Page 14 - 2018 SP Product Guide

Our philosophy

To professional supplements
Wild Yam: identifying quality issues
We are committed to actively support natural health
care professionals and passionately advocate for There are around 600 species of Yam, Commercially available Dioscorea villosa is
quality, efficacy and safety to benchmark natural many of them wild species that flourish in in the form of dried roots, usually
supplements to the highest of standards. In damp woodlands and thickets. Dioscorea harvested at the end of summer or fall
particular, our founder, Kerry Bone, was integral in
establishing professional standards of the industry, villosa (also known as Colic Root or Wild when the plant is dying back to its
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including leading MediHerb discovery of the Yam) is a twining, tuberous vine native to rootstock. It was found that these roots
adulteration of a commonly available Bilberry eastern North America. The roots initially contained only very small amounts of
extract—the catalyst for a global change in testing taste starchy, but soon after are bitter and dioscin, not the predominance
regulations. We invest significantly in our profession acrid—nothing like the taste of Yam or as previously thought. The major saponin
by funding clinical trials. Our reputation for scientific
knowledge means we often collaborate on projects Sweet Potato. Commercial Wild Yam found in the fall-harvested roots were in
investigating herbal applications, so we apply extracts available for use as raw materials fact the furostanol-based saponins,
stringent criteria to assess viability. The trial must fit are often from Dioscorea opposita (Chinese methylparvifloside, and
with our philosophy of superior quality, innovative, Yam Root), which has a different methylprotodeltonin, while the
and holistic herbal solutions, and must be conducted phytochemical profile. It is widely spirostanol-based saponins, Zingiberensis
at a reputable research establishment. We do not
fund or involve ourselves with research that utilizes misconstrued that Dioscorea villosa contains saponin I and deltonin, were the major
animals as human models. As practicing clinicians, diosgenin and many products have this as saponins for samples harvested in
we also regularly conduct professional seminars for a statement on their labels. However it summer. The storage saponins from the
health care professionals and are dedicated to being does not contain diosgenin, but rather the fall differ from the summer saponins by
a key source of knowledge for the natural health diosgenin precursors. Unfortunately, the the presence of an extra glucose molecule.
care profession. Through our website, mediherb.
com we also provide extensive clinic and reference phytochemical profile of Wild Yam is The two main compounds found in
tools, library resources and webinars. poorly defined and based on outdated commercial material—harvested in the
To ingredients scientific literature, so we undertook a fall—are significantly different as they
contain extra glucose residues.
project in conjunction with Associate
We handle and process raw materials with the Professor James De Voss from the
utmost of care. As the largest purchaser and University of Queensland Australia to
processing plant of herbs in Australia, we assist investigate its phytochemistry.
growers with support on varietal selection, climatic Dioscorea villosa
and soil requirements, time of harvest, harvesting
techniques, drying parameters and storage
requirements. Where possible, we source
organically grown and wild-crafted herbs, including
internationally where conditions and handling
requirements are the optimum. For example, Cat’s
Claw from Peru. We work with growers to help
cultivate endangered species and our unique
system of identifying and classifying any threat
allows us to immediately find alternatives or reduce
that threat. Our commitment to efficacy has also
uncovered examples of substitution including
Echinacea, commercial Wild Yam, Cat’s Claw and
Golden Seal. If any herb does not meet our
standards, we go out of stock rather than supply an
inferior product, so you can always be confident in
consistent results with patients from batch to batch.

Our philosophy • MediHerb Product Catalog 2018 13
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