Herbal Alternative Damiana
Other names for Damiana include Turner diffuse and Turner aphrodisiacal. Damiana is a flowering schrub found in Central and South America, Mexico and the Caribbean. Traditionally the leaves have been made into tea and used as an aphrodisiac. It can also be smoked.
Damiana can now be found as a tea, a capsule or liquid. It is an herbal medicine used to treat many things including impotence and frigidity. It is also supposed to help with menopausal symptoms, Fibromyalgia, depression infertility Parkinson’s and more.
Other uses include anxiety, depression asthma, headache and menstrual disorders. There is no scientific proof that it helps with any of these ailments.
It is used widely in Mexico as an aphrodisiac for both women and men. In studies it has shown to be the sixth highest herb that binds with progesterone. This may indicate it has similar effects as progesterone. The usual dose is 400mg once or twice a day.
Damiana has historically been used in general for the reproductive system, the hormonal and nervous systems of both men and women. Damiana has a compound in it called arbutin which in large doses converts to hydorquione which can cause vomiting, nausea, ringing in the ears, unconciousness and death.
Its common mild side effect is an upset stomach. The plant itself can grow up to 2 meters. It yellow flowers and green leaves. Its affects are a bit like marijuana when smoked but more relaxing.
When it is smoked with passionflower relaxation and lucid dreaming can occur. It is a component of many herbal cigarettes.
It is promoted as a sexual stimulant and aphrodisiac but has not been proven scientifically. It is also an ingredient in a Mexican liquer which is used in some places in Mexico as an ingredient in Margaritas. Missionaries from Spain first recorded it as tea, which the Mexicans drank to enhance their sexual experience,