JL (Pasadena, Calif, USA) on 07/24/2011
Results:
The first thing I noticed is the powerful calming effect on the nervous system this tea has. 10 minutes after drinking the tea, I become deeply relaxed. Damiana is widely used in many cultures for anxiety and nervous disorders, so this makes sense. The next "side" effect that was very surprising, even though I have read a lot about it on the internet, was the powerful aphrodisiac effects. This occured on the 2nd day of drinking the tea. OMG - be prepared for that! Finally, the tea is proving to be an appetite suppressant even though several of the ingredients are meant to stimulate the appetite!
Recipe: here is my friend's email.. a bit vague so I improvised.
Add to 1 quart of purified water:
2 handfuls of damiana leaf (find at bouncing bear or starwest botanicals)
Damiana requires about 15 minutes of steeping at boiling temperatures.
1 handful chrysanthemum flowers
1 spoonful of chuchuhuasi and 1 spoonful of hercampuri, (both from david wolfe's sunfood nutrition site, but you could use cat's claw or pau d'arco, etc..).
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After steeping the damiana on a low boil for 15 minutes, I turned off the heat and added the other 3 herbs. I then let the whole concoction steep for about 15 minutes. I added about 3 tablespoons blue agave nectar sweetener because the tea is otherwise too bitter.
I have been drinking 1 - 2 glasses a day, slowly.
Damiana's reported healing properties include: increases libido, reduces spasms, relieves depression, dries secretions, reduces blood sugar, stimulates digestion, calms nerves, increases urination, mildly laxative
Source: http://www.rain-tree.com/damiana.htm
Chuchuhuasi's healing properties include: reduces inflammation, kills cancer cells, relieves pain, prevents tumors, relaxes muscles, stimulates digestion, enahnces immunity, increases libido, supports adrenals
Source: http://www.rain-tree.com/chuchuhuasi.htm
Hercampuri's healing properties include: digestive, treatment of hepatitis, treatment of varicose veins, reduction of blood cholesterol, treatment of hypertension
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hercampuri
I hope people will try the damiana tea and send in their feedback. If you are preparing damiana with other herbs, I would like to know which ones and how you brew your tea. It is amazing!
Replied By Jl (Pasadena, Calif, Usa) on 07/24/2011
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysanthemum_tea#Medicinal_use
"Chrysanthemum tea has many purported medicinal uses, including an aid in recovery from influenza, acne and as a "cooling" herb. According to traditional Chinese medicine the tea can aid in the prevention of sore throat and promote the reduction of fever. In Korea, it is known well for its medicinal use for making people more alert and is often used to waken themselves. In western herbal medicine, Chrysanthemum tea is drank and used as a compress to treat circulatory disorders such as varicose veins and atherosclerosis.
In traditional Chinese medicine, chrysanthemum tea is also used to treat the eyes, and is said to clear the liver and the eyes. It is believed to be effective in treating eye pain associated with stress or yin/fluid deficiency. It is also used to treat blurring, spots in front of the eyes, diminished vision, and dizziness. [1] The liver is associated with the element Wood which rules the eyes and is associated with anger, stress, and related emotions.
Replied By Jl (Pasadena, California, Usa) on 08/14/2011
Damiana is having a tremendous effect on me. Not so much my boyfriend - he doesn't notice any difference when he drinks it. I think it may be better suited for women. Basically when I drink it, damiana turns me into a hormonal teenager again with sex on my mind all the time (not kidding). Ladies, if you are looking to stimulate your love life, this is it. Just start off slowly and with small amounts. I have lost 4 pounds without trying and my skin looks great. It does still make me lethargic if I drink more than 1/4 cup during the day. Am giving it to several friends and will update their feedback at some point.
Replied By Genia (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) on 09/10/2011
Replied By Jmlewis (Sydney, Australia) on 05/29/2015