Herb Of The Week - Damiana - Monograph

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Botanical Name: Turnera aphrodisiaca, Turnera diffusa

Common Names: Damiana, Herba de la pastora, Mexican damiana, Mizibcoc,

Old woman's broom

 

Uses

In folk medicine, damiana has a reputation for being an aphrodisiac, a

substance that heightens sexual desire and enhances sexual performance.

Results of a few small laboratory studies suggest that damiana may have

some slight ability to widen blood vessels - an effect that may relieve

male impotence to some extent. Other recent laboratory studies support a

second traditional use of damiana for treating gastrointestinal

conditions such as dysentery. It has shown some antibacterial activity

when tested under laboratory conditions, but much more study is needed

to confirm or disprove the results. Damiana has also been used to treat

conditions as diverse as bedwetting, constipation, depression, and

headaches. No evidence from controlled human studies supports any of

damiana's uses, however.

In studies of laboratory animals, damiana has shown unpredictable

effects on blood sugar levels and body weight. In one study, a damiana

extract appeared to decrease blood sugar in animals with diabetes.

Conversely, later studies showed no effect. In addition, earlier studies

associated weight loss with using damiana; but subsequent research

showed little or no weight-loss effect. Both of these potential uses of

damiana need further research before they can be recommended for use.

 

Damiana is a bush that grows wild in Mexico, Central America, parts of

South America, and the southwestern United States. It bears yellow

flowers and red berries that may be eaten or used in cooking. The leaves

and occasionally the yellow or reddish twigs are used in medicine.

Damiana leaves are collected during the summer while the plants are in

flower. They are dried and used for tea or made into commercial dosage

forms such as capsules. Due to its pleasant, mildly minty taste, damiana

may be used to flavor beverages or season foods. It is also often

included in combination herbal products.

During the 1960s, a rumor spread that smoking dried damiana leaves

produces a euphoric state similar to the use of marijuana. Although this

rumor has been disproved, damiana smoking is still widely promoted on

the internet as " legal alternative to marijuana " . Smoking damiana is

also reported to help individuals stop smoking cigarettes, but no

evidence proves this theory, either.

 

Precautions

In animal studies, damiana may have affected blood sugar levels.

Individuals who have diabetes may want to avoid using it.

Very little information is available on how damiana might affect a

developing fetus, an infant, or a small child. Therefore, its use is not

recommended during pregnancy, while breast-feeding, or during early

childhood.

 

Contraindications

Major Side Effects

In one reported case, ingesting a single dose of 200,000 mg (200 grams

or about 7 ounces) of damiana resulted in seizures.

Less Severe Side Effects

Using damiana has been associated with headaches and insomnia.

 

Drug interactions

Taking damiana may interfere with insulin and oral drugs for diabetes,

such as:

Actos

Amaryl

Avandia

glipizide (Glucotrol XL)

glyburide (Glynase)

Glyset

metformin (Glucophage)

Prandin

Precose

Because damiana may affect blood sugar levels, taking it with other

herbals that are known to lower blood sugar may either cancel the

blood-sugar lowering effects or increase them. Hypoglycemia - blood

sugar that is too low - may result. Herbals that may reduce blood sugar

include:

Eleuthero

Fenugreek

Ginger (in high amounts)

Kudzu

Panax Ginseng

Some interactions between herbal products and medications can be more

severe than others. The best way for you to avoid harmful interactions

is to tell your doctor and/or pharmacist what medications you are

currently taking, including any over-the-counter products, vitamins, and

herbals..

 

 

Dosage and Administration

A common way to take damiana is as a tea made by adding 2,000 mg to

4,000 mg (2 grams to 4 grams) of dried leaves or leaf powder to about 8

ounces of boiling water. After being strained to remove solid particles,

up to three cups of this tea may be consumed daily.

Damiana is also available as capsules and as extracts, which are

concentrated liquid preparations made by soaking damiana in a solvent

such as alcohol and then straining out the solid particles. Recommended

doses for these commercial products differ greatly. If damiana is used,

the directions on the package that is purchased should be followed.

 

Summary

Although damiana has not been proven effective for treating any medical

condition, it is used in folk medicine for conditions ranging from

impotence to bedwetting. It may have some effectiveness for lowering

blood sugar or reducing weight, but more study is needed before damiana

can be recommended for any medical use.

 

Risks

Individuals with diabetes are advised not to take damiana because it may

affect blood sugar levels. Due to a lack of information about potential

effects of damiana, it should also be avoided by small children and

pregnant or breast-feeding women.

 

Side Effects

One individual is reported to have suffered a seizure after taking a

large dose (200,000 mg) of damiana. Other side effects attributed to the

use of damiana include headache and insomnia.

 

Interactions

Due to its possible blood-sugar altering effects, damiana may interfere

with drugs or herbals that decrease blood sugar levels.

 

References

 

Alarcon-Aguilar FJ, Roman-Ramos R, Flores-Saenz JL, Aguirre-Garcia F.

Investigation on the hypoglycaemic effects of extracts of four Mexican

medicinal plants in normal and alloxan-diabetic mice. Phytotherapy

Research. 2002;16(4):383-386.

Alarcon-Aguilara FJ, Roman-Ramos R, Perez-Gutierrez S, Aguilar-Contreras

A, Contreras-Weber CC, Flores-Saenz JL. Study of the anti-hyperglycemic

effect of plants used as antidiabetics. Journal of Ethnopharmacology.

1998;61(2):101-110.

Anon: Damiana. In: DerMarderosian A, Beutler JA, eds. Facts and

Comparisons: The Review of Natural Products. St. Louis, MO, Facts and

Comparisons. July 1996.

Arletti R, Benelli A, Cavazzuti E, Scarpetta G, Bertolini. A Stimulating

property of Turnera diffusa and Pfaffia paniculata extracts on the

sexual-behavior of male rats. Psychopharmacology (Berlin).

1999;143(1):15-19.

Grieve M. Damiana. In: A Modern Herbal. New York: Dover Publishers,

1971. Available at: http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/mgmh.html

Posted 1995.

Haughton C. Turnera diffusa (Willd.). Revised September 23, 2002.

Available at: http://www.purplesage.org.uk/profiles/damiana.htm.

Accessed October 23, 2003.

Hernandez T, Canales M, Avila JG, Duran A, Caballero J, Romo de Vivar A,

Lira R. Ethnobotany and antibacterial activity of some plants used in

traditional medicine of Zapotitlan de las Salinas, Puebla (Mexico).

Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2003;88(2-3):181-188.

Hnatyszyn O, Moscatelli V, Garcia J, et al. Argentinian plant extracts

with relaxant effect on the smooth muscle of the corpus cavernosum of

guinea pig. Phytomedicine. 2003;10(8):669-674.

Jellin JM, Gregory P, Batz F, Hitchens K, et al, eds. Pharmacist's

Letter/Prescriber's Letter. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database,

3rd Edition. Stockton CA: Therapeutic Research Facility, 2000.

Piacente S, Camargo EE, Zampelli A, Gracioso JS, Souza Brito AR, Pizza

C, Vilegas W. Flavonoids and arbutin from Turnera diffusa. Zeitschrift

Fuer Naturforschung. Section C. Biosciences [C]. 2002;57(11-12):983-985.

Taylor L. Herbal Secrets of the Rainforest, 2nd edition. Roseville,

California. Prima Publishing, Inc. 2002.

Tyler VE. Damiana - history of a herbal hoax. Pharmaceutical History.

1983;25(2):55-60.

 

This information is provided for your education only. Please share this

information with your healthcare provider and be sure that you talk to

your health care provider including your doctor and pharmacist about all

the prescription and non-prescription medicines you take before you

begin to use any herbal product.