Damiana Leaf Tea Benefits
What Is Damiana and What Are the Benefits?
Damiana (Turnera diffusa) is a lesser-known herbal remedy that belongs to the passion flower (Passifloraceae) family. However, instead of being a creeping vine like passionflower, damiana is a small shrub with woody stems and aromatic yellow flowers. It is used for its benefits as an aphrodisiac, smokeable herb, and as an ingredient for making a traditional Mexican liqueur.
The Traditional Uses and Benefits of Damiana
In Mayan herbal medicine, damiana has traditionally been used as an aphrodisiac, providing benefits such as improved libido and sexual function. Indigenous Peoples have also used it for muscle weakness, and to recover from hangovers and excessive sexual activities. The Mayans call damiana mis kok (broom for asthma), and it is also a traditional remedy for asthma and depression. Other uses for damiana include rheumatism, cough, and stomach ache.
Early 20th century texts described damiana as not only an aphrodisiac, but also a tonic for impotency and general weakness, including neurasthenia (neurological-type weakness).
What Does Damiana Do to the Body?
Damiana acts as a nerve tonic and can be helpful for those with anxiety and/or depression, lowered sexual drive, and sympathetic nervous system overactivity. Emerging evidence shows that damiana has many benefits when it comes to both sexual health and overall vitality.
How Does Damiana Tea Affect Sexual Function and Hormonal Health?
Low libido is a common issue that becomes more frequent with age, particularly for menopausal women. A clinical trial involving women aged 45-65 tested a blend of herbs: damiana, fenugreek, tribulus, and ginkgo, to see if they could restore libido and testosterone. Average sexual function scores improved from just over 20 to over 25, and testosterone rose from 0.41 to 0.5pg/mL. Almost two-thirds of women saw their sexual function restored to normal levels, and only 13% had no benefit.
How Do the Benefits of Damiana Work?
Damiana is an aromatase inhibitor, meaning it reduces function of an enzyme that turns testosterone into estrogen. Testosterone is essential for not only sexual health for women, but also their ability to build and maintain muscle. In fact, women using HRT often still have a difficult time with maintaining or increasing muscle tissue, unless their fallen testosterone levels are addressed too.
Aromatase inhibition could even reduce the risk of developing estrogen-related conditions, ranging from period pain to breast or uterine tissue overgrowth. Women of all ages need to be mindful of their estrogen and testosterone levels for these reasons, and damiana tea may be an effective method.
What Are the Anti-inflammatory and Antioxidant Effects of Damiana?
Damiana has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which could help protect against a wide variety of health problems. For example, lab research suggests that damiana may be protective against stomach ulcers, a painful condition that makes enjoying food much more difficult. Inflammation and oxidative stress contribute to the erosion of the stomach lining, eventually leading to tissue damage and ulceration.
The lab study tested arbutin, a phytochemical found in damiana, and the drug omeprazole. Preventive treatment with arbutin protected the stomach lining, leading to smaller ulcer sizes and less swelling and migration of immune cells to the area. Only arbutin was able to reduce oxidative stress inside the stomach lining, although both treatments reduced ulcer development.
Damiana is also high in apigenin, an antioxidant that may be behind its traditional uses as a remedy for asthma. Another lab study demonstrated that apigenin has powerful anti-inflammatory benefits when it comes to preventing asthma attacks, including through preventing the migration of immune cells into the lungs (where they cause more inflammation). These benefits were tested with exposure to fine particulate matter pollutants, a type of pollution that is common today and linked to millions of yearly deaths worldwide, but was also extremely prevalent in everyday life in the days before electricity, too.
Does Damiana Work for Weight Loss?
Weight loss hard, but remaining overweight or obese can put you at a much higher risk of many chronic diseases, including diabetes.
In combination with yerba mate and guarana, damiana may be an effective herbal appetite suppressant. A trial involving normal to somewhat overweight women found that this combination led to a reduction in food intake by almost 60 grams, which could lead to significant fat loss over time. Damiana, yerba mate, and guarana work together by slowing down emptying of the stomach into the intestines, and may also suppress appetite through their stimulant effects.
How Does Damiana Translate to Real Weight Loss Benefits for Women?
An earlier study on the same combination of damiana, yerba mate, and guarana found women experienced benefits not only in initially losing weight, but also in keeping it off. Study volunteers taking damiana, yerba mate, and guarana lost 5 kilograms of weight in 45 days (1 ½ months), and remained at the same total body weight one year after supplementation. The placebo group experienced no weight loss benefits.
Does Damiana Have Antidiabetic Benefits?
Some Indigenous Peoples have used damiana as a remedy for type 2 diabetes, a frequent result of excess body fat. As unabsorbed blood sugar eventually damages the body’s tissues, leading to kidney, eye, skin, and nerve damage, getting blood sugar levels back under control is essential for those with diabetes.
Animal research suggests that damiana may have benefits for improving blood sugar regulation. This could be one reason behind its benefits as a weight loss aid. High blood sugar triggers insulin release, and high insulin promotes fat gain, potentially making weight loss and harder. Damiana may help reduce the peak concentration of sugar by 15% or more, which in turn reduces the amount of insulin you need to absorb it.
Damiana Tea Has Many Benefits
Damiana is a wild child among herbal medicines; it may be lesser known to many, but it has many devoted fans. From traditional use as a hangover treatment and herb for female health problems, to modern evidence of its benefits in sexual function and weight loss, damiana has a lot to offer us.
FAQ
Q: Does damiana cause weight gain?
A: Damiana does not cause weight gain.
Q: Is taking damiana a good way to lose weight?
A: Research is evolving on the use of damiana as a weight loss herb. It is commonly used in combination with guarana and yerba mate for weight loss.
Q: Does damiana make you sleepy?
A: Damiana is not commonly used for creating feelings of sleepiness. We suggest exploring more relaxing herbs such as chamomile or skullcap.
Q: Can damiana make you dizzy?
A: Damiana should not cause you to feel dizzy. If dizziness occurs, you may have an allergy to damiana, and we recommend ceasing use.
Q: Who should not take damiana?
A: Those who are pregnant should avoid taking damiana.
Q: Does damiana make you pee?
A: Drinking damiana tea may cause you to pee due to increased fluid consumption. Damiana has an antiseptic effect on the urinary tract and can be helpful for urinary health.
Q: Can you take damiana daily?
A: For most people, damiana is safe to take daily.
Q: Does damiana increase testosterone?
A: Damiana does not increase testosterone production. It can help prevent the breakdown of testosterone that is already present in the body, leading to increased testosterone levels.
Q: Does damiana affect kidneys?
A: Damiana has an antiseptic effect on the urinary system and can help support healthy kidneys.
Q: Will damiana keep me awake?
A: Damiana can have a mildly energizing effect for some people. Damiana contains a very small amount of caffeine.
Q: Is damiana anti-inflammatory?
A: Damiana contains anti-inflammatory compounds such as apigenin that can be helpful for gastrointestinal and urinary health.
Q: Is damiana good for sleep?
A: Damiana is not a traditional relaxant herb, but its anxiety relieving effects can make it feel calming for some people. We recommend more traditional sleep herbs such as chamomile or skullcap for sleep.
Q: Is damiana good for hair?
A: Damiana is not commonly used for improving hair growth. Instead, try herbs high in minerals such as horsetail or alfalfa leaf.
Q: Is damiana good for hormones?
A: Damiana can be a good choice for helping support healthy hormone levels.
Q: Does damiana affect serotonin?
A: Yes, damiana can affect serotonin through its ability to inhibit the breakdown of neurotransmitters in the body.
Q: What are the energetics of damiana?
A: Energetically, damiana is warm, dry, pungent, and slightly bitter. It is a yang nourishing herb.
Q: Does damiana increase nitric oxide?
A: Damiana can increase nitric oxide. Some research has shown that consumption of damiana leads to increased nitric oxide and additional sexual health benefits.
Q: Does damiana have caffeine?
A: Damiana contains a small amount of caffeine, however, the quantity of caffeine is minimal enough that most people do not notice it.
Q: Does damiana make you happy?
A: Damiana has anti-depressant effects. Some people do experience increased feelings of happiness after drinking damiana tea.
Q: Is damiana a relaxant?
A: Damiana is not a relaxant, but it does have anti-depressant and aphrodisiac effects. Some people report feelings of relaxation after drinking damiana tea.
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References
This blog post has been compiled from reliable sources to ensure the veracity of the mentioned details. Any reference to scientific studies, historical data, or culinary information on damiana has been thoroughly cross verified.
Szewczyk, K., & Zidorn, C. (2014). Ethnobotany, phytochemistry, and bioactivity of the genus Turnera (Passifloraceae) with a focus on damiana—Turnera diffusa. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 152(3), 424-443.
Palacios, S., Soler, E., Ramírez, M., Lilue, M., Khorsandi, D., & Losa, F. (2019). Effect of a multi-ingredient based food supplement on sexual function in women with low sexual desire. BMC women's Health, 19, 1-7.
Taha, M. M. E., Salga, M. S., Ali, H. M., Abdulla, M. A., Abdelwahab, S. I., & Hadi, A. H. A. (2012). Gastroprotective activities of Turnera diffusa Willd. ex Schult. revisited: Role of arbutin. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 141(1), 273-281.
Pang, L., Zou, S., Shi, Y., Mao, Q., & Chen, Y. (2019). Apigenin attenuates PM2. 5-induced airway hyperresponsiveness and inflammation by down-regulating NF-κB in murine model of asthma. International journal of clinical and experimental pathology, 12(10), 3700.
Harrold, J. A., Hughes, G. M., O’shiel, K., Quinn, E., Boyland, E. J., Williams, N. J., & Halford, J. C. G. (2013). Acute effects of a herb extract formulation and inulin fibre on appetite, energy intake and food choice. Appetite, 62, 84-90.
Andersen, T., & Fogh, J. (2001). Weight loss and delayed gastric emptying following a South American herbal preparation in overweight patients. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 14(3), 243-250.
Estrada-Reyes, R., Carro-Juárez, M., & Martínez-Mota, L. (2013). Pro-sexual effects of Turnera diffusa Wild (Turneraceae) in male rats involves the nitric oxide pathway. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 146(1), 164-172.