B.Bos. (n.d.). Damiana (Turnera diffusa). Retrieved from: http://www.giftpflanzen.com/turnera_diffusa.html
Botanical Name: Turnera diffusa
Common name: Damiana (Bone, 2003, p. 171)
Family: Turneraceae (Bone, 2003, p. 171)
Parts used: Leaves and stems (Braun & Cohen, 2005, p. 144)
History/Folklore: Traditionally used by Native Brazillian, Mexican and Mayan people (Bone, 2003, p. 171). In Mexico the herb was consumed as a stimulating beverage in place of tea/coffee (Bone, 2003, p. 171). Mayan Indians are believed to have used the herb to prevent giddiness, loss of balance and also as an aphrodisiac (Braun & Cohen, 2005, p. 144)
Constituents:
- Sesquiterpenes
- Alkaloids
- Volatile oils
- Thymol
- Gozalitosin
- Resin
- Tannins
- Gum
- Mucilage
- Starch
- Bitter element
(Braun & Cohen, 2005, p. 144)
Actions
- Nervine tonic (Bone, 2003, p. 171)
- Mild laxative (Bone, 2003, p. 171)
- Anti-inflammatory (Braun & Cohen, 2005, p. 144)
Indications
- Anxiety (Bone, 2003, p. 171)
- Depression (Bone, 2003, p. 171)
- Impotence (Bone, 2003, p. 171)
- Decreased libido (Braun & Cohen, 2005, p. 144)
- Nervousness (Bone, 2003, p. 171)
- Nervous dyspepsia (Bone, 2003, p. 171)
- Constipation (Bone, 2003, p. 171)
Traditional indications in Mexico include:
- Sterility
- Aphrodisiac
- Childbirth aid
- Nervous debility
- Spermatorrhea
- Irritable bladder
- Suppressed menstruation
(Bone, 2003, p. 171)
Preparation & Dosage:
- 3-6mL liquid extract (1:2)/day (Bone, 2003, p. 171)
- 20-40mL liquid extract (1:2)/week (Bone, 2003, p. 171)
- Dried leaf: 2-4g/tds (Braun & Cohen, 2005, p. 144)
Cautions & Contraindications: None Known (Bone, 2003, p. 171)
Interactions: May theoretically have an additive effect with hypoglycemic agents, although there is not enough evidence to support this (Braun & Cohen, 2005, p. 144)
Materia Medica 