Hi There, I am seeking additional supportive information to debunk wild yam creams sold in the marketplace, and so that I can educate both customers and clients with confidence. I've read through the references and additional studies online but I'm finding mixed results, and honestly some if it is difficult for me to absorb. There's one product in particular I'm looking at to use as an example. It lists their ingredients as follows: Aqua, Helianthus annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Husk Oil, Dioscorea villosa (Wild Yam) Root Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyglyceryl-3 Sorbityl linseedate, Althea officinalis (Marsh Mallow) Root Extract, Beeswax, Vitex agnus castus (Chastberry) Extract, Vanillyl Butyl Ether, Lavandula angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Oil, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Coumarin, Limonene, Linalool The product's website also provides education and FAQ's of the "wild-yam progesterone myth' but also how to use 'wild yam creams to increase progesterone naturally' which reads as follows: Wild yam (Dioscorea villosa) contains diosgenin, a plant compound that can be chemically converted into progesterone in a laboratory, but your body cannot perform this conversion. This is a critical distinction that's often misrepresented in marketing. Wild yam cream does not deliver bioidentical progesterone or raise progesterone levels directly. Instead, wild yam has been traditionally used in herbal medicine to support the body's natural hormone-producing pathways and may help reduce inflammation. Any wild yam cream benefits come from the plant's own compounds, not from converting into progesterone inside your body. Wild yam cream does NOT directly increase progesterone: this is a common myth. Wild yam contains diosgenin that can be converted to progesterone in a lab, but your body cannot perform this conversion. Instead, how to increase progesterone naturally using wild yam involves applying it to support your body's hormone-producing pathways. Apply ¼ teaspoon daily to inner arms, thighs, or lower abdomen during your luteal phase (days 14-28) if still cycling. Does wild yam support hormone-producing pathways? Rich mentioned an indirect relationship of wild yam in this type of instance at the end of the MM review, so it's contributing to my cloudy thinking on this subject. Can you help clear things up? Thank you Kristin Snowbird

David said: Does wild yam support hormone-producing pathways? NO Many things contain diosgenin, the human body cannot convert it to any hormone or proton-hormone. These “phytoestrogens” inhibit the effects of estrogen by blocking receptor sites. Which is why eating beans, tofu, flax seed, etc inhibit breast and prostate cancers. They have no benefits for menopausal symptoms.