The Medicinal Herb Info site was created to help educate visitors about the often forgotten wisdom of the old ways of treating illnesses. Many of today's drugs and medicines were originally derived from natural ingredients, combinations of plants and other items found in nature.

We are not suggesting that you ignore the help of trained medical professionals, simply that you have additional options available for treating illnesses. Often the most effective treatment involves a responsible blend of both modern and traditional treatments.

We wish you peace and health!

Mexican Damiana

Scientific Names

Damiana

  • Turnera aphrodisiaca L.
  • Turnera diffusa L.
  • Turneraceae

Common Names

  • Damiana

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Parts Usually Used

Leaves
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Description of Plant(s) and Culture

Mexican damiana is a small shrub; the long, broad, obovate, toothed, light green damiana leaves have few hairs on the rib; frequented by reddish twigs. Damiana is a small mint-like plant bearing fragrant yellowish-white flowers. Plant has a warm, bitter, camphor-like taste.
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Where Found

Found in dry places in Texas, Baja California, and northern Mexico.
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Medicinal Properties

Laxative, aphrodisiac, nervine, aperient, diuretic, stimulant, tonic
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Biochemical Information

Essential oil with cineol, cymol, pinene, arbutin, hydrocyanic glycoside, bitter principle, tannin, resin
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Legends, Myths and Stories

The Mexican damiana is considered the Mexican aphrodisiac and tonic.

Damiana is a delicate scented herb used alone or in wine and liqueur compositions as bouquet garni.
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Uses

Damiana seems to be considered as something of a natural “upper”, to be taken for nervous and sexual debility. It is reputed to have aphrodisiac properties. It is also prescribed for spermatorrhea (involuntary emissions) and for treating orchitis, a condition resulting in atrophy of the testicles. Treats frigidity in women. Improves digestion, migraines, a laxative, relieves anxiety, promotes a feeling of well-being, cystitis, depression, inability to concentrate, cures constipation. A brain and blood tonic. It is usually taken in a 1:1 mixture with saw palmetto berries.
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Formulas or Dosages

Infusion: steep 1 tsp. leaves in 1 cup boiling water. Take 1 to 2 cups per day.

Fluid extract: take 15 drops to 1 tsp., 3 times per day, before meals.

Capsules: take 1 capsule for up to 3 times daily before meals.
Extract: mix 10 to 30 drops in liquid daily.

Powder: taken 3 to 6 grains, 3 times a day, before meals.
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How Sold

Damiana leaves are available from herb dealers. Also, obtainable in capsule form.
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Warning

Damiana stimulates beyond the limit of our safe and healthy resources; may have ill effect on the heart. Use this herb with medical supervision.
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Bibliography

Buy It! The Complete Medicinal Herbal, by Penelope Ody, Dorling Kindersley, Inc, 232 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016, First American Edition, copyright 1993

Buy It! The Herbalist Almanac, by Clarence Meyer, Meyerbooks, publisher, PO Box 427, Glenwood, Illinois 60425, copyright 1988, fifth printing, 1994

Buy It! Earl Mindell’s Herb Bible, by Earl Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D., Simon & Schuster/Fireside, Rockefeller Center 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10020

Buy It! The Herb Book, by John Lust, Bantam Books, 666 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY. copyright 1974.

Buy It! Indian Herbalogy of North America, by Alma R. Hutchens, Shambala Publications, Inc., Horticultural Hall, 300 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, 1973

Buy It! The Magic of Herbs in Daily Living, by Richard Lucas, Parker Publishing Co. (1988).

Buy It! Old Ways Rediscovered, by Clarence Meyer, Meyerbooks, publisher, PO Box 427, Glenwood, Illinois 60425, published from 1954, print 1988

Buy It! The Yoga of Herbs: An Ayurvedic Guide to Herbal Medicine, by Dr. David Frawley & Dr. Vasant Lad, Lotus Press, Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, Second edition, 1988.

Buy It! Planetary Herbology, by Michael Tierra, C.A., N.D., O.M.D., Lotus Press, PO Box 325, Twin Lakes. WI 53181., Copyright 1988, published 1992

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