The scientific name of damiana is Turnera diffusa. It is native to Mexico. This is aromatic and flowering plant which belongs to the Turneraceae plant family. Damiana is also known as old woman’s broom. The leaves of damiana are used for culinary and therapeutic purposes. You can find damiana leafin various forms, including herbal tea, liquid extracts and capsules. This herb offers many health benefits no matter if it is taken singly or in formulation with other herbs. Damiana leaf is used as a food – flavoring agent. In Mexico, damiana leaf is widely used to flavor beverages, such as liquors and teas. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the damiana for food use and this is giving the opinion that damiana is generally safe herb. If you consume damiana in high doses, it may cause convulsions which are similar to those caused by tetanus. There is not some official recommendation for damiana dosage because there is a lack of scientific study but the traditional dosages are two to four grams of dried damiana leaf taken 3 times a day. Also if you are diabetic, you need to talk with your doctor before you start using damiana. This herb can increase the risk of becoming hypoglycemic which means that your blood sugar levels will fall too low, if you take damiana along with certain drugs meant to control the blood sugar, such as insulin. If you are nursing or pregnant, then it is best to avoid damiana leaf. If you take it in high doses, then there is a risk of cyanide toxicity. This is happening due to cyanogenetic glycosides which are found in the damiana leaf. Always talk with your doctor before you start taking damiana leaf as your natural treatment for some kind of problem.
Some health benefits of damiana leaf:
Mood enhancer: Damiana has aphrodisiac properties. Also it serves as a mild enhancer which can help to alleviate mild depression, anxiety and stress in both men and women. This herb has mood – enhancing properties which are very beneficial when a sexual component is involved.
Frigidity: Many herbalists are prescribing the damiana to correct the female frigidity. Damiana has a similar mechanism of action in the woman’s body and it is increasing the blood circulation in the genital area. Also it has the effect of enhancing the sensitivity of clitoris and intensifying the sexual pleasure. There are some studies in which are said that damiana can help to revive sex drive in premenopausal and menopausal women by replenishing the depleted testosterone. Testosterone is the hormone which is behind both men and women’ sex drive. When damiana is stimulating the testosterone, then it can help to restore the sexual desire and performance.
Impotence: It is known fact that damiana is often prescribed as a male sexual remedy for impotence. The male impotence is also referred as erectile dysfunction. This condition is characterized by a consistent inability to achieve or sustain an erection, premature ejaculation or both. Damiana can help you to alleviate the symptoms of male impotence by increasing the blood flow to the genital area during sexual stimulation, facilitating the erections.
Health benefits of damiana leaf
Aphrodisiac: It is known that for centuries, the Mayan Indians of Mexico have used damiana as aphrodisiac and they were prescribing damiana for both men and women. It is functioning as a sex stimulant. Damiana can boost the libido but at the same time, it enhances sexual pleasure. It is known that the ancient reputation of damiana as an aphrodisiac is reflected in one of its Latin names – Turnera aphrodisiaca. There was one study in 2009 which was done in Mexico by the Mexico’s National Institute of Psychiatry and in this study was supported the folk use of damiana as an aphrodisiac. Also in this study was said that damiana has possible therapeutic properties in the treatment of sexual dysfunction. Damiana leaf has compounds which are called flavonoids and it is thought that this pro – sexual effect is attributed to the mechanism of action of these components.
