Bones “are not made of calcium”; wild yam is a treatment for osteoporosis
In July 2024, a snippet of a presentation by naturopath Barbara O’Neill circulated on Facebook where she advocated against using calcium supplements to treat osteoporosis. O’Neill justified her statement by claiming that bones "are not made of calcium". Instead, she recommended the use of "Anna’s wild yam cream", which would allegedly "lift the progesterone levels" and foster new bone formation. [...] O’Neill also asserted that a product called Anna’s Wild Yam Cream could treat osteoporosis by increasing progesterone levels. She claimed that progesterone stimulates osteoblasts, and that osteoporosis results from elevated estrogen levels that reduce the progesterone levels. [...] O’Neill provided an inaccurate explanation of how bones are formed and maintained throughout life. Contrary to her claim, calcium is an essential component of bones. Not consuming enough calcium is one of the risk factors that can jeopardize bone formation and lead to osteoporosis. Contrary to O’Neill’s claim, adopting a diet with more calcium is one of the first steps someone can take to prevent or slow down osteoporosis. Wild yam isn’t a proven treatment for osteoporosis, and there is no evidence that it can cause an increase in progesterone.