Damiana has been used as an aphrodisiac for centuries, and the definitive review of its genus says 1 thing plainly. Almost 0 of that use was ever tested in people.
Most of its 12 reported bioactivities were investigated only in chemical, cell or animal assays. The 2 human studies both used multi-ingredient products.
Quick Answer: What Is Damiana?
Damiana is Turnera diffusa, a shrub from Mexico and Central America used traditionally as an aphrodisiac and as a tea. The definitive review of its genus states that most of its reported activities have been investigated only in chemical, cell-based or animal assays, and that both human studies used preparations containing other ingredients besides damiana. That leaves 0 trials of the herb on its own.
Key Takeaways
- Damiana is Turnera diffusa, 1 shrub native to Mexico and Central America.
- Its 12 reported activities were mostly tested in cell or animal assays.
- The only 2 human studies both used multi-ingredient herbal preparations.
- The genus contains 22 flavonoids, caffeine and 7 cyanogenic glycosides.
- Traditional uses include abortives, which is 1 reason to avoid pregnancy use.
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What It Actually Is
Damiana is a small aromatic shrub, and the supplement is made from its leaves.
- Botanical name: Turnera diffusa.
- Origin: Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.
- Part used: The leaves, dried.
- Our capsule: 1000 mg of damiana leaf.
Traditionally it is drunk as a tea far more often than swallowed as a capsule, which is covered in damiana tea benefits and how to make it.
The Sentence That Frames Everything
A 2014 review of the whole Turnera genus is the definitive source on this plant, and its summary of the evidence is unusually direct.
| What the review reported | Detail |
|---|---|
| Species in the genus | 135 accepted, about 6 used medicinally |
| Bioactivities identified | 12, from antianxiety to aphrodisiac |
| How most were tested | Chemical, cell-based or animal assays only |
| Human studies | 2, both using multi-ingredient preparations |
| Compounds identified in the genus | 22 flavonoids, caffeine, 7 cyanogenic glycosides |
| Compounds linked to an effect | Apigenin, as the antinociceptive principle in animals |
Twelve bioactivities and 2 human studies of mixtures is the honest state of this evidence base.[1]Ethnobotany, phytochemistry, and bioactivity of the genus Turnera (Passifloraceae) with a focus on damiana - Turnera diffusa — Journal of Ethnopharmacology (2014) View source Almost every claim you will read about damiana traces back to a dish or a rodent.
The Aphrodisiac Evidence
This is the reputation the plant is sold on, and the best study behind it used rats.
- Subjects: Sexually exhausted male rats.
- Dose: 20 to 80 mg per kg, against yohimbine at 2 mg per kg.
- Result at 80 mg per kg: More males resumed a second series.
- In the active extract: Caffeine, arbutine and flavonoids.
Caffeine being a main constituent of the working extract is the detail nobody repeats.[2]Turnera diffusa Wild (Turneraceae) recovers sexual behavior in sexually exhausted males — Journal of Ethnopharmacology (2009) View source The whole question is examined in is damiana an aphrodisiac.
What It Contains
Two constituents in the genus deserve naming, for opposite reasons.
| Constituent | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Caffeine | A stimulant, and present in the extract that worked in rats |
| Cyanogenic glycosides | 7 different ones in the genus; a reason not to overdo the tea |
| Flavonoids | 22 different compounds, including apigenin |
| Apigenin | The 1 compound linked to a specific effect, in animals |
Neither of the first 2 is a reason for alarm at ordinary amounts, and both are reasons to treat heavy daily use differently from an occasional cup.
Safety in One Paragraph
The cautions here come from tradition and constituents rather than from trials.
- Pregnancy: Avoid; the genus is traditionally used as an abortive.
- Diabetes: Antidiabetic activity is reported in animal work.
- Smoking the leaf: 0 evidence, and an inhalation risk.
- Everyday use: Undramatic, on a thin evidence base.
The full list is in side effects and who should avoid it.
Who Might Actually Want It
Being honest about a thin evidence base does not mean dismissing the plant.
- As a tea: A long culinary tradition, and 51290 monthly searches.
- Curiosity: A cheap traditional herb at 1000 mg a capsule.
- Not for: Treating a diagnosed sexual difficulty.
- Not for: Hormone changes, which have 0 human data.
The one human study involving a damiana-containing product tested a formula with 6 ingredients, in which 73.5% improved against 37.2% on placebo.[3]A double-blind placebo-controlled study of ArginMax, a nutritional supplement for enhancement of female sexual function — Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy (2001) View source On those terms a 1000 mg capsule is a traditional herb honestly labelled.
See a Clinician Rather Than Reaching for a Herb If
- Pregnancy or planning a pregnancy, given the traditional use of Turnera species as abortives
- New or persistent sexual difficulty, which can signal a cardiovascular, hormonal or mental-health issue and deserves assessment
- Diabetes, or use of any glucose-lowering medication
- Liver disease, or unexplained jaundice, dark urine or right-sided abdominal pain
- Any plan to smoke or vape damiana leaf
Frequently Asked Questions
What does damiana do to the body? +
Honestly, very little is known in humans. A 2014 review found its 12 reported activities were tested mostly in cell or animal assays.
What does damiana do to your body over time? +
There are 0 long-term human studies. The 2 human studies that exist ran 4 weeks and used multi-ingredient formulas.
Do people notice anything from it? +
Most report little. The extract that worked in rats contained caffeine, which is 1 plausible explanation for a mild lift.
Does the aphrodisiac reputation hold up? +
The best evidence is in rats at 80 mg per kg. The human study people cite tested a formula with 6 ingredients, of which damiana was 1.
Does it change testosterone? +
There are 0 human trials measuring testosterone with damiana. It is a marketing claim rather than a research finding.
Does it change oestrogen? +
In a dish it did 2 opposite things: inhibited aromatase and showed estrogenic activity. There are 0 human hormone measurements.
Can it be taken long term? +
Everyday use appears undramatic, on a thin base, and 0 studies ran beyond a few weeks. The 2 firm exclusions are pregnancy and diabetes medication without asking.
Are there people who should skip it? +
Yes: anyone pregnant, anyone on glucose-lowering medication, and anyone with liver disease. Those are 3 clear exclusions.
Is damiana the same as the liqueur? +
The Mexican liqueur is flavoured with the same plant. That is 1 culinary use rather than a medicinal one.
Does damiana contain caffeine? +
Caffeine has been identified in the genus and in the specific extract that worked in rats. It is 1 of 3 main compounds reported in that extract.
Can I smoke damiana? +
There are 0 studies supporting it, and inhaling any plant material carries its own risk. We do not recommend it.
How much should I take? +
Our label is 1 capsule of 1000 mg. No human trial has established a dose for damiana on its own.
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