Damiana

Taxobox
name = Damiana

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image_width = 250px
image_caption = Turnera diffusa
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Malpighiales
familia = Turneraceae
genus = "Turnera"
species = "T. diffusa"
binomial = "Turnera diffusa"
binomial_authority = Willd. ex J.A. Schultes

Damiana ("Turnera diffusa", syn. "Turnera aphrodisiaca") is a shrub native to Central America, Mexico, South America, and the Caribbean. It belongs to the family Turneraceae.

Damiana is a relatively small shrub that produces small, aromatic flowers. It blossoms in early to late summer and is followed by fruits that taste similar to figs. The shrub is said to have an odor somewhat like chamomile, due to an oil present in the plant. The leaves have traditionally been made into a tea which was used by native people of Central and South America for its aphrodisiac effects. Spanish missonaries first recorded that the Mexican Indians drank Damiana tea mixed with sugar for its ability to enhance lovemaking.Fact|date=May 2008

Uses

Herbal Medicine

Damiana today is conventionally made into a tea. In herbal medicine, damiana is used to treat conditions ranging from coughs to constipation to depression. The herbal supplement is reputed to help with energy, emphysema, low estrogen, frigidity, hot flashes, impotency, infertility, menopause, Parkinson's disease, PMS, inflammation of prostate, Lou Gehrig's disease, and more dealing with reproductive organs in both males and females. [Ritchason, J. 1995, "The Little Herb Encyclopedia, 3rd Edition" p.70]

References

In popular culture

Damiana was featured in an episode of , shown being mixed with chocolate.