Plant Comparison
Ground Elder vs Wild Yam
A side-by-side comparison of two medicinal plants — every documented constituent, action, use, safety note and cited source, assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana database.
At a glance
Ground Elder and Wild Yam: they share 6 indicated uses (arthritis / joint pain, back pain, headache, …); 2 pharmacological actions in common.
Evidence face-off — shared uses
| Condition | Ground Elder | Wild Yam | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arthritis / joint pain | 1/10 | 2/10 | Comparable evidence |
| Back pain | 1/10 | 2/10 | Comparable evidence |
| Headache | 1/10 | 2/10 | Comparable evidence |
| Inflammation (general) | 1/10 | 2/10 | Comparable evidence |
| Pain (general) | 1/10 | 2/10 | Comparable evidence |
| Skin irritation | 1/10 | 2/10 | Comparable evidence |
Evidence scores (1–10) are computed from the tier of each cited source. “Comparable” means the two scores are within one point. Follow a score to its detailed sources.
Key Constituents
Falcarindiol, a potent COX-1 inhibitor (IC50 0.3 microM), identified as a key anti-inflammatory constituent underlying the plant's traditional anti-rheumatic and analgesic use.
Contribute to the plant's antioxidant activity.
Minor aromatic and coumarin constituents of the aerial parts.
Diosgenin is an industrial precursor for making steroid hormones in the laboratory, but it is NOT converted into hormones in the human body. Oral bioavailability of diosgenin is low; in animal studies orally administered diosgenin restored skin thickness in ovariectomised mice and lowered blood lipids.
Pharmacological Actions
Antispasmodic / analgesic for menstrual cramps and muscle spasm (antinociceptive in animal models)
Anti-inflammatory for joint and inflammatory pain
Antispasmodic / analgesic for menstrual cramps and muscle spasm (antinociceptive in animal models)
Traditional & Indicated Uses
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from anti-rheumatic action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from diuretic action
inferred from diuretic action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from anticancer action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
Traditional support for menopausal symptoms (see safety note - it does NOT act as a natural progesterone) - a placebo-controlled crossover RCT of topical wild yam cream found little effect on menopausal symptoms, lipids or hormones
Antispasmodic / analgesic for menstrual cramps and muscle spasm (antinociceptive in animal models)
Antispasmodic / analgesic for menstrual cramps and muscle spasm (antinociceptive in animal models)
Anti-inflammatory for joint and inflammatory pain
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
Safety, Cautions & Contraindications
Generally safe as a food plant when young leaves are harvested. Contains furocoumarins (photosensitising compounds) — handling large quantities in bright sunlight may cause skin irritation. Individuals with Apiaceae allergies should exercise caution. Not recommended in therapeutic doses during pregnancy.
IMPORTANT myth-bust: wild yam / diosgenin is NOT converted into progesterone or DHEA in the body, so it does not work as a 'natural progesterone' - claims to that effect are incorrect. Consistent with this, a randomized placebo-controlled crossover trial of topical wild yam cream found no significant change in symptoms, serum/salivary progesterone, oestradiol, FSH or lipids.
Generally well tolerated orally (no acute or subchronic toxicity in animal studies); large doses may cause nausea or vomiting. Avoid medicinal doses in pregnancy and breastfeeding and in hormone-sensitive conditions as a precaution.
External Ids
Botanical Description
Vigorous, low, patch-forming perennial herb spreading rapidly by white, brittle, creeping rhizomes. The leaves are broad and twice-ternate (in threes of threes), with oval, sharply toothed leaflets, borne on long stalks. In summer it sends up hollow, grooved, unspotted green stems topped with flat umbels of small white flowers, typical of the carrot family. The whole plant smells mildly of parsley or carrot when crushed.[1]
Twining, herbaceous perennial vine with heart-shaped leaves arising from a knotty, woody, cinnamon-brown rhizome ('root'). Small, inconspicuous greenish-yellow flowers are borne on separate male and female plants, followed on female plants by small three-winged seed capsules.[10]
Habitat
A common weed of gardens, hedgerows, shaded waste ground and disturbed soil, often near old dwellings; native to Europe and temperate Asia and widely naturalised elsewhere, where its invasive spreading rhizomes make it a persistent garden weed.[1]
Native to woodland edges, thickets and fence rows of eastern North America, growing over shrubs and fences in moist, rich soil.[10]
Harvesting
The young leaves and stems are gathered in spring, before flowering, when they are most tender and least bitter; the root can be dug at the same time. Careful identification against poisonous Apiaceae look-alikes (poison hemlock, hemlock water-dropwort, fool's parsley) is essential before harvesting.[1]
The knotty rhizome is dug in autumn once the aerial vine has died back, then cleaned and dried.
Traditional Uses
Ground elder has long been used in European folk medicine as a remedy for gout and rheumatic and arthritic joint pain (reflected in the name 'podagraria', from podagra, gout), typically applied as a poultice or taken as a decoction. The young leaves have also been eaten as a spring pot-herb, valued for their nutrient content as well as their medicinal reputation.[1]
Wild yam root has a Native American and Eclectic-medicine history as an antispasmodic remedy for colic, menstrual cramps and rheumatic joint pain (reflected in the old names 'colic root' and 'rheumatism root'); despite a persistent modern myth, its diosgenin content is not converted into progesterone or other hormones in the human body.[10]
Preparations
Dried or fresh leaf, stem and root simmered in water as a traditional remedy for gout and rheumatic pain.
Fresh leaves crushed or boiled and applied directly to gouty or arthritic joints.
Young spring leaves eaten as a cooked pot-herb, similarly to spinach, continuing the traditional food-medicine use.
References
Lookalikes Review
Dangerous Lookalikes
Not documented
References & Sources
- Dębia, K., Dzięcioł, M., Wróblewska, A. and Janda-Milczarek, K (2025) 'Goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria L.): An Edible Weed with Health-Promoting Properties', Molecules, 30(7), pp. 1603. doi:10.3390/molecules30071603 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30071603 - Engelhardt, L., Pöhnl, T. and Neugart, S (2022) 'Edible Wild Vegetables Urtica dioica L. and Aegopodium podagraria L.: Antioxidants Affected by Processing', Plants (Basel), 11(20), pp. 2710. doi:10.3390/plants11202710 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11202710 - Jakubczyk, K., Łukomska, A., Czaplicki, S., Wajs-Bonikowska, A., Gutowska, I. et al (2021) 'Bioactive Compounds in Aegopodium podagraria Leaf Extracts and Their Effects against Fluoride-Modulated Oxidative Stress in the THP-1 Cell Line', Pharmaceuticals (Basel), 14(12), pp. 1334. doi:10.3390/ph14121334 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/ph14121334 - Tovchiga, O.V (2016) 'The influence of goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria L.) tincture and metformin on the carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in dexamethasone-treated rats', BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 16, pp. 235. doi:10.1186/s12906-016-1221-y Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-016-1221-y - Flieger, J. and Flieger, M (2020) 'The [DPPH/DPPH-H]-HPLC-DAD Method on Tracking the Antioxidant Activity of Pure Antioxidants and Goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria L.) Hydroalcoholic Extracts', Molecules, 25(24), pp. 6005. doi:10.3390/molecules25246005 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25246005 - Prior, R.M., Lundgaard, N.H., Light, M.E., Stafford, G.I., van Staden, J. and Jager, A.K (2007) 'The polyacetylene falcarindiol with COX-1 activity isolated from Aegopodium podagraria L', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 113(1), pp. 176-178. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2007.05.005 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2007.05.005 - Niziol-Lukaszewska, Z., Zagorska-Dziok, M., Ziemlewska, A. and Bujak, T (2020) 'Comparison of the Antiaging and Protective Properties of Plants from the Apiaceae Family', Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 2020, pp. 5307614. doi:10.1155/2020/5307614 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/5307614 - Baranauskiene, R., Rackauskiene, I. and Venskutonis, P.R (2025) 'Characterization of Steam Volatiles and Evaluation of the Antioxidant Properties of Different Extracts from Leaves and Roots of Aegopodium podagraria L', Molecules, 30(24), pp. 4786. doi:10.3390/molecules30244786 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30244786 - Ojala, T., Vuorela, P., Kiviranta, J., Vuorela, H. and Hiltunen, R (1999) 'A bioassay using Artemia salina for detecting phototoxicity of plant coumarins', Planta Medica, 65(8), pp. 715-718. doi:10.1055/s-1999-14049 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-1999-14049 - Schulte, K.E. and Wulfhorst, G (1977) 'Polyacetylene compounds from Aegopodium podagraria L', Archiv der Pharmazie, 310(4), pp. 285-298. doi:10.1002/ardp.19773100403 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/ardp.19773100403 - Grieve, M (1931) 'A Modern Herbal'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=A%20Modern%20Herbal - Moerman, D.E (1998) 'Native American Ethnobotany'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Native%20American%20Ethnobotany - Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (n.d.). Available at: https://powo.science.kew.org Traditional / reference
https://powo.science.kew.org - Duke, J.A (2002) 'Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, Second Edition'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Handbook%20of%20Medicinal%20Herbs%2C%20Second%20Edition - Dayan, A.D (2024) 'Death of Socrates: a likely case of poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) poisoning', Clinical Toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.), 62(1), pp. 56-60. doi:10.1080/15563650.2024.2309328 Clinical study
https://doi.org/10.1080/15563650.2024.2309328 - King County Noxious Weeds (2024) 'Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) identification and control'. Available at: https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/dnrp/nature-recreation/environment-ecology-conservation/noxious-weeds/identification-control/poison-hemlock Traditional / reference
https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/dnrp/nature-recreation/environment-ecology-conservation/noxious-weeds/identification-control/poison-hemlock - Mitchell, M.I. and Routledge, P.A (1978) 'Hemlock water dropwort poisoning - a review', Clinical Toxicology, 12(4), pp. 417-26. doi:10.3109/15563657809150012 Clinical study
https://doi.org/10.3109/15563657809150012 - Teuscher, E. and Greger, H. and Adrian, V (1990) 'Toxicity of Aethusa cynapium L. (fool's parsley)', Pharmazie, 45(7), pp. 537-8. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2236201/ Preclinical
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2236201/ - Minnesota Wildflowers (2024) 'Aethusa cynapium (Fool's Parsley)'. Available at: https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/flower/fools-parsley Traditional / reference
https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/flower/fools-parsley
- Depypere, H.T. and Comhaire, F.H (2013) 'Herbal preparations for the menopause: beyond isoflavones and black cohosh', Maturitas, 77(2), pp. 191-194. doi:10.1016/j.maturitas.2013.11.001 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2013.11.001 - Cai, B., Zhang, Y., Wang, Z., Xu, D. et al (2020) 'Therapeutic Potential of Diosgenin and Its Major Derivatives against Neurological Diseases: Recent Advances', Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 2020, pp. 3153082. doi:10.1155/2020/3153082 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/3153082 - Raj, P.S., Bergfeld, W.F., Belsito, D.V., Cohen, D.E. et al (2023) 'Safety Assessment of Dioscorea Villosa (Wild Yam) Root Extract as Used in Cosmetics', International Journal of Toxicology, 42(3_suppl), pp. 29S-31S. doi:10.1177/10915818231204230 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1177/10915818231204230 - Dong, S., Nikolic, D., Simmler, C., Qiu, F., van Breemen, R.B., Soejarto, D.D., Pauli, G.F. and Chen, S (2012) 'Diarylheptanoids from Dioscorea villosa (wild yam)', Journal of Natural Products, 75(12), pp. 2168-2177. doi:10.1021/np300603z Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1021/np300603z - Dong, S., Cai, G., Napolitano, J.G., Nikolic, D., Lankin, D.C., McAlpine, J.B., van Breemen, R.B., Soejarto, D.D., Pauli, G.F. and Chen, S (2013) 'Lipidated steroid saponins from Dioscorea villosa (wild yam)', Fitoterapia, 91, pp. 113-124. doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2013.07.018 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fitote.2013.07.018 - Wojcikowski, K., Wohlmuth, H., Johnson, D.W. and Gobe, G (2008) 'Dioscorea villosa (wild yam) induces chronic kidney injury via pro-fibrotic pathways', Food and Chemical Toxicology, 46(9), pp. 3122-3131. doi:10.1016/j.fct.2008.06.090 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2008.06.090 - Mazzio, E., Almalki, A., Darling-Reed, S.F. and Soliman, K.F.A (2021) 'Effects of wild yam root (Dioscorea villosa) extract on the gene expression profile of triple-negative breast cancer cells', Cancer Genomics & Proteomics, 18(6), pp. 735-755. doi:10.21873/cgp.20294 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.21873/cgp.20294 - Ali, Z., Smillie, T.J. and Khan, I.A (2013) 'Cholestane steroid glycosides from the rhizomes of Dioscorea villosa (wild yam)', Carbohydrate Research, 370, pp. 86-91. doi:10.1016/j.carres.2012.12.022 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carres.2012.12.022 - Manda, V.K., Avula, B., Ali, Z., Wong, Y., Smillie, T.J., Khan, I.A. and Khan, S.I (2013) 'Characterization of in vitro ADME properties of diosgenin and dioscin from Dioscorea villosa', Planta Medica, 79(15), pp. 1421-1428. doi:10.1055/s-0033-1350699 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0033-1350699 - Lima, C.M., Lima, A.K., Melo, M.G.D., Serafini, M.R., Oliveira, D.L., de Almeida, E.B., Barreto, R.S.S., Nogueira, P.C., Moraes, V.R.S., Oliveira, E.R.A., de Albuquerque, R.L.C., Quintans-Junior, L.J. and Araujo, A.A.S (2013) 'Bioassay-guided evaluation of Dioscorea villosa - an acute and subchronic toxicity, antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory approach', BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. doi:10.1186/1472-6882-13-195 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-13-195 - Avula, B., Wang, Y., Wang, M., Ali, Z., Smillie, T.J., Zweigenbaum, J. and Khan, I.A (2014) 'Characterization of steroidal saponins from Dioscorea villosa and D. cayenensis using ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry', Planta Medica, 80(4), pp. 321-329. doi:10.1055/s-0033-1360330 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0033-1360330 - Siddiqui, M.A., Ali, Z., Chittiboyina, A.G. and Khan, I.A (2018) 'Hepatoprotective effect of steroidal glycosides from Dioscorea villosa on hydrogen peroxide-induced hepatotoxicity in HepG2 cells', Frontiers in Pharmacology, 9, pp. 797. doi:10.3389/fphar.2018.00797 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2018.00797 - Hayes, P.Y., Lambert, L.K., Lehmann, R., Penman, K., Kitching, W. and De Voss, J.J (2007) 'Complete 1H and 13C assignments of the four major saponins from Dioscorea villosa (wild yam)', Magnetic Resonance in Chemistry, 45(11), pp. 1001-1005. doi:10.1002/mrc.2071 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/mrc.2071 - Okawara, M. and Tokudome, Y. and Todo, H. and Sugibayashi, K. and Hashimoto, F (2013) 'Enhancement of diosgenin distribution in the skin by cyclodextrin complexation following oral administration', Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 36(1), pp. 36--40. doi:10.1248/bpb.b12-00467 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1248/bpb.b12-00467 - Komesaroff, P.A., Black, C.V., Cable, V. and Sudhir, K (2001) 'Effects of wild yam extract on menopausal symptoms, lipids and sex hormones in healthy menopausal women', Climacteric, 4(2), pp. 144--150. doi:10.1080/cmt.4.2.144.150 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1080/cmt.4.2.144.150
Generated automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database and its cited sources. For educational purposes only — not medical advice. Always consult a qualified practitioner before using medicinal plants.