
So could this be classed as a form of Hormone Replacement Therapy?
It is perhaps misleading to describe the product as “natural progesterone cream”, as several labs processes are required in order to convert the steroidal compounds present in wild yam into progesterone.
No plant has yet been found that contains progesterone. That being said, it is the case that hormones processed from natural sources are more readily used by the body than those that are produced synthetically, natural progesterone!
I hope this has been of help to those who seek info on Progesterone Creams and Menopause health
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