What is Damiana?

In Mexico Damiana is called ' the thing which removes shirts'. And that has a reason: Damiana has a sexual stimulating effect. However, other sources deny the sexual impact of Damiana. As a herb, Damiana is sold in smart shops. A brochure of a smartshop Damiana describes as follows: "Damiana gives a sexual stimulus and promotes the blood circulation and the metabolism. It contains items which directly stimulate the nerves and the genitals. The psychoactive effect of Damiana has also been compared to the feeling of being ' high', like after using Marijuana (...)' The homeopathy uses Damiana for urinary tract infections, incontentinence by elderly people and as sexual stimulant. In Mexico damiana tea is used to cure or enlighten diabetes, stomach problems, rheumatism, headaches, scorpion stabs and as a means to regulate the menstruation. Likewise, the North - Mexican Indians used Damiana for medical purposes. They used it in cases of asthma,
weakened muscles and nervositity. Like the homeopathy, the Indians used Damiana as a sexual stimulant.

History

Damiana has a rich history.The first scientific studies on Damiana date back to 100 years ago. The name Damiana is derived from the patron saint of pharmacies in Mexico: "St. Damiana". St. Damiana and his twin brother treated those suffering from leprosy, untill they died as martyrs in the year 303 AC during the regime of Diokletian. The Mayas and the Aztecs used Damiana as a aphrodisiacs and  in the case of a "disordered balance". They called Damiana "mizib-coc" to the living creature that drifts away the bad wind from the body.  For these people Damiana was one of the most important medicinal herbs and has been successfully used by bronchial complaints, urinary tract infections, general malaise and problems with the indigestion. The Mexican Indians prepared Damiana as a drink, or smoked the leaves, to prepare for a passional night. They burned Damiana in ceremonies to encourage visions. Damiana remained always an important herb for healing in Mexico. Also, the liquor wich is made from Damiana, is still popular in Mexico. Apart from the examples mentioned above, throughout the years Damiana has also been used for sterility, impotence, depressions, headaches, insomnia, diabetes, constipation, menstrual complaints, bedwetting and during the menopause. Damiana was in the thirties of the last century not used by people only. Besides, Damiana was used for breeding horses and cows.

Damiana consists for 0.5 up to 0.9 percent of essential oils: oils that contains more than twenty different substances. Furthermore, the herb consists for four percent of Tannin, for seven percent of resin and for 0.2 to 0.7 percent of glycosides. The essential oil kills bacteria and the tannin regulates excessive secretion of body materials. These two properties together make Damiana suitable for being used as an overall vitalizing drug. Damiana has a balancing effect on all hormone producing glands, such as the pancreas, the genitalia, the adrenal glands and the hypophysis. This allows complaints on those organs to decrease by using Diamana. The herb is controversial as a aphrodisiacs. A most recent study showed that stress-related sexual problems decreased through the use of Damiana. Damiana is a sexual stimulant and is good for the blood circulation and the metabolism. It contains items which directly stimulate the nerves and the genitals.

Damiana is relaxing, gives a mild marijuana-like "high-feeling" and is slightly afrodising. This effect lasts for about one hour upto one hour and a half. When used regularely, its impact is stronger. When Damiana is used during a long period, it increases the potency and regulates the hormonal household of women. Damiana relaxes the muscles and is being applied in case of fatigue, mental pressure, effort, exhaustion, hormonal disorders and hot flashes.

Use

Add 10 to 15 grams of Damiana herb to one litre of water and heat it untill it boils. Stir the mixture gently for five minutes and let it cool down. When you filter the liquid afterwards, it is ready to be drunk.

Damiana liqueur

Ingredients: 25 grams of Damiana herb, 500ml vodka , 250ml mineral water and 4 to 8 tablespoons of honey.
Mix the Damiana with the vodka and soar the mixture for five days. Filter the herbs out of the vodka with a coffee filter, after these five days. Put the same herbs in the mineral waten and soar them again for five days.  After five days, again, filter the herbs out of the water.
Add the honey to the mineral water. The quantity of honey depends on your personal taste. Heat the water to such a temperature, that the honey dissolves in the water. When the subtance has cooled down, add the vodka. Consume one or two small glasses per day.  After five days you will notice the results.

Tea for two

Ingredients: one teaspoon of Damiana herb, camomile, citroenmelisse, peppermint, yasmin blossom and a pinch of grated orange-peel.
Sprinkle half a litre of boiling water on the blend of herbs, cover the blend and leave it untouched for fifteen minutes. Filter the substance after fifteen minutes. The tea should be served hot.

Ingredients: 2 ½ teaspoon of powdered Damiana, ¼ teaspoon of white sandalwood,? teaspoon of tragacant and 1 ½ teaspoon of water.
First, stir and dry the ingredients properly. Then add the water until a mass of clay originates. For a simple tea, use quite a substantial teaspoon of herb per cup of hot water. Give the infusion ten minutes to soar. The tea can be sweetened with honey according to your own personal taste.

When mixed with tobacco, Damiana can also be smoked. A cigarette is supposed to consists for one third of Damiana and for two thirds of tobacco. After fifteen minutes the effectes will be noticable.   The effects last for about half an hour.

Damiana is associated with Venus, but the energy of Mercury and Mars also fit this herb. Therefore, damiana goes along well with romantic nights and it even has paranormal power.  Put some herb one the place where you save your spiritual tools. On this way the effect of these tools will be strenghthened.

Because of its relaxing effect and effects of an improved transfer of impulses in the nervous system, Damiana can be used for meditations, astral travels, dream-interpretation and futurology. Damiana can also be used as frankincense. In that case you sprinkle the herb on a piece of hot coal, or you shape the herb in ninepins of incense (is easy to make). This smell like Marijuana: spicy and mysterious. Use spoons to be ensured of a right composition of the mix.

Warnings Although not proven, very intensive use of large quantities of Damiana possibly causes liver damage. More than one cup per day, or excessive use over a longer time, is not recommendable.

Storage

Keep damiana away from children and keep it in a dry and cool place.