Turnera diffusa (Damiana)

Question 1

How do you recognise Damiana?

Answer 1

A small woody shrub with simple serrated leaves and five petalled yellow flowers.
Native to Central America and Mexico (Texas & California in the USA).

Question 2

What are Damiana’s main constituents?

Answer 2

Constituents:
* Flavonoids including apigenin (anxiolytic) and Pinocembrin & acacetin (aromatase inhibitors).
* Essential oil – many compounds that are possibly responsible for aphrodisiac action.
* Alkaloids.
* Bitters including damianin.
* Cyanogenic glycosides.

Question 3

What family is Damiana in?

Answer 3

A member of the Passifloraceae.

Question 4

What is Damiana good for?

Answer 4

Summary: Bendle uses as a tea or a tincture as a nervous system trophorestorative; so a mild antidepressant. Also good for libido. Warm, druing bitter, good for ‘oomph’

Actions:
* Nervous system trophorestorative.
* Relaxant.
* Aphrodisiac - seems to increase levels of testosterone and estrogen.
* Adaptogen.
* Gastrointestinal stimulant.
* Expectorant.
* Diuretic.
* Overdose can cause GIT upset, headache, insomnia, hallucinations, convulsions

Applications:
* Stress & anxiety.
* Depression.
* Low libido and impotence (especially if related to depression).
* PMS.
* Urinary tract infections.
* Possibly useful for herpes.

Question 5

What is Damiana’s Latin name?

Answer 5

Turnera diffusa Willd. ex Schult.

Question 6

What parts of Damiana do you use?

Answer 6

Part used: leaves.

Question 7

What safety issues might Damiana have?

Answer 7

High doses can have toxic effects avoid in pregnancy

Question 8

What useful research does Damiana have?

Answer 8

External links:
* Plant Stories: Harvesting Damiana in Mexico Background information
* The Genus Turnera: A Review Update from 2005

Question 9

What remedies might you use Damiana in?

Answer 9

Dose 20 - 30ml/week of 1:3 tincture.
Traditionally used as a tea, in alcoholic drinks and sometimes smoked.
Bendle might use for a few months/ weeks but some herbalists have used shots? Bendle used it with a patient with mood oscillations; recent prescriptions include for the morning: (rosemary 25%, melissa 45%, turnera 30%). Sometimes mix it with Hypericum. In the evening: Vitex 50% and Passiaflora 50%.