What if there was an herb that women could take that would prevent conception from occurring? An herb that is safe to take an a daily basis, for extended periods of time with no side effects.

According to a midwife in Utah, Willa Shaffer, wild yam is just such an herb, she first read about wild yam in an article and set out to do some investigating herself. To test the doses listed in the article she enlisted the help of volunteers. As a result of her testing she recommends 3 size '00' capsules twice a day for a total of 6 capsules a day, every day to her ladies wishing to avoid pregnancy.

She says it is very important to use an alternate form of birth control for the first two months, such as condoms. It takes time for the herbs to be effective. Remember wild yam will not protect you from sexually transmitted diseases.

Mrs Shaffer said "You must take them as prescribed, you cannot go away for the weekend, forget your birth control and "make up for it" by taking 12 capsules when you return home. If you miss, protect yourself with another method until you are sure you are safe again."

Wild Yam is not like birth control pills, where you can usually get away with taking two or even three days at once when you forget, I know I did. Birth control pills, dramatically alter your normal flow of hormones, wild yam, while I'm not sure exactly how it works, I believe it has a more subtle effect on the female hormone, altering something just enough to prevent pregnancy. So If you miss, use condoms or something until you are sure you are safe again.

Mrs. Shaffer is also uncertain at the time the book was published how wild yam works in the body, she sees the results when her ladies use it. In my own research I haven't found much to suggest how or why it can have this effect. She believes wild yam makes the egg sterile, with the woman ovulating as usual. I have my own ideas....

When wild yam is taken during the cycle, and how much is taken can influence the results. According to Susun Weed and other notable herbalists when wild yam is taken during the first half of the cycle (menstration thru ovulation, discontinued until menstruation starts again) its effect is to promote fertility. But when taken at contraceptive doses (3 caps x2/day) daily through out the cycle wild yam reduces fertility. It would seem wild yam has contradictory effects on the body. Again, it is how much is taken and whether it is taken every day of the cycle or a portion of the cycle. I think the potential is there for the herb to confuse the body and possibly prevent ovulation. I have also considered the herbs action might be on the uterus, perhaps interfering with the preparation of the lining of the uterus by interfering with the hormone levels. Wild yam contains chemicals, building blocks from which the body can use to produce hormones, like progesterone and cortisone.

Most research I have found on wild yam has been for other uses. It is a great herb for the liver and endocrine system. By toning and nourishing the liver it helps to balance hormone production.
The steroidal saponins (chemical constitutes in the plant) contained within wild yam particularly diosgein, is an important hormonal precursor for progesterone. Precursors provide necessary elements or building blocks to produce and balance the hormones Progesterone and cortisone.

Wild Yam can be used for a variety of women's issues including menstrual irregularity, menstrual cramps, infertility, menopause and endometriosis, Susun Weed notes an infusion is the strongest preparation to prevent miscarriage, because it relaxes the uterus and soothes the nerves.

For after birth pains a tincture given in cold water to help relieve the pain. It is given in cold water because a hot decoction causes too much relaxation to the uterus, and could cause hemorrhage just after child birth.

Wild yam also has anti-inflammatory properties and the hormonal precursors for cortisone making it useful in the treatment of arthritis and other inflammatory conditions.

As you can see wild yam is a very diverse herb and what I've mentioned here is just the beginning.

At the time Mrs Shaffer published her book she had been testing wild yam for four years, and found no evidence of weight gain, swelling, cramping, hormone changes, or any other side effects.

I've heard that Bridgette Mars, a herbalist from Boulder Colorado did a test with Wild Yam, I'm not sure how many women were involved. {I haven't made the time to follow up on this} Her opinion is that Wild Yam does not offer protection from pregnancy. I have also heard a couple of mixed reports, of the wild yam working for a while and then pregnancy occurs, all of these reports have been second hand, through the grapevine.

Rosemary Gladstar also agrees that wild yam is safe to take over extended periods of time with no residual side effects.

Jethro Kloss tells us wild yam is one of the best herbs for general pain during pregnancy, and to take through out pregnancy. Taken in small frequent doses it can be used to allay nausea, but in large doses may cause nausea.

Based on this I think it would be safe to say that if pregnancy did occur when taking contraceptive doses of wild yam it would be ok to continue the pregnancy. If pregnancy is discovered, discontinue taking wild yam immediately.

In my own experience with wild yam, I took it for 8 months during this time I charted my cycles faithfully, during my fertile time I used condoms, I never tested to wild yam to see if it would protect me from becoming pregnant. It was my back up method. One thing I noticed was that my cycles became very regular 28-30 days every month which made predicting my fertile time easy. So I don't know if it really works or not. If you try it, you do so at your own risk. I have included Mrs Shaffer's instructions here, so follow them to the letter, she says it works. I wasn't willing to take the risk to find out.