Damiana leaves are an age-old herbal remedy dating to the ancient Mayan Indians. They are harvested from the damiana plant, a wild, flowering shrub that's native to Mexico, Central America and parts of South America. Today, there is increasing interest in the use of damiana leaves as an herbal remedy.
Identification
Damiana leaves are 15mm to 25mm long, and have serrated edges. They're pale green in color and turn yellow brown when dried. Dried damiana leaves are referred to as damianae folium. The plant grows up to a height of about 24 inches and bears little yellow flowers. Damiana leaves are harvested in the summer, when the plant is in flower, and then dried for use in herbal remedies.
Taxonomy
Damiana is an herb in the Turneraceae plant family. According to Jacqueline L. Longe, author of "The Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine," damiana includes two species: Turnera diffusa and Turnera aphrodisiaca. The herb is also referred to as Mexican damiana, old woman's broom or oreganello.
Benefits
Damiana primarily affects the urinary and reproductive systems. In their book "Medicinal Plants of the World," Ben-Erik van Wyk and Michael Wink write that dried damiana leaves have traditionally been used as an aphrodisiac to treat and prevent impotence and loss of libido. The herb is also used to treat menstrual and prostate problems. Citing studies that have been conducted on mice, Sloan-Kettering reports that damiana has anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) properties. This herb also has hypoglycemic properties, which have the effect of lowering blood glucose levels in the body.
Preparation
Damiana leaves have traditionally been prepared in the form of a tea or infusion. Though folk recipes vary, Jacqueline L. Longe suggests brewing damiana tea by steeping half a cup of dried damiana leaves in one cup of boiling water for 15 minutes. Drink two to three cups of this infusion a day. Damaina leaves may also be available in powdered form, as a supplement capsule or as a tincture (an alcohol-based extract). Damiana supplement capsules may be taken in doses of 3g to 8g a day. The tincture is taken in doses of 1ml to 3ml, two or three times a day.
Considerations
Damiana leaf is categorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as GRAS (generally recognized as safe). It's also used as a food flavoring.
References
- "The Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine;" Jacqueline L. Longe; 2004
- "Medicinal Plants of the World;" Ben-Erik van Wyk and Michael Wink; 2004
- Sloan-Kettering: Damiana
- Rain Tree Nutrition: Database for Damiana
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