This will be the next-to-last entry in this first go-round of our alphabetized Healthy Living series we have been running for much of 2025. It is likely we will start back over from the beginning – at A – sometime in the not-too-distant future with an entirely different set of natural remedy and health condition topics.
Meanwhile, with this blog, we focus on the letter Y, offering a summary of Wild Yam Root (this is our only supplement with a Y somewhere in the name) as well as Yeast Infection as our featured health condition. Again, we hope you will enjoy and be well informed by our two-in-one blog special.
Natural Remedy: Wild Yam Root: Wild yam is no newcomer to the world of natural remedies. It is a plant that has been used for centuries by practitioners of alternative medicine therapies, also going by other names such as colic root, devil’s bones, rheumatism root, and China root. Of the components that wild yam contains, two are chemicals that act as key purveyors of this herb’s many benefits. One of those chemicals is diosgenin, which has a hand in the production of multiple health-inducing hormones, including estrogen and DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone).
Another of wild yam’s ingredient chemicals is dioscoretine, which has shown a knack for helping to maintain healthy blood-sugar levels. That said, let’s cut to the chase and give a rundown of several wild yam’s best-known health benefits:
5 of Wild Yam Root’s Health Benefits
Manages menopause symptoms: Experts have attributed this to wild yam’s ability (and over-the-counter availability) to replace estrogen replacement therapy as a means for treating menopause symptoms.
Enhances cholesterol levels: The component chemical mentioned earlier, diosgenin, is believed to promote HDL (good) cholesterol while reducing LDL (bad) cholesterol.
Alleviates arthritis symptoms: Diosgenin, classified as a steroidal glycoside, has strong anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce pain like that associated with rheumatoid arthritis.
Treats cramps and muscular pain: Chalk this up to researchers’ belief that wild yam has anti-spasmodic characteristics, which can be effective in fending off muscle spasms.
Supports healthy digestion: Herbalists believe this is made possible by wild yam’s ability to improve the functionality of the gall bladder and liver.
Health Condition: Yeast Infection: A yeast infection is a type of fungal infection in which a candida, a type of yeast which exists naturally in the body, will sometimes grow out of control producing a condition known as candidiasis. If it occurs in the area of or in the mouth, it is known as oral thrush; if it takes place in the vagina, it is known, obviously, as a vaginal yeast infection.
A vaginal yeast infection is the most common form of a yeast infection and can cause symptoms such as itching, discharge, small cuts or cracks in the skin of the vulva, and burning, such as when urinating or during sex. Yeast infections can also show up on the skin, on fingernails or toenails, and, in rare cases, in the bloodstream, the most serious type of yeast infection.
A vaginal yeast infection is not a sexually transmitted infection (STI), but its causes can include use of antibiotics to treat a health condition, pregnancy or changes in your menstrual cycle, unmanaged diabetes, and being immunocompromised, among other sources. Following are five natural remedies that might help treat a yeast infection and at least alleviate some if not all of the symptoms you are experiencing:
5 Natural Remedies to Treat Vaginal Yeast Infections
Apple cider vinegar. Lab studies have shown this form of vinegar possesses antifungal attributes that can thwart candida growth.
Vitamin C. A potent booster for the body’s immune system, vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, carries antimicrobial components that might help tamp down candida overgrowth.
Essential oil of oregano. A 2017 study identified this type of oil as likely effective for limiting the excessive growth of candida.
Probiotics. These live organisms can help re-establish natural balance of vaginal bacteria. (Remember, there are such things as good and bad types of bacteria, just like there is good cholesterol and bad cholesterol.)
Turmeric. Turmeric’s chief active component is curcumin, which has potent antifungal qualities. Some prescription medicines struggle with treating candida overgrowth because candida can form protective layers known as “biofilms” that some medications can’t penetrate. Well, curcumin has demonstrated it can break down these biofilms and go to work on excess candida growth.
There you have it, our “Y bother?” entry into our Healthy Living series. As always, be sure to discuss with your personal physician or other healthcare professional your possible use of any the supplements, herbs, or vitamins mentioned here for the specific purposes listed.