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Benefits |
Preparation |
Medicinal Uses |
Side Effects |
Plant |
Folklore |
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| Common Names |
| Damiana , |
| Botanical Name |
| Turnera aphodisiaca |
| Family |
| TURNERACEAE |
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Aphrodisiac *
Bladder Infection (UTI) Cystitis *
Female Tonics *
Prostate health *
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| Parts Used: Leaves |
| Constituents:Leaves: greenish volatile oil consisting of cineole, p-cymene, alpha- and beta-pinene, thymol, alpha-copaene, and calamene. The dry matter of the leaf includes damianin as well as tannins, flavonoids, beta-sitosterol, and the glycosides gonzalitosin, arbu |
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Damiana is used primarily as an aphrodisiac for both sexes, but it's folklore uses also extend to include treatment for depression, anxiety, exhaustion, constipation, digestive complaints, and water retention.
IChemical analysis shows that damiana contains alkaloids similar to caffeine that have stimulating and aphrodisiac effects, stimulating blood flow to the genital area and increasing sensitivity. Some people report feelings of mild euphoria. |
Prep Methods :Liquid extracts, encapsulated powder,and most often teas. The tea is bitter, and is often blended with other herbs. .
Remedies using Damiana
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| Side Effects: |
| Teas of damiana may lower blood sugars, but tinctures do not. Since one of the traditional uses of the herb was to induce abortion, it should be avoided in pregnancy. |
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Damiana is a small shrub native to Mexico, South America, and Texas. It has smooth pale green leaves, yellow flowers and can be found growing in dry, sandy, or rocky places.
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In Mexico it was first used primarily by women, who drank damiana tea prior to lovemaking. The Mayans and Aztecs used it as a sexual stimulant and as a treatment for respiratory disorders. |
Damiana was sometimes burned ceremoniously to enable participants to "see visions". For thousands of years, Latin American cultures have ritualistically used Damiana as a sexual stimulant. |
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