Historically used as an aphrodisiac among men and women in Mexico, the herb’s native habitat, damiana leaves have purposes that extend far beyond this traditional use. With a number of healthful compounds, damiana finds purpose as a diuretic, cough medicine and various other applications. While the herb is widely used as a food flavoring, damiana is also an effective health supplement.
A wild shrub that grows in Mexico, Central America, and the West Indies, damiana is typically used for its leaf and stem. These parts of the plant are used to make medicine. The plant contains a variety of active ingredients that function in various beneficial ways.
The herb is known to relieve inflammation, soothe the body and prevent buildup of toxins and infection in the body. More traditionally, damiana has been used as a sexual stimulant and aphrodisiac. While it is an effective health treatment, dosages of the herb must be monitored closely as it does contain low levels of cyanide-like compounds.
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