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TURNERA DIFFUSA - DAMIANA.)
SynonymTurnera aphrodisiaca. Common name Damiana, Mexican damiana, Mexican holly, Mizibcoc, old woman's broom, hierba del venado, oreganello. Family Turneraceae (Turnera family) . Overview Damiana, original from Central America, is a small perennial shrub; growing up to 3 – 6 feet (1 - 2 meters) tall. The leaves are serrate and aromatic; smooth on the top side, glabrous with a few hairs on ribs underneath. The stems are erect with the small yellow flowers rising from the leaf axils which produce small sweet smelling fruits. The seed capsule is one-celled splitting into three pieces, exposing 3 to 6 kidney-shaped seeds. Leaves from this plant are used as a tea substitute and as a flavoring in liqueurs. Damiana is on the FDA list for GRAS (generally recognized as safe) and is often used as a food flavoring. It is claimed that smoking this herb induce a marijuana-like legal "high" and euphoria. When smoked, the effects last up to 90 minutes; taken as a tea, the effects are more milder, but last longer. Constituents Leaves contain up to 1% volatile oil consisting of 1,8-cineole, p-cymene, alpha- and beta-pinene, thymol, alpha-copaene, and calamene. Dry matter of the leaf includes a bitter substance (damianin), tannins, flavonoids, beta-sitosterol, and glycosides (gonzalitosin, arbutin, and tetraphyllin B). )
Suriname's traditional medicineDamiana is used for sexual debility (increases libido). Other applications are: as an antidepressant, nerve tonic, diuretic, prostate complaints, frigidity and cough-suppressant. In Mexico, Damiana is also used for gastrointestinal disorders (probably due to antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria). Visit also our TINCTURE and Medicinal Tea pages. Hardiness USDA zone 9 -11. In spring and summer, up to zone 6 as an annual. Propagation Seeds. Culture Full sun; moist, rich humus soil. Tolerant of many soil types; no salt tolerance. The plant is drought tolerant and attracts bees and butterflies. Can also be grown as a container plant indoors in the cooler zones. The plant is sensitive to frost; foliage hardy to 30 ° F for a short time. Except to their tenderness to frost, they grow without major impediment. Landscape uses: as a shrub, if pruned. |
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