D
DAMIANA (Turnera diffusa Willd. ex Schult.) ++Synonym — Turnera microphylla Desv. ex Ham.
Activities (Damiana) — Antiaging (f; APA); Antidepressant (f; APA; SKY); Aphrodisiac (f; APA;
CRC; PED; PH2); Cardiotonic (1; HHB); CNS-Depressant (f; CRC); CNS-Stimulant (f; CRC;
HHB; LAF); Depurative (f; PED); Diuretic (f; CRC; GMH; PED); Emmenagogue (f; MAD);
Energizer (f; APA); Expectorant (f; CRC; GMH; PED); Euphoric (f; APA; CRC); Hallucinogen (f;
APA); Laxative (f; CAN; CRC; GMH; SKY); Stimulant (f; APA; CRC; GMH); Thymoleptic (f;
CAN); Tonic (f; APA; CRC; GMH; PED).
Indications (Damiana) — Amaurosis (f; CRC); Amenorrhea (f; MAD); Anxiety (f; APA);
Asthma (f; APA); Atony (f; MAD); Bronchosis (f; CRC); Catarrh (f; CRC); Cholecystosis (f;
CRC); Cold (f; CRC; PED); Colic (f; MAD); Constipation (f; APA; CRC; SKY); Cough (f;
APA; CRC; PED); Depression (f; APA; SKY); Diabetes (f; APA; CRC); Diarrhea (f; MAD);
Dysentery (f; CRC); Dysmenorrhea (f; APA; CRC; MAD; PED); Dyspepsia (f; CAN; CRC);
Enuresis (f; CRC; PED); Headache (f; APA; CRC; MAD; PED); Frigidity (f; APA); Impotence
(f; APA; CRC; PHR; PH2); Incontinence (f; MAD); Infertility (f; CRC); Insomnia (f; MAD);
Migraine (f; CRC; MAD); Nephrosis (f; APA; PED); Neurasthenia (f; CRC; MAD); Neurosis
(f; CRC; MAD); Orchosis (f; CRC); Paralysis (f; CRC; MAD); Prostatosis (f; MAD); Sperma-
torrhea (f; CRC; MAD); Stomachache (f; CRC); Syphilis (f; CRC); Water Retention (f; CRC;
GMH; PED).
Dosages (Damiana) — 1–2 (400 mg) capsules (APA); 400–800 mg capsule 3 ×/day (SKY); 2–3
ml tincture 3 ×/day (SKY); 1 dropperful tincture (APA); 2–4 g shoot as tea 3 ×/day (CAN); 2–4
ml liquid shoot extract (CAN); 1 tsp fresh leaf (PED); 0.5 g dry leaf (PED); 1 g leaf/cup water/3
×/day (SKY); 0.5 g dry leaf:3 g alcohol/2 ml water (PED); 2–4 ml liquid extract; damiana extract
BPC 0.3–0.6 g (PNC).
Contraindications, Indications, and Side Effects (Damiana) — Class 1 (AHP).“Hazards and/or
side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages” (PH2) “No significant adverse effects.
Persons claiming to experience damiana-induced hallucinations should be monitored closely”
(LRNP, Feb 1989). CAN reports convulsions from high dose (one report only), quinones, and
cyanogenic glycosides. Because of possibility of cyanogenic glycosides and risk of cyanide toxicity
in high doses, its use in pregnancy and lactation is to be avoided. May interfere with hypoglycemic
therapy (CAN). Leaves laxative, may loosen stool in large doses. Volatile oils diuretic, expectorant,
and laxative; irritate mucous membranes and increase the production of, while decreasing the
thickness of, fluids produced by these membranes (PED). CNS-depressant; hypoglycemic (CAN);
roots uteractive.