Damiana Leaf

Last Updated: September 28 2022

Damiana Leaf is a part of the Tunera Diffusa plant which is traditionally used as an aphrodisiac and physical tonic. Not much evidence on this plant, but may be slightly effective in rat models of aphrodisia when coupled with fatigue.

dosageDosage

Damiana Leaf is most often used for

Summary

Damiana Leaf is a supplement consisting of the dried leaves of the Turnera Diffusa plant, which has traditionally been brewed as a tea for use as a physical tonic and aphrodisiac in Central America (with some references to the Mayan culture, but more recently Mexico).

Evidence on Damiana Leaf is lacklustre. Not too many studies have been conducted on it, and most are studies attempting to isolate bioactive ingredients from the compound. Two studies have been conducted in rats showing aphrodisiac properties when the rats are either sexually sluggish or fatigued, which is an effective that can possibly be mimicked by any adaptogen class supplement and more of a credit to the 'physical tonic' aspect of Damiana than the aphrodisiac properties.

There is some limited evidence that it may reduce anxiety, but due to Damiana being a fairly good source of Apigenin these effects can probably extend to any Apigenin-containing plant, of which there are several (not limited to chamomile tea and lemon balm).

Beyond that, there is not much quality evidence to support usage of Damiana as aphrodisiac. All human studies using Damiana are currently confounded with usage of multiple bioactive components which complicates assessment of Damiana itself.

What else is Damiana Leaf known as?
Note that Damiana Leaf is also known as:
  • Tunera Diffusa
  • Tunera Aphrodisiaca
Dosage information

There is currently not enough evidence to recommend an effective dosage of Damiana. Traditionally, the dried leaves have been brewed as a tea.

Supplements Demystified: Get Our Unbiased, Evidence-Based Guide

Don't miss out on the latest research

References
1.^Lowry TPDamianaJ Psychoactive Drugs.(1984 Jul-Sep)
2.^Kumar S, Madaan R, Sharma AEstimation of Apigenin, an Anxiolytic Constituent, in Turnera aphrodisiacaIndian J Pharm Sci.(2008 Nov)
3.^Zhao J, Dasmahapatra AK, Khan SI, Khan IAAnti-aromatase activity of the constituents from damiana (Turnera diffusa)J Ethnopharmacol.(2008 Dec 8)
5.^Alcaraz-Meléndez L, Delgado-Rodríguez J, Real-Cosío SAnalysis of essential oils from wild and micropropagated plants of damiana (Turnera diffusa)Fitoterapia.(2004 Dec)
6.^Zhao J, Pawar RS, Ali Z, Khan IAPhytochemical investigation of Turnera diffusaJ Nat Prod.(2007 Feb)
7.^Spencer KC, Seigler DSTetraphyllin B from Turnera diffusaPlanta Med.(1981 Oct)
8.^Estrada-Reyes R, Ortiz-López P, Gutiérrez-Ortíz J, Martínez-Mota LTurnera diffusa Wild (Turneraceae) recovers sexual behavior in sexually exhausted malesJ Ethnopharmacol.(2009 Jun 25)
10.^Kumar S, Taneja R, Sharma APharmacognostic standardization of Turnera aphrodisiaca WardJ Med Food.(2006 Summer)
11.^Arletti R, Benelli A, Cavazzuti E, Scarpetta G, Bertolini AStimulating property of Turnera diffusa and Pfaffia paniculata extracts on the sexual-behavior of male ratsPsychopharmacology (Berl).(1999 Mar)
14.^Kumar S, Madaan R, Sharma APharmacological evaluation of Bioactive Principle of Turnera aphrodisiacaIndian J Pharm Sci.(2008 Nov)
15.^Hui H, Tang G, Go VLHypoglycemic herbs and their action mechanismsChin Med.(2009 Jun 12)
17.^Taha MM, Salga MS, Ali HM, Abdulla MA, Abdelwahab SI, Hadi AHGastroprotective activities of Turnera diffusa Willd. ex Schult. revisited: Role of arbutinJ Ethnopharmacol.(2012 May 7)
18.^Torres-González L, Muñoz-Espinosa LE, Rivas-Estilla AM, Trujillo-Murillo K, Salazar-Aranda R, Waksman De Torres N, Cordero-Pérez PProtective effect of four Mexican plants against CCl₄-induced damage on the Huh7 human hepatoma cell lineAnn Hepatol.(2011 Jan-Mar)
19.^Hnatyszyn O, Moscatelli V, Garcia J, Rondina R, Costa M, Arranz C, Balaszczuk A, Ferraro G, Coussio JDArgentinian plant extracts with relaxant effect on the smooth muscle of the corpus cavernosum of guinea pigPhytomedicine.(2003 Nov)