Dioscorea villosa - Wild Yam
"CONSTITUENTS: Saponin.
PREPARATIONS: Dioscorein. Dose: from one to four grains. Specific Medicine Dioscorea. Dose: from one to forty minims. GI Sedatives—Antispasmodic and anodyne.
Therapy: In the spasmodic pain of cholera morbus or cholera infantum, of diarrhea or dysentery it is useful.
In neuralgic dysmenorrhea, in ovarian neuralgia, in cramp-like pains in the uterus at any time and in severe after pains it often acts satisfactorily, quickly relieving the muscular spasm. Fifteen drops of the tincture of the specific dioscorea in half a teacupful of hot water should be drunk at a single dose, as in acute cases it is much more certain if given in this manner. Five drops every hour or two can be given with good results in constantly recurring mild colicky pains without apparent cause. When given for after pains it is usually best to give the tincture in ten drop doses in cold water every half hour or hour, as the hot infusion may cause too great relaxation of the uterine muscular structure, and permit severe hemorrhage."
(Finley Ellingwood: The American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy, 1915)