The use of Damiana in the medicinal world is gradually expanding. Before, it was just an ingredient in traditional Mexican liquor (initially included in triple sec Margarita), now experts have seen Damiana’s potential significant uses as a treatment for several illnesses and discomforts like menopausal symptoms.
What is Damiana?
With a scientific name Turnera diffusa, Damiana is a type of shrub found in Texas, parts of Central America like Mexico, Southern America and the Caribbean. It bears small, aromatic flowers that bloom in early or late summer. The shrub has a strong and spice-like scent similar to chamomile due to the leaves’ essential oils. Damiana’s leaves and stems contain the active ingredients used for its medicinal purpose. These plant parts could be freshly used but are usually dried and turned into tinctures or sometimes smoked.
Traditionally, native people of Central and Southern America use Damiana’s leaves as incense for relaxation. They also make Damiana tea from its leaves as an aphrodisiac still practiced by some until today.
Damiana For Libido Boost
Even the Aztecs and Mayans knew the benefits of Damiana and used its leaves as an aphrodisiac. Damiana boosts libido by increasing the blood flow in sexual organs, therefore improving stimulation and sensitivity during intercourse. It also helps improve one’s sexual performance by providing more energy and an uplifting mood. It relieves anxiety, depression, and nervousness, which are vital to enhancing sexual wellness. Damiana restores the ability to reach orgasm by amplifying lust and desire.
Damiana in Menopause
Damiana also helps in easing several menopausal symptoms by balancing the women’s hormone level. It alleviates symptoms like vaginal dryness, hot flashes, urinary incontinence, anxiety, depression and boosts sexual drive.
Other Uses of Damiana
Damiana has a wide range of therapeutic uses in different illnesses. As an anti-depressant and anti-anxiety, it has a natural calming effect due to its nervous system tonic property. It boosts the overall mood that results in a general feeling of well-being.
Due to its oxygenating property, Damiana reduces the feeling of exhaustion, boosts energy and leads to holistic relaxation.
Damiana is also considered an antiseptic that could treat the bladder’s urinary tract infections and urethral inflammation (a passageway of urine).
Herb of Damiana is also known as a laxative that could help ease by relaxing the gastrointestinal muscles.
Traditionally, Damiana is used to treat bronchitis and asthma.
Damiana also has potential uses for people who are having problems with testosterone levels. It helps in impotence by increasing the organ’s sensitivity and could even increase men’s sperm count.
Side Effects of Damiana
The regular and moderate use of Damiana has been shown to be safe. However, its long-term effects are not studied. This herb has possible abortive properties; therefore, pregnant women should not use it. It’s also not suggested for children since its safety for young users is not certified.
Damiana also has hypoglycemic properties (lowers blood sugar), so extra caution before giving this plant to people with complications in blood sugar. It may also interfere with iron absorption.
For safety, suggestions say that you should ask your physician before taking any products of Damiana.
Buying Damiana Supplements
Supplements of Damiana are available in the market as individual Damiana leaves or sometimes incorporated with other herbs, minerals and vitamins. Experts agree that it is better to buy those incorporated with some other active ingredients because of these reasons:
- Most organic supplements work more effectively together with other ingredients. For instance, the Damiana leaf increases its efficiency to boost libido in addition to licorice and puama.
- Additional supplements could help treat more symptoms. For example, added black cohosh could help balance hormones and, therefore, eliminate more menopausal symptoms.
Before purchasing Damiana supplements, be sure to check the label. Highly accredited companies should produce them, they should include only the purest substances and the labels must give information about dosage, strength and ingredients.
We found these places where you can get Damiana.
Mountain Rose Herbs
Mountain Rose Herbs has everything you need to make your herbal teas, medicines, and body care products. They also offer an excellent selection of the best herbal products on the market.
They honor and respect the beauty, balance and diversity of the natural world and work toward protecting and preserving the Earth, of which we are are a part. They support small organic farms around the world. Damiana leafs can be found here.
Buddha Tea
Buddha Teas believes that a good cup of Damiana tea is not just a beverage but an experience designed to nourish the body and satisfy the soul. They strive to offer this experience to everyone through their vast collection of fresh, naturally grown herbal teas. Their mission is to provide high-quality herbal teas at an affordable price, which everyone from the casual tea drinker to the seasoned tea connoisseur can enjoy.
Buddha Teas’s goal is to get back to the natural. They offer 100% unaltered, organic and wildcraft teas made from the freshest herbs, carefully packaged in only bleach-free tea bags. Their customers take comfort in knowing that they can enjoy a cup of tea without any harmful additives or toxins. With our ever-growing collection of natural teas, each customer can choose a tea that perfectly matches their needs. Their Damiana tea can be found here. You can also search for teas depending on what kind of benefit you would like. Check it out here.
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Gita is the founder of My Menopause Journey. Since 2014, she has been supporting midlife women by sharing hard-earned learnings from her own experience. To advance her knowledge, Gita puts a lot of her time and effort into understanding the broad spectrum of women’s health. She immerses in extensive research about the physical, mental and emotional aspects of menopause. Gita believes in the life-changing power of healthy, holistic living — this is where she anchors her message to all women. Learn more about her marvelous mission in About us - My Menopause Journey.