Botanical Name: Turnera aphrodisiaca, T. diffusa | Family: Turneraceae
Common name(s): Damiana, Mexican Holly
GROWING
- Shrub | Zone 9-11 | 3-6 feet tall | Serrated green leaves, yellow flowers, sweet-smelling fruit
- 4-6 hours of direct sun/day | Sandy, fast-draining soil
HARVESTING
Harvest leaves and stems while the plant is in flower.
PREPARATION / DOSAGE
Infusion: Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1 teaspoon of the dried herb. Steep for 10-15 minutes. Drink 3x/day.
Tincture: 1-2ml 3x/day
MEDICAL
Constituents: alkaloids, bitter principal, essential oil, flavonoid, hydrocyanic glycoside, resin, tannin
Actions: Aperient, aphrodisiac, diuretic, laxative, mild anti-depressant, nervine, urinary antiseptic, yang tonic
Uses: mild depression/anxiety, libido, mucus congestion, nervous exhaustion
Combinations: Use with oats as a nerve tonic
CHINESE MEDICINE
Spicy, warm
SOURCES
- The Way of Herbs, Michael Tierra
- Holistic Herbal, David Hoffmann
- Herbal Remedies, Andrew Chevallier
- SFGate this & this
- photo credit: rubyonwheels damiana via photopin (license)
Pretty plant. Doesn’t grow in the northeast unless in a pot that can be brought inside. When I was googling for plant information, I saw that there is a Damiana Tequila!
