Damiana

Damiana is a plant also known as Damiana Aphrodisiaca, Feuille de Damiane, Herba de la Pastora, Houx Mexicain, Mizibcoc, Old Woman's Broom, Oreganillo, Rosemary, Thé Bourrique, Turnera, Turnerae, and other names.

Damiana has been used in alternative medicine to improve mental function, or to treat headache, depression, upset stomach, constipation, or bedwetting. Damiana has also been used as an "aphrodisiac" to improve sexual satisfaction or to help with sexual problems. However, these uses have not been proven with research. Damiana may have been combined with other plants or extracts in a specific preparation to treat these conditions.

It is not certain whether damiana is effective in treating any medical condition. Medicinal use of this product has not been approved by the FDA. Damiana should not be used in place of medication prescribed for you by your doctor.

Damiana is often sold as an herbal supplement. There are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for many herbal compounds and some marketed supplements have been found to be contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.

Damiana may also be used for purposes not listed in this product guide.

Avoid using damiana together with other herbal/health supplements that can lower blood sugar, such as alpha-lipoic acid, chromium, devil's claw, fenugreek, garlic, guar gum, horse chestnut, Panax ginseng, psyllium, Siberian ginseng, and others.

Damiana is a plant also known as Damiana Aphrodisiaca, Feuille de Damiane, Herba de la Pastora, Houx Mexicain, Mizibcoc, Old Woman's Broom, Oreganillo, Rosemary, Thé Bourrique, Turnera, Turnerae, and other names.

Damiana has been used in alternative medicine to improve mental function, or to treat headache, depression, upset stomach, constipation, or bedwetting. Damiana has also been used as an "aphrodisiac" to improve sexual satisfaction or to help with sexual problems. However, these uses have not been proven with research. Damiana may have been combined with other plants or extracts in a specific preparation to treat these conditions.

It is not certain whether damiana is effective in treating any medical condition. Medicinal use of this product has not been approved by the FDA. Damiana should not be used in place of medication prescribed for you by your doctor.

Damiana is often sold as an herbal supplement. There are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for many herbal compounds and some marketed supplements have been found to be contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.

Damiana may also be used for purposes not listed in this product guide.

Follow all directions on the product label and package. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you use.

Before using damiana, talk to your healthcare provider. You may not be able to use damiana if you have certain medical conditions.

Damiana can affect blood sugar levels. If you have diabetes, check your blood sugar carefully. Watch for signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia): headache, hunger, sweating, confusion, irritability, dizziness, or feeling shaky.

Do not use this product without medical advice if you are pregnant.

Do not use this product without medical advice if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Do not give any herbal/health supplement to a child without medical advice.

Documented adverse effects include cyanogenetic glycosides and risk of cyanide toxicity in high doses. Avoid use. 1

None well documented.

Significant adverse effects have not been reported.

Damiana is a Mexican shrub also found throughout the southern US and many parts of South America. It has small, yellow-brown aromatic leaves. The leaves are broadly lanceolate, 10 to 25 mm long with three to six teeth along the margins. The red-brown twigs are often found mixed in the crude drug along with the spherical fruits.

No substantive data is available to support the aphrodisiac effects of damiana. Although it has been postulated that the plant may contain the central nervous system stimulant caffeine, the aphrodisiac effect has not been attributed to any specific components. The volatile oil in damiana might be sufficiently irritating to the urethral mucous membranes to account for its so-called aphrodisiac effects. Despite containing a complex mixture of components, there is no evidence to support claims for an aphrodisiac effect. 3

Despite containing a complex mixture of components, there is no evidence to support claims for a hallucinogenic effect.

There are no recent clinical studies of damiana that provide a basis for dosage recommendations, though it has been studied in combination with other agents. Classical dosage of the leaf was 2 g.

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