Is damiana really an aphrodisiac?

Damiana is a woody shrub that smells slightly like chamomile. It is first mentioned as being used by the Mayans as an aphrodisiac. In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s damiana leaf was widely accepted as a treatment for numerous digestive problems, bedwetting and colic. The leaf and stem are used for herbal medicine and it is used most often as an anti-depressant, to calm nerves, reduce sexual dysfunction and to aid in digestive problems.

As an antidepressant, little clinical research has been done. This is an area that needs further investigation by the scientific community. Traditionally this natural herb is believed to be a good treatment for nervousness because it has calming effects. This property has also led to damiana leaf being used for nervous dyspepsia. Dyspepsia is a condition whereby a person experiences pain during digestion. The leaf of this herb is believed to relax the stomach muscles and reduce this pain.

Few clinical studies have been done on its effect in treating sexual dysfunction. The herb does however contain relatively high amounts of a substance known as phytoestrogen. This substance can be found in many natural herbs and is believed to work especially well in women as an aphrodisiac since it slightly increases the levels of testosterone in the body.

Damiana leaf has been shown to reduce blood sugar levels in animal studies. People with diabetes, hypoglycemia or other blood sugar problems should be extremely cautious about taking this medicinal herb. Overdoses can lead to hallucinations and pain of the urethra, and excessive long-term use can lead to liver damage. As a therapeutic herb it is known to cause abortions of pregnancies, so do not take this natural herb if you are or may be pregnant. It has been used as a medicinal herb for centuries but has not been studied much by modern science unlike many of the other long used herbal medicines such as gingko biloba and St. John’s Wort. Due to this lack of research most of the uses mentioned in this article for damiana leaf are inconclusive.

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