Damiana is a plant that grows in the hot, humid climates of Central and South America. Also known as witch's broom and Mexican damiana, the damiana shrub has long been used as an aphrodisiac and a tool in the fight against sexual dysfunction. But lately, damiana has been shown to have medicinal qualities that appear to help with bed wetting, headaches, allergies and infections.
Inherent Health Risks
Because the FDA has not evaluated damiana, not much is known about its relative effectiveness other than user experience. This makes damiana a wild card when it comes to using it to treat infections. Then there's the added risk of no set standards for its manufacturing processes. This lack of FDA supervision means there is a slight risk of contaminants being present in its preparation.
Chemical Makeup
According to drugs.com, raw damiana contains gonzalitosin. At a low boil, a mixture of a complex, volatile oil, composed of cineol and pinenes, is found. These two chemicals give damiana its trademark odor and taste. At higher boiling points thymol and sesquiterpenes is present.
Support
Damiana has been traditionally used as an aphrodisiac (sexual stimulant) and for its reported gastrointestinal healing properties. Although the study information is limited, a recent test performed on rats seems to support some of these nonscientific claims. One of the most positive signs is damiana's ability to increase progesterone in women, which creates a greater libido.
Side Effects
As mentioned earlier, because damiana has not been evaluated by the FDA, little can be proven about the plant. Based on its 100-year history, damiana has been shown to be a potential cause of stomach upset, appetite suppression and softened stool.
When to Avoid
Consult your physician before deciding to take damiana. With certain conditions, such as diabetes, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and a previous history of breast cancer, damiana is not recommended.
How to Get It
Damiana is available at most herb shops, or you can find it online. It can be taken in an oil form, but is more commonly ingested in leaf form. The leaves can be dried and made into tea. The general rule is to add 1 g of the damiana leaf for a single cup of tea. The recommended dosage is 3 cups of damiana a day to treat whatever your symptoms may be. One last word of caution: The overuse of damiana could result in long-term liver damage and could lead to a dependence on the herb.
