Damiana

Damiana

Recommended Damiana Product

Damiana

 

Other Names

Damiana is the common name for Turnera diffusa, var aphrodisiaca.  [1] 

The varietal name refers to its reported traditional use by Mexican Indians as an aphrodisiac.  [2] 

 

 

What Is It?

Damiana refers to the leaves of Turnera diffusa var. aphrodisiaca. The plant is native to Mexico, Texas, Central America, South America, and the West Indies.  [3]    The leaves are used in a variety of herbal products, either singly or in combination, as powders, dry and fluid extracts. Damiana has reportedly been used in Mexico for some time as a male aphrodisiac. [4]   

 

Damiana has traditionally been used for anxiety, nervous exhaustion, depression, debility, impotence, premature ejaculation, urinary infections, frigidity, vaginal discharge, painful menstruation, menopausal problems, poor appetite, and atonic (poor muscle tone) constipation.  [5]  

 

Though a number of phytochemicals in damiana are known, the herb has not been extensively studied for efficacy. Damiana is often used in combination with other herbs in formulas for sexual enhancement and mentrual problems. At this time there is no reason to believe that it possesses aphrodisiac properties.

 

 

Medicinal History

Despite damiana’s frisky reputation, there is surprisingly little readily available information on its history. Originating in tropical America, damiana leaves were supposedly highly regarded as aphrodisiac by various Mexican Indians.  [6]   However, the claim that damiana is an aphrodisiac may be entirely a hoax, dating back to 1874, perpetrated by a Washington, D.C. drug firm to sell the herb.  [7]  [8]   

 

As a traditional medicine, damiana evidently travelled from the Americas to Europe, where it was also taken up for a number of uses, including sex-enhancing purposes. However, in Europe at this time damiana is also used as a mild stimulant, to relieve depression, as a diuretic, and to treat constipation.   [9]  [10]  

 

Damiana is collected commerically in Mexico and Bolivia  [11]   

 

 

Habitat & Cultivation

Damiana grows in Central and South America, and in Namibia. The plant grows well in dry soil in the sun, and is harvested when it flowers. The leaves are picked from the plant and dried. The leaves are then used to make a variety of powdered and extracted herbal products.

   [12]

 

 

How It Works

Damiana contains no known phytochemicals which would support its purported sex-enhancing activity. In fact, the book Pharmacognosy (Tyler et al) states that the purported aphrodisiac properties of damiana are a hoax attributable to a drug firm in Washington D.C. in 1874!     [13]

 

Yet for other traditional uses, damiana seems to possess the right ingredients. Damiana contains cineole which shows anti fatigue activity; alpha-pinene, which is anti –inflammatory, sedative and tranquilizing; arbutin which is a diuretic and urinary antiseptic;         and thymol, which has dozens of properties including muscle-relaxing, urinary antiseptic, antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties.     [14]

 

 

Contemporary Uses Approved by Authoritative Bodies

No authoritative bodies approve the use of damiana for any particular purpose.

• The British Herbal Compendium indicates use of damiana for depressive states and atonic (lack of muscle tone) constipation.  [15]

 

 

Potential Risks

Safety issues and concerns

Damiana appears to be safe at recommended dosages. It appears on the FDA's GRAS (generally recognized as safe) list and is used as a food flavoring.  [16] 

 

Contraindications – based on conditions and medication intake, etc.

• There are no known contraindications for damaiana.     [17]

 

Potentially harmful drug interactions 

• There are no reported harmful drug interactions associated with damiana.

 

Allergy precautions

• There are no reported allergies to damiana.

 

 

Usage Tips

According to the British Herbal Compendium, a dose of 2-4 grams dried leaf in an infusion shuld be drunk three times daily.     [18]

• Otherwise, follow usage directions on product labels.

 

Product Choosing/Buying Tips

 

·                There are no particular quantitative standards for damiana as there are    

with standardized botanicals.

·        Look for other attributes like organic certification and brands with quality reputations.

·        Avoid products that make wild or exaggerated claims for damiana’s purported sexual properties.

 

 

Science Update

 

Damiana may help aid weight loss.

In a study reported in 2001, a mixed herbal preparation (YGD) containing Yerbe mate’ Guarana and Damiana was studied for weight loss purposes. Forty-seven healthy overweight patients entered a double-blind placebo-controlled parallel trial of three capsules of YGD capsules before each main meal for 45 days compared with three placebo capsules. Body weight was monitored in 22 patients who remained on the herbal formula for 12 months. The herbal formula delayed gastric emptying, promoted a feeling of fullness and induced significant weight loss over 45 days.     [19]

 

A formula containing damiana enhances sexual satisfaction.

In a study reported in 2001, of 77 participating women over age 21, 34 received ArginMax for Women and 43 received a placebo. ArginMax for Women contains extracts of ginseng, ginkgo, and damiana, L-arginine, multivitamins, and minerals. After 4 weeks, 73.5% of the ArginMax group reported improved in satisfaction with their overall sex life, compared with 37.2% of the placebo group.  This multi-ingredient product result does not prove the  purported aphrodisiac properties of damiana.     [20]

 

 

Trivia

Some people smoke damiana leaves to produce a euphoric high.   [21]