Damiana Herbal Information
NAME
Damiana
LATIN NAME
Turnera diffusa
ALSO KNOWN AS
Damiana, damiane, oreganillo, the bourrique, Mexican damiana, Mexican holly, damiana de Guerrero
ORIGIN
Mexico, Central America, West Indies, and South America.
PARTS USED
Leaves
TRADITIONAL HERBAL USES AND MEDICINAL PROPERTIES OF DAMIANA
Damiana is an Aphrodisiac and has earned its reputation as a male and female sexual stimulant, used to treat erectile dysfunction and inability to reach orgasm, particularly where sexual inadequacy has a strong emotional content.
It is an anti- depressant and is known to strengthen and tonify the central nervous system and is used for emotional stress, including anxiety, depression and mood disorders. It is also thought to be helpful in conditions of obsessive compulsive disorder.
It is a general hormone balancer, and is used for menstrual irregularities, including coming off the birth control pill, headaches, exhaustion and hot flushes.
It is a tonic and diuretic and is also indicated as helpful in the conditions of nervous stomach upsets, colic, gastric ulcers and constipation.
FOLKLORE AND HISTORY OF DAMIANA
Damiana is a plant that grows in Mexico, Central America, West Indies and South America and has been traditionally known and used as an Aphrodisiac. It was made into a sweet drink by Mexican Indians and drank to enhance love making.
CONSTITUENTS OF DAMIANA
The main constituents of damiana include: Albuminoids, alpha-copaene, alpha-pinene, arbutin, barterin, beta-pinene, beta-sitosterol, calamenene, caoutchouc, chlorophyll, 1,8-cineole, cymene, cymol, damianin, essential oil, gamma-cadinene, gonzalitosin-i, hexacosanol-1, luteolin, quinovopyranosides, tannins, tetraphyllin b, thymol, triacontane, and trimethoxyflavones.
TYPICAL PREPARATIONS AND DOSAGE OF DAMIANA
Suggested Dosage
Damiana powder -
1-3 grams up to twice a day,
Damiana fluid extract-
2-4 ml of a liquid extract per day,(can be split up over the day)
Extraction ratio 1:1
Alcohol Vol 60%
Damiana cut herb-
1 teaspoon of cut herb / 1 cup of boiling water, infuse for 10-15 minutes.
Or as recommended by a herbal practitioner
PRECAUTIONS
The leaves have a minor laxative effect and may cause loosening of the stools at higher amounts. Until more is known about damiana's effects on the female hormonal system, it should be avoided during pregnancy.
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