ENTER THE SACRED BACKYARD
SACRED SOUL FAMILY
Dodee Schmitt
Dodee is a Certified Holistic Health Practitioner, Autonomic Response Testing Practitioner, and Biofield Science Educator with nearly two decades of experience in chronic illness recovery and integrative wellness. Dodhisattva.com, est. 2009
Table of Contents
When I am not making my own batch, this is the version I reach for. Made with wild yam root and chaste tree berries.
When I first learned about Anna’s Wild Yam Cream through Barbara O’Neill I was genuinely intrigued. I ordered it directly from the Australian website and waited weeks for it to arrive. When it did, I found it to be a potent and beautifully made herbal support that I felt good using.
As it grew in popularity the shipping delays became longer. I tried sourcing an alternative in the States but the lead times were frustrating. I then turned to Etsy and found a seller whose version caused a rash on my wrists from synthetic fragrances and questionable ingredients. That was enough for me.
I wanted something wildcrafted or fully organic. Clean, potent, and made with ingredients I trusted completely.
It was then I decided to make my own.
I have a certification in Holistic Herbal Product Making and it gave me the confidence and the knowledge to develop this recipe. What I created is a DIY version that I consider more potent than most store bought options because I control every ingredient and every step of the process.
The stars of this herbal cream are wild yam root and chaste tree berries, the same key botanicals in Anna’s original formula. I make a hot oil infusion combined with a water decoction that together produce a rich and beautifully textured herbal support.
My hope is that this recipe empowers you to craft your own herbal supports and step into the herbalist that you are.
Wild Yam Cream Benefits
Wild yam root has been used in traditional herbal practice for centuries, particularly in the context of women’s wellness. Its key compound, diosgenin, has been the subject of ongoing botanical research and is the reason wild yam has historically been associated with hormonal support.
Rather than framing women’s hormonal experience as a simple decline of any one hormone, what integrative practitioners increasingly observe is that hormonal ratios can shift over time. Progesterone in particular may become insufficient relative to other hormones, and cortisol can rise to fill the gap. The result is not necessarily a deficiency of estrogen but an imbalance in the broader hormonal conversation the body is having with itself.
Wild yam cream is traditionally used as a topical botanical support during these times of hormonal shift. It is applied to areas of thin skin where absorption is thought to be most effective, and many women incorporate it as part of a broader hormonal wellness approach.
Some of the traditional uses that women have reported include support for comfort during the menstrual cycle, support for the body during the transition through menopause, and general hormonal harmony during times of imbalance.
It is worth noting that the scientific research on wild yam cream specifically is limited and the anecdotal and traditional evidence is where much of its reputation rests. The testimonials are extensive and many women find it genuinely supportive as part of a holistic approach to their wellbeing.
As with any herbal protocol, individual responses vary and working with a knowledgeable healthcare practitioner is always recommended. This is a traditional herbal approach to wellness, not a medical treatment.
Chaste Tree Berries Benefits
Chaste tree berry, also known as Vitex agnus-castus, is one of the most well-researched herbs in the women’s wellness tradition.
It is included in this recipe for the same reason Anna’s original formula uses it, it has a long and respected history of traditional use during times of hormonal shift and cycle irregularity.
Vitex works primarily by supporting the pituitary gland’s communication with the ovaries, which in turn may support progesterone production during the luteal phase of the cycle.
This is significant because in the Ray Peat informed view of hormonal health, it is often the progesterone to estrogen ratio that matters most, not simply the level of any one hormone.
When progesterone becomes insufficient relative to other hormones, the body’s overall balance can shift in ways that affect mood, comfort, sleep, and energy.
Some of the traditional uses associated with chaste tree berries include supporting comfort during the luteal phase, supporting the body’s transition through menopause, and what some researchers are investigating as a potential role in cycle comfort for women dealing with conditions like endometriosis.
These are areas of ongoing botanical research rather than established medical claims.
As with wild yam, the strongest evidence for chaste tree berries remains in the traditional and anecdotal record, which is extensive and genuinely compelling.
Many women find it a meaningful addition to a broader hormonal wellness approach.
As with any herbal protocol, individual responses vary, and consulting a qualified healthcare practitioner is always recommended before beginning.
Anna's Wild Yam Cream Reviews
I created a post that you can see here on Anna’s Wild Yam Cream Reviews form Real Customers.
If you go to Anna’s Wild Yam Cream product on their website, you can see a lot of great reviews.
The testimonials around wild yam cream, both Anna’s original formula and quality alternatives, are genuinely extensive.
While these reflect individual experiences and are not medical claims, they offer a window into how women are incorporating this traditional herbal support into their wellness routines.
Women have shared experiences including:
Support for overall hormonal harmony during perimenopause and menopause.
Increased comfort during menstruation.
Support for temperature regulation and nighttime comfort.
A sense of improved emotional and mental balance.
Support for vaginal comfort during hormonal transitions.
Observations of more regular cycle patterns.
One experience that stands out in the reviews is a woman who observed support for natural ovulation cycles after a period of cycle irregularity.
This is consistent with chaste tree berry’s traditional association with pituitary and luteal phase support.
What I particularly value about a quality wild yam cream is its potential role in supporting bone wellness over time.
Progesterone plays an important role in bone density as we age, alongside weight bearing exercise, and this is an often overlooked dimension of women’s hormonal health.
DIY Wild Yam Cream Recipe
Creating your own wild yam cream similar to Anna's Wild Yam Cream involves extracting beneficial compounds from wild yam roots, which are believed to have various health properties, especially for women's health. To make your own wild yam cream, follow these general steps below.
Equipment
- Measuring cup
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup organic wild yam roots for oil infusion
- 25 grams or about 2 tbs of Chaste Tree Berries for water decoction
- 1 ounce beeswax helps with consistency
- 1 ml vitamin e oil as preservative
- 2 droppers full wild yam alcohol extract optional but adds potency and preservative quality
- 1 cup avocado oil
- 4 tbsp avocado oil Add these 4 extra TBS to count for the loss from heating. If you forget this step add in before the beeswax step
- 20-30 drops favorite essential oil
Instructions
Create a Hot Infused Oil Preparation
- Start with a double boiler. Or if you don't have one simply use a pot filled with a small amount of water to boil and then place a smaller ceramic or glass bowl on top of that pot. This will ensure you don't over heat the oil infusion.
- The key is to only allow the steam to touch that top bowl not the boiling water. This will make a well infused oil without over heating the infusion.
- Next take 1 cup of oil + 4 tbs of oil to account for the loss when heating ( I use Avocado oil since it can withstand heat well) and I use dried wild yams so you will use about 3/4 cup of dried yam. If using fresh wild yams you would make sure to use enough to be covered in oil. But since we are using dried yams we need to leave room for it to expand so slightly less herb to oil.
- Once the water in the pan is boiling go ahead and top it with the herb and oil that is well saturated.
- With a wooden spoon you can make sure it is well covered under oil. And be sure the water does not touch the bowl but only the steam does.
- Cover with a lid and allow it to simmer for 3 hours.
- Let the oil cool for several hours and then take a cheese cloth or muslin cloth and strain the wild yams out. This will leave you with a potent oil infusion.
Herbal Decoction
- Next we we want to make our herbal decoction. We start with 25 grams of chaste tree berries and add them to a stainless steel or glass pot.
- Next add 750 ml of distilled water.
- Bring this to a boil and then let it simmer for 30 minutes
- Once complete and cooled for several hours you will strain it and then add any essential oils you would like in it or like I love to do at this step is add a wild yam alcohol extract to this. This helps it last longer due to the alcohol.Then top it with enough distilled water to make one full cup of liquid.
Making the Herbal Cream
- Now take the 1 cup of herbal infused oil and put over your double boiler again. Be sure the steam only touches it and never over heat it.Add in 1 ounce of beeswax to this mixture. The ratio is 1 cup of infused oil to 1 ounce of beeswax.
- Stir with a wooden spoon until well incorporated.
- Wait for it to cool first. Here I add 1 ml of Vitamin E oil as a natural preservative. And put it in a large enough container to use your hand immersion blender or whisk it all together. I use a large beaker.
- Add in the herbal oil/beeswax mixture first. You could also add your favorite essential oils or tinctures to this step as well.
- Then with your hand immersion blender slowly add in the water decoction.
- As you add this in it will start to form a cream.
- The alcohol tincture and vitamin e will help as a preservative however for this to last up to 3 months you would want to keep in the refrigerator.
- Store in a dark glass jar with the date and ingredients list.
Notes
This makes for a potent wild yam cream using organic dried wild yam roots and chaste tree berries or what is also known as vitex.
We added a wild yam alcohol extract which you can find at Mountain Rose Herbs, Etsy or other source that you trust.
This adds more potency and works as a preservative.
We add a small amount of Vitamin E that helps to preserve the mixture as well.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
FAQ Anna’s Wild Yam Cream
What is wild yam cream used for?
Wild yam cream is a topical herbal preparation made from wild yam root, which contains a compound called diosgenin. It has a long history of traditional use in women’s wellness, particularly in relation to hormonal comfort during the menstrual cycle and menopause. Always consult a healthcare practitioner for personal guidance.
What is the difference between DIY wild yam cream and Anna's Wild Yam Cream?
Anna’s Wild Yam Cream is a commercial product from Australia that has gained a strong following particularly through Barbara O’Neill’s recommendations. This DIY version uses the same key ingredients, wild yam root and chaste tree berries, in an oil infusion and herbal decoction combined into a cream. The DIY version allows you to control the quality and potency of every ingredient.
What is chaste tree berry and why is it in this recipe?
Anna’s Wild Yam Cream is a commercial product from Australia that has gained a strong following particularly through Barbara O’Neill’s recommendations. This DIY version uses the same key ingredients, wild yam root and chaste tree berries, in an oil infusion and herbal decoction combined into a cream. The DIY version allows you to control the quality and potency of every ingredient.
How long does homemade wild yam cream last?
With the addition of Vitamin E oil and a wild yam alcohol extract as natural preservatives, this cream can last up to three months when stored in a dark glass jar in the refrigerator. Always check for any changes in smell or texture before use.
Can I use fresh wild yam instead of dried?
The recipe uses dried wild yam root because it is more concentrated and easier to measure. If using fresh wild yam, ensure it is fully submerged in oil and adjust the quantity accordingly. Dried herbs are generally recommended for oil infusions as fresh plant material can introduce water and shorten shelf life.
What oil works best for this recipe?
Avocado oil is recommended in this recipe because it withstands heat well during the oil infusion process and is well absorbed by the skin. Other stable oils like jojoba or sweet almond oil could also work as alternatives.
Do I need a hand immersion blender?
A hand immersion blender makes the emulsification process much easier and produces a smoother cream. A whisk can work as an alternative but requires more effort and may produce a slightly different texture.
Conclusion
In conclusion, creating your wild yam cream can be an empowering and natural approach to hormone balancing.
By harnessing the beneficial properties of wild yam roots and combining them with nourishing oils and natural beeswax, you are not only taking control of your health but also embracing the wisdom of traditional herbal remedies.
This DIY wild yam cream not only offers a holistic solution for hormone balance but also provides a moment of self-care in our busy lives.
Remember, as with any herbal remedy, it’s essential to consult with a healthcare professional, especially if you have underlying health conditions.
Embrace the power of nature and embark on your journey towards hormone balance and overall well-being with this homemade wild yam cream.
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