Damiana~

There are times in life when we all may struggle with libido! Many things can affect our sexual health; i.e., stress, work, health status, relationship issues, depression, body image issues, or just simply being tired. Damiana is not only amazing for sexual health, but also has numerous benefits for the whole body. It is known as an aphrodisiac herb and one of the most well-known and powerful to assist in this category.

Beautiful and beneficial for both men and women alike. The Latin botanical name for the plant is Turnera aphrodisiaca, T. diffusa and T. aphrodisiaca are generally seen as the same species. This plant has a long history of its traditional medicinal use, noting especially the sexual enhancing qualities. Damiana has at least 20 natural medicinal properties including 1.8-cineole, p-cymene, alpha- and beta-pinene, thymol, alpha-copaene, and calamene. The leaves are also a source of flavonoids, tannins, damianin, beta-sitosterol, and arbutin. It is said that not all properties or benefits of this plant have been identified yet.

Key Benefits:

• Aphrodisiac- improves sexual arousal and blood flow

• Enhances mood

• Prevents oxidative stress in kidneys

• Improves erectile dysfunction

• Flushes out wastes and toxins by increasing urine production

• Decreases PMS symptoms

• Alleviates depression and anxiety

• Treats constipation

• Helpful with respiratory ailments

If you are cold, tea will warm you; if you are too heated, it will cool you; If you are depressed, it will cheer you; If you are excited, it will calm you.

— William Ewart Gladstone

Damiana can be found in tinctures, powdered in capsule form, or dried leaves for tea. I recommend drinking Damiana as a lovely, rejuvenating tea. Make sure you buy organic Damiana tea leaves, so you are not ingesting pesticides. You can also try growing Damiana yourself~ Enjoy!

*This is for general information purposes only and is meant for those interested in natural alternatives and healthy living. This is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If taking medications and dealing with medical conditions, consult a naturopathic physician before adding any herbal remedies, as some can interfere with how certain meds work.

Sources:

1. "Damiana Introduction: History, Chemistry, Gardening." Chinese Herbs, 20 September 2020. Damiana Introduction: History, Chemistry, Gardening - Chinese Herbs (chinese-herbs.org)

2. Levvy, J. "Damiana: The Herb that Can Enhance Mood, Libido, & More." Dr. Axe, 30 June 2018. Damiana Benefits, Uses, Recipes and Side Effects - Dr. Axe (draxe.com)

3. Taylor, L. "Damiana: The Healing Power of Rainforest Herbs." Rain-Tree Publishers, February 2019. Damiana - Turnera diffusa, Turnera aphrodisiaca Database file in the Tropical Plant Database of herbal remedies (rain-tree.com)

4. Antioxidant effects of damiana (Turnera diffusa Willd. ex Schult.) in kidney mitochondria from streptozotocin-diabetic rats - PubMed (nih.gov)

5. Nair, P. "Health Benefits of Damiana." Value Food, 20 July 2014. Health Benefits of Damiana - Value FoodValue Food