Damiana Leaf | Turnera Diffusa | Wild Crafted

Description

Premium wild-crafted damiana leaf is imported fresh, directly from the harvesters in Mexico.

Damiana was first introduced in the United States in 1874 and has a long and interesting history of use in folk medicine. The indigenous population praised the plant for its antidepressant, diuretic, tonic, hypoglycemic, and antibacterial properties and smoked the plant’s leaves to relax. The Ancient Mayas and Aztecs are said to have used Damiana as an aphrodisiac and general health tonic. More scientific study and research is needed to verify any claims regarding the effects of Damiana. Damiana is a well-known flavoring and has been approved by the FDA for that purpose.

Botanical name: Turnera aphodisiaca, Turnera diffusa
Plant family: Turneraceae
Also called: Old Woman’s Broom, Herba De La Pastora, Mexican Holly and Rosemary.

Identification

Damiana is a low-lying shrub that grows 3–6 feet tall and has aromatic, serrate leaves that are 15-25 cm in length. A summer blooming plant with small yellow flowers that produce small fruits with a sweet smell and fig-like flavor.

Habitat

Damiana is found in Mexico, Central America, the West Indies, and parts of South America and prefers a hot and humid climate.

Uses

Damiana Tea

Damiana’s fragrant, flavorful leaf makes a great tea and is also used in tea blends.

Try starting out with 1 gram of leaf per 16 ounces of water. Boil the material in the water for at least 5 minutes, then allow it to cool and strain out the herbs. If you would like a stronger or weaker tea, you can increase or decrease the amount of leaf used and the amount of time it is boiled in small increments.

Smoking Damiana

Damiana has been used as a smoking herb for hundreds of years. Depending on how it is grown, harvested and dried, it can have a strong flavor. It is important to mention that even with its long history as a smoking herb, it has not been shown to be habit-forming. Also used in a wide variety of smoking blends.

Smudge

Damiana’s fragrant leaf is a well-known and popular smudge.

Herbal Supplement

Damiana is widely used as an herbal supplement and in natural health formulas.

This material is meticulously processed and cleaned by hand. Please take a look at our Hand Processing Herbs page for more information.