According to my mother, she had a full hysterectomy at 29. On this side of life, I can’t even wrap my head around how absolutely insane that sounds because 29 is just a few years from when someone’s brain has fully developed. Yet the reality of how much Western medicine tends to be so…recklessly apathetic when it comes to our people is another message for another time. The reason why I’m leading with that part of her story is because that happening is how I know so much about supplements like evening primrose oil, black cohosh, and what we’re going to discuss today: wild yam.
Something that all of these have in common is they are an all-natural approach for women who may have imbalanced hormones, have a difficult time with their cycle, or need some help getting through menopause. And because wild yam is a plant that has a solid reputation for containing a property known as diosgenin, which is oftentimes used to create estrogen and DHEA in laboratories — that’s why we’re going to dive into why, if you’re looking for a natural alternative to get your hormone levels right, wild yam is something that you might want to consider adding to your overall health regimen. Because it can do that and so many other things for you.
I’ve got 10 reasons to consider wild yam right here.
10 Reasons To Add Wild Yam to Your Health Regimen
1. Wild Yam Is a Solid Protein Alternative for Vegetarians and Vegans
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If you happen to be vegetarian or vegan and you’re looking for some protein alternatives to meat (check out “Vegetarian Or Vegan? Check Out These High Protein Foods.”), wild yam qualifies. That’s because it contains around two grams of protein per serving, not to mention the fact that it’s also a good source of copper, potassium, manganese, and fiber. Just a word of caution, though: if you’re someone who has a protein S deficiency, run wild yam by your healthcare provider before taking it. Since you tend to blood clot easier than others, the estrogen-like effect of wild yam could intensify this particular health issue for you.
2. Wild Yam Can Be “Taken in” in Several Different Forms
Since some people like to make soup that consists of wild yam, stir fry wild yam, or even create a wild yam soufflé, of course, one way that you can get wild yam into your system is by cooking with it. However, there are other ways to benefit from it, too, from tablets and capsules to teas, creams, and powders. I like to use a homemade cream that I found by referral. Anyway, do some research into what you think would be the most comfortable and convenient for you. Since there are many, that’s another reason to consider adding it to your life.
3. Wild Yam Regulates Blood Sugar Levels
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If getting your blood sugar levels to where they need to be is one of your current health-related goals, wild yam may be able to help you out. There are more and more studies coming out indicating that there are properties in wild yam that can help manage blood sugar thanks to the chemical dioscoretine that is in it.
4. Wild Yam Can Balance Out Your Hormone Levels
Again, don’t get me started on how quickly Westernized medicine is willing to cosign on a drug that can come with more side effects than the issue you’re using the drug for, and yet they want to frown on alternative methods (eye roll). That’s my intro to saying that as far as wild yam being able to help balance your hormones, a lot of medical sites say there is no solid evidence to support it. I’ll just say that I know women who use it topically during PMS to reduce bloating during their cycle to reduce discomfort, and during menopause to reduce hot flashes. Do with that what you will; in the meantime, you can read more about how wild yam is potentially beneficial in the hormone department by clicking here.
5. Wild Yam Is Used As an All-Natural Fertility Treatment
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Speaking of hormone levels, if you’re currently trying to get pregnant and it’s been difficult because your hormones are not as balanced as they should be, this is another way that wild yam could prove to be beneficial. Research reveals that not only does it contain properties that can help to increase your estrogen levels, but it’s also able to improve the quality of your cervical mucus which can make it easier for you to conceive. Just make sure that if you are pregnant or nursing you DON’T use wild yam. In those cases, its estrogen-like effects could be problematic instead of beneficial.
6. Wild Yam Reduces Inflammation
If bodily inflammation is something that you’re currently trying to stay on top of, the diosgenin that’s in wild yam can help with that, too. There are even studies that cite that inflammatory issues like asthma actually see better results when diosgenin is used instead of certain synthetic treatments.
7. Wild Yam Boosts Cognitive Function
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Want to boost your memory? Use some wild yam. Wish to improve your emotional well-being? Use some wild yam. Looking to slow down the signs of aging in your brain? Yep, you guessed it. Keeping your brain in great condition is just one more thing that diosgenin has the proven ability to do.
8. Wild Yam Brings Relief to Rheumatoid Arthritis
So, if you were to go online to purchase some fresh wild yam, you might notice that another name given to it is “rheumatism root.” That’s because remember how I said a sec ago that wild yam is good at decreasing bodily inflammation? Well, since rheumatoid arthritis is inflammation of the joints, there are ongoing studies revealing that wild yam could be beneficial when it comes to soothing arthritic-related symptoms, too.
9. Wild Yam Soothes Muscular Discomfort
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Since wild yam contains properties that help to balance and even elevate certain hormone levels, it’s actually something that many bodybuilders are fans of. Not only because it can help to build muscle mass but, if you’re someone who experiences muscle cramps or spasms while working out (think charley horses), some research reveals that wild yam has antispasmodic effects — which means it can (possibly) help to bring relief to menstrual cramps too.
10. Wild Yam Is Great for Menopause
Listen, the fact that wild yam comes with zero side effects as far as hormone replacement alternatives go is enough reason to give it a shot in my book because the same cannot be said for going the more conventional route (you can read more about all of that here). And although studies continue to be ongoing, there are some that say wild yam (some say taken internally more than applied topically) can help to make menopause-related symptoms more manageable, again thanks to the diosgenin that’s in it.
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You know what they say: knowledge is power. So, if you’ve been looking for an all-natural approach to certain health-related issues, at the very least, do some of your own deep diving into wild yam. It’s something I’m a fan of and have not one regret for that being the case. Not a one.
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- Sex And Menopause. What You Should Know. ›
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It's kinda wild that, in 2025, my byline will have appeared on this platform for (what?!) seven years. And yeah, when I'm not waxing poetic on here about sex, relationships and then...more sex and relationships, I am working as a certified marriage life coach, helping to birth babies (as a doula) or penning for other places (oftentimes under pen names).
As some of you know, something that I've been "threatening" to do for a few years now is write another book. Welp, October 2024 was the month that I "gave birth" to my third one: 'Inside of Me 2.0: My Story. With a 20-Year Lens'. It's fitting considering I hit a milestone during the same year.
Beyond that, Pumas and lip gloss are still my faves along with sweatshirts and tees that have a pro-Black message on them. I've also started really getting into big ass unique handbags and I'm always gonna have a signature scent that ain't nobody's business but my own.
As far as where to find me, I continue to be MIA on the social media front and I honestly don't know if that will ever change. Still, if you need to hit me up about something *that has nothing to do with pitching on the site (I'm gonna start ignoring those emails because...boundaries)*, hit me up at missnosipho@gmail.com. I'll do what I can. ;)
For Us, By Us: How HBCU Alumni Are Building Legacies Through Entrepreneurship
Homecoming season is here, and alumni are returning to the yard to celebrate with their friends and family at the historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) that have changed their lives forever.
No matter where their life journeys have taken them, for HBCU students from near and far, returning to where it all started can invoke feelings of nostalgia, appreciation for the past, and inspiration for the future.
The seeds for these entrepreneurs were planted during their time as students at schools like Spelman, North Carolina A&T, and more, which is why xoNecole caught up with Look Good Live Well’s Ariane Turner, HBCU Buzz’s Luke Lawal and Morehouse Senior Director of Marketing and Comms and Press Secretary Jasmine Gurley to highlight the role their HBCU roots play in their work as entrepreneurs, the legacy they aim to leave behind through the work that they do, and more as a part of Hyundai’s Best In Class initiative.
On Honoring HBCU Roots To Create Something That Is For Us, By Us
Ariane Turner
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When Ariane Turner launched Look Good, Live Well, she created it with Black and brown people in mind, especially those with sensitive skin more prone to dryness and skin conditions like acne and eczema.
The Florida A&M University graduate launched her business to create something that addressed topical skin care needs and was intentional about its approach without negative terminology.
Turner shared that it is important to steer clear of language often adopted by more prominent brands, such as “banishing breakouts” or “correcting the skin,” because, in reality, Turner says there is nothing wrong with the way that our skin and bodies react to various life changes.
“I think what I have taken with me regarding my HBCU experience and translated to my entrepreneurial experience is the importance of not just networking,” Turner, the founder and CEO of Look Good, Live Well, tellls xoNecole.
“We hear that in business all the time, your network is your net worth, but family, there’s a thing at FAMU that we call FAMU-lee instead of family, and it’s very much a thing. What that taught me is the importance of not just making relationships and not just making that connection, but truly working on deepening them, and so being intentional about connecting with people initially, but staying connected and building and deepening those relationships, and that has served me tremendously in business, whether it’s being able to reach back to other classmates who I went to school with, or just networking in general.”
She adds, “I don’t come from a business background. As soon as I finished school, I continued with my entrepreneurial journey, and so there’s a lot of that traditional business act and the networking, those soft skills that I just don’t have, but I will say that just understanding how to leverage and network community and to build intentional relationships is something that has taken me far and I definitely got those roots while attending FAMU.”
On Solving A Very Specific Need For The Community
Luke Lawal Jr.
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When Luke Lawal Jr. launched HBCU Buzz, his main focus was to represent his community, using the platform to lift as they climbed by creating an outlet dedicated to celebrating the achievements and positive news affecting the 107 historically HBCUs nationwide.
By spotlighting the wonderful things that come from the HBCU community and coupling it with what he learned during his time at Bowie State University, Lawal used that knowledge to propel himself as an entrepreneur while also providing his people with accurate representation across the internet.
“The specific problem in 2011 when I started HBCU Buzz was more so around the fact that mainstream media always depict HBCUs as negative,” Lawal says. “You would only see HBCUs in the mainstream media when someone died, or the university president or someone was stepping down. It was always bad news, but they never shed light on all the wonderful things from our community."
So, I started HBCU Buzz to ensure the world saw the good things that come from our space. And they knew that HBCUs grew some of the brightest people in the world, and just trying to figure out ways to make sure our platform was a pedestal for all the students that come through our institutions.”
“The biggest goal is to continue to solve problems, continue to create brands that solve the problems of our communities, and make sure that our products, our brands, our companies, and institutions are of value and they’re helping our community,” he continues. “That they’re solving problems that propel our space forward.”
On How Being An HBCU Alum Impacts The Way One Shows Up In The World
Jasmine Gurley
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Jasmine Gurley is a proud North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University alum. She is even more delighted with her current role, which enables her to give back to current HBCU students as the Senior Director of Brand Marketing and Communications and official press secretary at Morehouse College.
“It was a formative experience where I really was able to come into my own and say yes to all the opportunities that were presented to me, and because of that, it’s been able to open the doors later in life too,” says Gurley of her experience at North Carolina A&T. “One thing I love about many HBCUs is that we are required to learn way more about African American history than you do in your typical K through 12 or even at the higher ed level."
She adds, “It allowed us to have a better understanding of where we came from, and so for me, because I’m a storyteller, I’m a history person, I’m very sensitive to life in general, being able to listen to the stories and the trials that our ancestors overcame, put the battery pack in my back to say, ‘Oh nothing can stop me. Absolutely nothing can stop me. I know where I came from, so I can overcome something and try anything. And I have an obligation to be my ancestors’ wildest dreams. Simultaneously, I also have a responsibility to help others realize that greatness.
Gurley does not take her position at an HBCU, now as a leader, lightly.
“People think I’m joking when I say I’m living the dream, but I really am,” she notes. “So I wake up every day and know that the work that I do matters, no matter how hard it might be, how frustrating it may be, and challenging it. I know the ripple effect of my work, my team, and what this institution does also matter. The trajectory of Black male experiences, community, history, and then just American advancement just in general.”
On the other hand, through her business, Sankofa Public Relations, Gurley is also on a mission to uplift brands in their quest to help their respective communities. Since its inception in 2017, Sankofa PR has been on a mission to “reach back and reclaim local, national, and global communities by helping those actively working to move” various areas of the world, focusing on pushing things forward for the better.
“Through Sankofa, we’ve worked with all different types of organizational brands and individuals in several different industries, but I would think of them as mission-based,” says Gurley.
“So with that, it’s an opportunity to help people who are trying to do good in the world, and they are passionate about what they’re doing. They just need help with marketing issues, storytelling, and branding, and that’s when my expertise can come into play. Help them get to that moment where they can tell their story through me or another platform, and that’s been super fulfilling.”
Join us in celebrating HBCU excellence! Check out our Best In Class hub for inspiring stories, empowering resources, and everything you need to embrace the HBCU experience.
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The Mecca Of Fashion: The Top Street Style Moments At Howard Homecoming
Outfits were planned, bags were packed, and cameras were ready to capture Howard University's collegiate spirit during its centennial Homecoming celebration. Not only does it hold the number one ranking as the most elite Historically Black College and University or its top performing academics, diversity of students and alumni, but the HBCU also leaves a legacy of style and grace.
The essence of effortless poise and refinement shines bright through the iconic university colors of indigo blue, red, and white. Every October, Howard University students, alumni, staff, and friends gather on the prestigious campus in Washington, D.C. to take part in time-honored traditions and events, which is Homecoming. This year's theme, “The Meccaverse,” was a week-long celebration of Howard University’s heritage, including the Homecoming football game and Bison Pep Rally, the Fashion Show, Greek Life Step Show, Homecoming Day of Service, Lavender Reception, and the iconic Yard Fest Concert.
As 2024 marked the 100th anniversary of the Howard Bison trek back to The Mecca and after two years of virtual events due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this was to be a celebration of a lifetime. We enlisted HU alumnus Sharmaine Harris, a luxury retail buyer, as she revisited her alma mater as eyes on the yard for fashion-forward outfits mixed with personal style and campus pride for the weeklong celebration.
Before we get to the looks, discover how attending Howard University impacted her career in fashion and her day-to-day style:
Credit: Sharmaine and Friends
xoNecole: Describe your personal style. Did attending Howard have any impact on developing it?
Sharmaine: Howard taught me that there’s no such thing as being TOO dressed. There’s always a reason to “put it on” and look presentable, even if it’s just for a day of classes. Standing out was celebrated and encouraged with my peers embracing the opportunity, giving me the confidence to try new styles and trends.
xoNecole: How did Howard shape your career as a luxury buyer?
Sharmaine: I studied Fashion Merchandising, through which I was fortunate to have professors who were very connected to the industry and able to give first-hand accounts of opportunities and what to expect post-college. I was also able to build a network through my peers and other Howard Alum, which has opened doors to endless possibilities both within fashion as well as daily life.
The same confidence instilled in me through my style has also been rooted deeply within me as I step into any role or project I’m faced with throughout my career.
xoNecole: This year marked Howard’s 100th-anniversary Homecoming celebration. Can you describe what the weekend looked and felt like?
Sharmaine: I’ve gone to many Howard Homecomings since graduating, but this year’s 100th anniversary felt like a huge family reunion filled with nothing but love. It was beautiful to see so many Bison return home looking great and radiating joy. It was beautiful!
xoNecole: What makes Howard fashion different from other HBCUs?
Sharmaine: Being that Howard is The Mecca, we have such a diverse population with each individual having their own spin on fashion. Getting dressed is second nature for us, but the layered confidence is our secret ingredient to make any look come together. Through that comfortability to push barriers, we have a legacy of setting trends, as indicated by the many alumni we have in the fashion and entertainment industry.
Keep scrolling for the top street style moments from The Mecca's Homecoming weekend:
Credit: Lacey Gallagher
Credit: Alan Henderson
Credit: JaLynn Davis
Credit: Dylan Davis
Credit: Caleb Smith
Credit: Kendall W.
Credit: Jordyn Finney
Credit: Vanessa Nneoma
Credit: Dr. Mariah Sankey-Thomas
Credit: Caleb MacBruce
Credit: Tiffany Battle
Credit: Teniola
Credit: Ilahi Creary
Credit: Nicolas Ryan Grant
Credit: Dylan Davis
Join us in celebrating HBCU excellence! Check out our Best In Class hub for inspiring stories, empowering resources, and everything you need to embrace the HBCU experience.
Featured image courtesy of Sharmaine Harris