Hi Barb,

Some women have reported that indeed eating yams has reduced or done away with their hot flashes.  Apparently, it has to be yams, not sweet potatoes and you have to eat them every day.

Wild yam extract in cream form is in most health food stores and many women have claimed relief using this cream.  When I researched this cream further with compounding pharmacies and the like, I've been told that it is not in a form usable by our bodies - yet anecdotal evidence (that's real women telling their stories) says that it works. 

I tried it and it didn't work for me nor did it work for any of the Venuses in our Menopause Goddess group, but every woman's menopause is different and we respond differently to remedies.  I use natural progesterone cream which is formulated for our bodies - you can get it in the health food stores or online - Pro-Gest at emerita.com  or Natural Woman at prodnature.com.  You can also have it formulated for you by a compounding pharmacy based on hormone testing.

Lastly, I would urge you to see what works for you.  Try the yams first (If you can deal with eating them every day.) If they work, great!  If not, try the wild yam cream or natural progesterone cream.  Good luck!  Let us know how it goes.

Lynette Sheppard, RN,  menopausegoddessblog.org

I'm confused. This is the second time I've come across women saying that wild yam extract in cream form did not work for them.  Then Pro-Gest by emerita is listed as the alternative.

When I went to emerita.com and read about Pro-Gest, it says it is made from a substance found in Mexican Wild Yams.

Could someone please clarify this for me? Thank You, Jeannie