Damiana herb benefit and side effects, aphrodisiac supplement by Ray Sahelian, M.D. Natural Passion Mexican Style? How effective is this plant as a sexual enhancer? Can it be combined with other plants used for sexual improvement? Are there other natural herbs that are more effective for men and women in terms of sexuality improvement?

Damiana is a small shrub with an aromatic leaf found on dry, sunny, rocky hillsides in south Texas, Southern California, Mexico, and Central America. The leaf has been used as an aphrodisiac and to boost sexual potency by the native peoples of Mexico, including the Mayan Indians. The two species used in herbal healing, both of which are referred to as damiana, are Turnera aphrodisiaca and Turnera diffusa. Passion Rx is a potent herbal sexual enhancement product that contains damiana extract along with more than a doze effective herbs from all over the world.

Passion Rx enhances sexual stamina, erectile function, orgasms and climaxes
Passion Rx provides results that continue to improve with use. Most people notice sexual enhancement by the fourth day. Our feedback thus far indicates more than 80% user satisfaction by the end of the first week, and 90 percent by the end of the second week.
   Dr. Sahelian and his research staff have tested various doses and extracts of exotic herbs from a number or raw material suppliers to determine the ideal dose and combination for optimal libido enhancement with fewest side effects. After years of trial and error, a unique proprietary blend with more than a dozen herbal extracts, has been created. This unique blend is a close kept secret known only to Dr. Sahelian and his research staff. You will only find this exact combination in Passion Rx. The potent herbal extracts in this product include Ashwagandha, Aspallum purificata, Catuaba, Cnidium, Coleus forskohlii, Damiana herb, eurycoma longifolia, Horny-Goat-Weed, Jujube herb, Maca, Mucuna-Pruriens, Muira puama, Passion-Flower extract, Pfaffia paniculata, Rehmannia, Rhodiola, Tongkat Ali, suma extract, and Tribulus terrestris extract. A version of Passion Rx is available with yohimbe bark extract.

Benefit of damiana herb and use for sexual improvement
The libido-boosting power of damiana herb hasn't been tested in humans, although a damiana liquor - also spelled damiana liqueur - made from the damiana leaf has long been used as an aphrodisiac in Mexico. In animal studies, extracts of damiana herb had the benefit of speeding the mating behavior of "sexually sluggish" or impotent male rats. It had no effect on sexually potent rats. It is possible that this herb has additional benefits in humans that may be uncovered with further research.

Turnera diffusa Wild (Turneraceae) recovers sexual behavior in sexually exhausted males.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2009 Jun 25; Estrada-Reyes R, Ortiz-López P, Gutiérrez-Ortíz J, Martínez-Mota L. Laboratorio de Fitofarmacología, Dirección de Investigaciones en Neurociencias, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz, Calzada México-Xochimilco 101, Col. San Lorenzo Huipulco, Delegación Tlalpan, Mexico City 14370, Mexico.
In folk medicine, Turnera diffusa Wild is considered as an aphrodisiac, but its ability to restore copulation in sexually inhibited subjects has not been reported. To determine whether Turnera diffusa recovers sexual behavior in sexually exhausted male rats and to identify the main components in an aqueous extract. Sexually exhausted males were treated with Turnera diffusa, 20 to 80 mg/kg, yohimbine, 2 mg per kg, or vehicle. Yohimbine and Turnera diffusa (80 mg per kg) significantly increased the percentage of males achieving one ejaculatory series and resuming a second one. In addition, Turnera diffusa significantly reduced the post-ejaculatory interval. These effects were not associated to an increase in locomotor activity or anxiety-like behaviors. Analysis showed the presence of caffeine, arbutine, and flavonoids as the main compounds in the active extract. The results support the use of Turnera diffusa as an aphrodisiac in traditional medicine and suggest possible therapeutic properties of damiana on sexual dysfunction. The flavonoids present in active extract may participate in its pro-sexual effect, which is analogous to those produced by yohimbine, suggesting a shared mechanism of action.

Stimulating property of Turnera diffusa leaf and Pfaffia paniculata extracts - suma - on the sexual-behavior of male rats.
Arletti R. University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy.
Sexually potent and sexually sluggish/impotent male rats were treated orally with different amounts of damiana and Pfaffia paniculata fluid extracts. While having no effect on the copulatory behavior of sexually potent rats, both plant extracts -- singly or in combination -- improved the copulatory performance of sexually sluggish/impotent rats. The highest dose of either extract, as well as the combination of each extract, increased the percentage of rats achieving ejaculation and significantly reduced mount, intromission and ejaculation latencies, post-ejaculatory interval and intercopulatory interval. Neither extract affected locomotor activity. These results seem to support the folk reputation of damiana and Pfaffia paniculata as sexual stimulants.

Damiana side effects and safety, risk
Damiana herb appears to be safe when taken occasionally as a sex booster. This herb has a long history of traditional medicinal and food use with no harmful consequences reported. However, no rigorous scientific studies have examined the effects of long-term use of this herb. For the time being, it would be safe to assume that when used in reasonable doses, damiana has not significant side effects.

Availability over the counter
Damiana is sold as bulk herb powder, capsules, tea, and liqueur. Damiana is often combined in aphrodisiac herbal products. Damiana tea is difficult to find, but you could search for it in a health food store.

Damiana oil composition
Analysis of essential oils from wild and micropropagated plants of damiana (Turnera diffusa).
Fitoterapia. 2004 Dec;75(7-8):696-701.
Damiana is a medicinal plant with many traditional uses and a reputation as an aphrodisiac. Essential oils produced by this plant are used in traditional medicine, and for the preparation of liquors and tea. The composition of essential oils from wild damiana was performed. The most abundant constituents of the oils were caryophyllene oxide, caryophyllene, delta-cadinene, elemene and 1,8-cineol.

Anti aromatase activity of damiana herb
Anti-aromatase activity of the constituents from damiana (Turnera diffusa).
J Ethnopharmacol. 2008 Dec 8; Zhao J, Dasmahapatra AK, Khan SI, Khan IA. Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, United States.
Damiana (Turnera diffusa Willd. Ex Schult) has traditionally been used as an herbal aphrodisiac. The study was aimed to investigate the anti-aromatse activity and the estrogenic activity of the constituents isolated from Turnera diffusa. The methanolic extract and 24 compounds isolated from the leaves of Turnera diffusa were evaluated for aromatase activity by using a tritiated-water release assay and for estrogenic activity. The methanolic extract demonstrated a dose-dependent inhibitory activity of the aromatase enzyme. Among the 24 tested compounds, pinocembrin and acacetin showed the most potent inhibition. Estrogenic activity was also observed in the extract and three compounds including apigenin 7-glucoside, Z-echinacin and pinocembrin. The extract of damiana herb and two isolated compounds pinocembrin and acacetin could significantly suppress aromatase activity. Moreover, apigenin 7-glucoside, Z-echinacin and pinocembrin showed estrogenic activity.

Additional damiana research
Investigation on the hypoglycaemic effects of extracts of four Mexican medicinal plants in normal and alloxan-diabetic mice.
Phytother Res. 2002 Jun;16(4):383-6.
The hypoglycemic activities of four water ethanol extracts prepared from Bidens pilosa, Salvia officinalis, Psacalium peltatum and Turnera diffusa ( damiana ) were investigated in healthy and alloxan-diabetic mice. The extracts of Salvia officinalis significantly reduced the blood glucose of fasting normal mice after intraperitoneal administration. The extracts of P. peltatum and B. pilosa also significantly diminished glycemia in healthy mice. The administration of these three extracts to animals with severe hyperglycemia did not cause a significant decrease. The extracts of damiana did not show any hypoglycemic activity.

Historical uses of damiana herb
Historically, damiana has been used to relieve anxiety, nervousness, and mild depression, especially if these symptoms have a sexual component. The herb is also used as a general tonic to improve wellness. Damiana has also been used traditionally to improve digestion and to treat constipation, as a diuretic, as a treatment for cough, and in larger doses it is thought to have a mild laxative effect.

Damiana herb emails
Q. How long does it take for damiana herb to work as an aphrodisiac or sexual enhancer?
   A. Unlike yohimbe which works in an hour or two, damiana takes several days to work, even then the effects are mild.

Q. I have several herbs in mind to purchase, including damiana leaf, muira puama, horny goat weed, and catuaba. Can you tell me which one is the least effective?
   A. I have not seen any studies comparing these herbs, but in my experience I would say that damiana leaf is the weakest.

Q. Can damiana herb be taken with fish oils?
   A. I don't see any reason why the two are not compatible. Damiana is quite a gentle herb.

Q. I see damiana extract being promoted for women mostly. Why is that?
   A. I don't know. If this natural herb works as an aphrodisiac, it should work in men and women.

Are you familiar with damiana tea or seed?
    I know damiana tea is sold in health food stores but I have not tried it. I am not familiar with damiana seed.

Can you please tell me whether pregnant and/or breast feeding mums can take damiana tea?
    We have not seen research with damiana and pregnancy or breastfeeding, however reasonable uses of damiana tea, such as a few times a week would not be predicted to cause any problems. Your obgyn doc needs to approve.

I was just on your website and looking at the damania herb page and wanted to let you know that this plant was used to induce abortion, and might not be suitable for pregnant women.
    Can you please provide us with a reference regarding the use of damiana herb to induce abortion and the dosage used?

Damiana is sometimes misspelled as damina