Damiana

Compilation by Armando Gonzalez Stuart, PhD

Scientific Name:

Turnera diffusa

Botanical Family:

Passifloraceae (Turneraceae)

Other Common Name:

Mexican damiana, Mexican holly, Old woman’s broom.

Common names in Spanish:

Damiana de California, Damiana de Guerrero, Hierba de la pastora, Pastorcita, Hierba del venado, Oreganillo.

Where is it found?

This aromatic shrub is native to Tropical America, from Mexico to South- America and the Caribbean.

Parts of the plant used:

Mainly the leaves, although the flowers and fruit are sometimes used.

How is it used?

Damiana leaves and stems are steeped in water to make a tea. Currently, various dietary supplements containing damiana leaves are also available as capsules or liquid extracts. Certain liqueurs purportedly contain damiana as a flavoring (Mabberley, 2008; Seidemann, 2005).

What is it used for?

Damiana is employed in Mexican traditional medicine as a tea, especially as an aphrodisiac
To treat anemia
For anxiety
Antibacterial
Antidepressant
Anti-diabetic
Antioxidant
Adaptogenic (against stress)
To lose weight
Antitumor
To treat bronchitis
For chronic bladder inflammation (cystitis)
Against coughs
To expel phlegm
To lower fever
To treat frigidity
Against fungal infections
To protect the stomach and liver
To treat impotence
To increase libido
As a laxative
To relieve pain
For colds and other respiratory problems (taken as tea)
For skin disorders
As a tonic (stimulant)
To promote menstruation
The leaves are smoked for their potential narcotic effect, similar to that of marihuana
Natural compounds found in Damiana leaves may relieve pain when applied topically

Safety / Precautions

Safety/Precautions:

Avoid ingestion during pregnancy and lactation.
Even though various beneficial health effects have been ascribed to damiana within traditional medicine, more clinical trials are needed to confirm them.

Before you decide to take any medicinal herb or herbal supplement, be sure to consult with your health care professional first. Avoid self-diagnosis and self-medication: Always be on the safe side!

References:

Berdonces JL. Gran Diccionario de las Plantas Medicinales.
Barcelona, Spain: Editorial Oceano; 2009; pp. 432-433.
Bradley P (Editor). British Herbal Compendium Vol. 1.
London: British Herbal Medicine Association; 1992; pp. 71-72.
Duke J, Bogenschutz-Godwin M, Ottensen R. Duke’s Handbook of Medicinal Plants of Latin America. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press; 2009; pp.721-723.
Gardner Z, McGuffin M (Editors). Botanical Safety Handbook 2nd ed.
Boca Raton, FL; CRC Press; 2013; pp. 885-886.
Mabberley D. Mabberley’s Plant Book 3rd ed.
London: Cambridge University Press; 2008; p.
Mendoza-Castelán G, Lugo-Pérez R. Plantas Medicinales en los Mercados de México.
Chapingo, Estado de México: Universidad Autónoma Chapingo; 2011; pp. 350-351.
Quattrocchi, U. World Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonous Plants, Vol 5.
Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press; 2012; p. 653.
Seidemann J. World Spice Plants.
Berlin: Springer-Verlag; 2005; pp. 376-377.
Szewczyk K, Zidorn C. Ethnobotany, phytochemistry, and bioactivity of the genus Turnera (Passifloraceae) with a focus on damiana--Turnera diffusa. J Ethnopharmacol. 2014; 152(3):424-43.
Snowden R et al. A comparison of the anti-Staphylococcus aureus activity of extracts from commonly used medicinal plants. J Altern Complement Med. 2014;20(5):375-82.
Van Wyk E, Wink M. Phytomedicines, Herbal Drugs, and Poisons.
Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press: 2014; p. 262.
Vanaclocha B, Cañigueral S. Fitoterapia: Vademécum de Prescripción 4ª ed.
Barcelona: Masson; 2003; pp. 204-205.
Veitch N, Smith M, Barnes J, Anderson L, Phillipson D. Herbal Medicines 4th ed.
London: Pharmaceutical Press; 2013; pp. 231-233.
Wong-Paz JE et al. Total phenolic content, in vitro antioxidant activity and chemical composition of plant extracts from semiarid Mexican region.
Asian Pac J Trop Med. 2015; 8(2):104-11.