Damiana Leaf & Breast Enhancement

Damiana has a long history of use as a natural aphrodisiac and treatment for sexual dysfunction in both men and women. More recently, damiana leaf has been marketed for natural breast enhancement. Evidence to support this claim is lacking, however. In addition, damiana affects blood sugar levels and interacts with several prescription drugs. Consult a health care practitioner before using this herb, especially if you have diabetes or a hormone-driven disorder, or are taking medications.

Botanical Profile

Damiana is a shrub-like, flowering plant native to the Gulf of Mexico, South Africa and the Caribbean. The botanical name for this herb is Turnera diffusa. The plant is also referred to as Turnera aphrodisiaca and a variety of common names, such as Mexican holly, herba de la pastora and old woman's broom.

The medicinal part of the plant is the leaf, which is dried and taken in capsule form, prepared as a tea or processed into a liquid via alcohol extraction. The fresh leaf, which tastes fig-like and imparts an odor reminiscent of chamomile, is harvested in summer while the plant is in flower.

Historical Use

For centuries, the people of South and Central America have added damiana leaf to incense and to Damiana, a traditional Mexican liqueur named in its honor. In traditional herbal medicine, the leaf is used to treat anxiety, depression, bladder and urinary disorders, painful menstruation and menopausal complaints. Damiana is best known as a natural treatment for sexual disorders, including low libido, premature ejaculation and impotence.

Chemical Composition

According to the "Physicians' Desk Reference for Herbal Medicines," damiana leaf contains between 0.5 and 0.9 percent volatile oil, which contains various tannins, resins and glycosides. The primary active agents in the herb include alpha and beta-pinene, luteolin, thymol, arbutin, beta-sitosterol, 1,8-cineole, apigenin 7-glucoside and damianin, the book says. In a study published in the Dec. 8, 2008, Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Jianping Zhao and colleagues from the University of Mississippi identified and isolated two additional compounds, pinocembrin and acacetin.

Pharmacological Effects

The University of Mississippi study showed that pinocembrin and acacetin inhibit the activity of aromatase, an enzyme involved in the synthesis of estrogen. This is significant in terms of addressing symptoms of menopause. In fact, aromatase inhibitors are a class of drugs used to reduce the amount of estrogen available to bind to hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer cells. Although this effect may lower your risk of breast cancer, it contributes little toward breast enhancement. Still, it should be noted that the researchers also found that apigenin 7-glucoside, Z-echinacin, as well as pinocembrin, demonstrate estrogenic activity. While this may explain the herb's reputation as an aphrodisiac in women, however, it does not support its use to increase breast size, J. Zhao, A.K. Dasmahapatra, S.I. Khan and I.A. Khan wrote in the Dec. 8, 2008, Journal of Ethnopharmacology.

Safety Concerns

According to the database provided by the Drugs Information Online website, damiana compounds may interfere with diabetes medications. Due to the potential estrogenic effects of the herb, you should not use damiana if you are pregnant, lactating or have had breast cancer. In addition, the use of this herb may be hazardous if you have a history of manic depression, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's disease, the Drugs Information Online website says.