I have suffered from extremely painful periods my whole life. Some of it due to PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) which I was diagnosed with at the age of 26. MDs quickly prescribed birth control pills which I was on during my youth until about 25, when I decided enough was enough. I didn’t want to be on the pill anymore as there was something about masking the symptoms that just didn’t sit well with me. That particular feeling grew over the years and I know now that the path I’ve chosen so far has been the right one for me.
When I turned 40 I started noticing what some would call pre-menopausal symptoms. This would include dysmenorrhea, monthly headaches that would turn into nasty three day long migraines over time and insomnia that would sometimes last three days! My intake of Advil, which is a common over the counter painkiller in Canada, had increased. Some months I would take as much as 800mg a day. Pain at this point was absolutely unbearable and my progesterone levels had fallen below 2ng/ml.
That was when I chose to work with a herbalist who guided me towards about 80% improvement in all of my pre-menopausal symptoms. I eventually stopped taking all herbs because I believe that we do need to let our own vital force take over the healing when the time is right. I strongly believe that herbs and homeopathy are not the cure (we are the cure). I believe that herbs and homeopathy do work with our own body wisdom helping to restore and balance our body. After I finished my customized herbal protocol, the dysmenorrhea was very tolerable and I never had to use Advil again. The insomnia has completely resolved and the migraines turned into mild headaches. At this point, I had noticed a lot of unnatural bloating and weight gain that just wouldn’t go away. That is when I decided to try wild yam cream. The only one I could get my hands on here in Canada (without going via naturopath and compounding pharmacy) was from a US company called Genesis. I really wanted to try Anna’s Wild Yam cream from Australia (recommended by Barbara O’Neill) but thanks to ‘Health Canada’, I wasn’t able to purchase their product here in Canada.
https://youtu.be/Hd5FP2an894?feature=shared
After about 40 days of using the cream, I noticed subtle changes like very balanced periods, no headaches whatsoever, less bloating and better mood. The only issue I’ve had so far was getting the actual cream. So I decided to make my own!
Livia’s Wildcraft Wild Yam Cream has been formulated by Rita Hogan, C.H. who has done an incredible job of choosing some amazing ingredients for the cream. Active ingredients per 1 gram are 40mg of wild yam root, 27mg of chaste berry and 33mg of cramp bark. However, these numbers are approximate as it is impossible for a small batch business like mine to get every batch tested individually. So please keep that in mind when using this cream (*dosages will be taken off the label so it is less confusing*). I wanted an aloe vera based product which is why the cream feels nourishing and moisturizing. The smooth consistency is absolutely amazing! The lavender, clary sage and witch hazel hydrosols just add to the moisturizing effect.
In my wild yam cream, I only use top quality ingredients and one of them is organic Styrian pumpkin oil! Hence, the unbelievably deep green olive color. ‘The dark green color rests on the phytochemicals present in the oil, which are mainly carotenoid (lutein) and porphyrin (chlorophyll) phytochemicals.’ Pumpkin oil is known to ease menopausal symptoms as well as bladder and prostate problems, IBS, regulation of cholesterol, anti-parasitic properties etc.
I wondered about the final result as this oil transfers that same color into the actual cream. The result is sort of a light olive color. This oil is one of the best quality oils on the market today. Raw, unheated, organic. ‘The medicinal benefit is so extraordinary that this Styrian variety is grown for the seed’s ingredients alone. Hence, only the seeds are harvested and the pumpkin pulp is discarded as “fertilizer” on the field.’
Wild yam, Chaste berry and Cramp bark are infused into organic sunflower oil. Wild yam root contains diosgenin which is a natural alternative to address hormone-related conditions – from menopause, gallbladder colic, osteoporosis including hip joint deterioration. Diosgenin is a plant-derived form of estrogen, which is commonly called ‘phytoestrogen’ and can be converted to hormones such as progesterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, estrogen in the lab. In the scientific world, consensus is often that wild yam, by it self, does not contain progesterone and that the body cannot change diosgenin into progesterone. However, anecdotal evidence speaks volumes and herbalists like Phyllis Light or Matthew Wood have seen many successes using this remarkable herb. My own experience with it has also been remarkable and life changing.
Wild Yam is a progesteronic herb with some estrogenic activity. Besides looking at menopausal and hormonal effects of wild yam, it is also known to help with extreme vaginal dryness, in pregnancies that women have trouble holding onto (M. Wood), profound tightness around hip joints which may also cause ‘tugging’ onto uterus.
Some say that wild yam has been sort of ‘hijacked’ by some wild yam cream enthusiasts who use it solely for menopausal issues but its effects are vast and this herb has, for example, been used in civil war traditionally by settlers for about 50 different ailments. It is a joint remedy, anti-inflammatory, reproductive health balancer, digestive aide….has so many different affinities.
Cramp Bark has antispasmodic properties. It contains volatile oils that help to soothe and relax uterine cramps. It also increases circulation and blood flow. Furthermore, cramp bark is rich in valeric acid which allows a sedative effect when combined with other hormone regulating herbs.
Chaste tree berry is an ‘incredible hormone modulator and mood supporter. Vitex can also be used to reduce heat and normalize energy throughout the body. Chaste tree berries may be best known for the ways they influence hormones in the body, being particularly effective for conditions in which there is an excess of estrogen and a lack of progesterone. However Vitex has a general hormone balancing effect and will help to gently and slowly bring the body into balance. Vitex (as well as wild yam) is contraindicated during pregnancy and may also counteract the effectiveness of birth control and other hormone therapies.’ full article from Alicia Heiser here:
https://www.artemisiaacademy.com/post/vitex-your-natural-ally-for-hormone-balancing-and-reproductive-wellness
One very interesting fact about Vitex is that it is very slow acting so it takes about a month (or more) for you to experience tangible benefits. ‘It can be also helpful for women seeking to balance their cycles as they transition off of birth control.’
General Use
For general use, the first day of your period is always day one. Do not apply the cream from day one to day 5-7, depending on how long your period usually lasts. When you are finished your period, apply pea size amount twice a day, morning and night, alternating between neck, chest, breasts, inner upper arms, belly, and inside of thighs. Use twice daily 
until your period starts, then re-start the cycle as above (*current label doesn’t indicate twice a day which will be corrected when the next batch of labels get printed*)
If you do not get your monthly period anymore, please ‘create’ your own period where you apply the cream for three weeks and stop for one week and then repeat.
I believe that there is no right and no wrong when it comes to menopausal transformation. Every woman is different and we all experience this process differently. Some see it as a nuisance and even as something to fear and dread. Some may perceive menopause as a true alchemical transformation where we learn a different way of breathing life. I absolutely love how Cathy Skippers describes alchemy of menopause. She says: ‘I believe that during the passage to menopause we no longer focus on external happenings. Our perspective is turned inwards. What we once knew as truth falls away and dissolves. We are forced through a birth canal once again. The passage of birthing ourselves can take months to years. What is certain is that the old way of being ends. We have no choice but to be squeezed by the contractions of menopause towards the new form, which we know nothing about yet.
A successful passage to menopause brings us the gift of maturity. Maturity means being intimate with all parts of ourselves. In order to live through this passage in a transformational manner, we must be conscious of all of ourselves, including our unconscious. We also need to understand what this maturity or wholeness we are aiming at is. Without this awareness, the journey is much more difficult.’
https://www.herbalremediesadvice.org/alchemy-of-menopause-interview.html
I hope your journey is truly magical and transformational.
PS. Livia’s Wild Yam Cream production is extremely limited and not available via online store yet. Please email liviaswildcraft@gmail.com to check for availability first or private message @liviaswildcraft on Instagram.
