Damiana, a name you may not have heard of if you’re not too much of a health nut, a tea drinker, or one of the countries it comes from. Is it the name of a drug? A woman? A beautiful flower? Well, if you were thinking of the third one, you were partially correct, as damania is actually a flowering shrub found throughout Mexico, Central and South America, as well as the West Indies. Like many plants, it does in fact have medicinal properties, but also has a storied history when it comes to its various uses.
Damiana has been used in the past for herbal therapies for tonic, as well as to cleanse oneself. It loosens stool, which makes it easier to get out the bad bacteria that might be lingering in your gut. It’s often considered a herbal supplement because of its helpful properties, and many use it in their tea not only for relaxation, but also because it’s believed to be an aphrodisiac. Not only that, but now people are discovering that it’s actually good for weight loss as well.
Because of this, it’s been commonly used in weight loss supplements and in teas all around South America.
How does this sort of thing work, though? How does damiana cause these effects? Well I’ve got you covered. Allow me to explain to you the science behind one of the most effective herbal supplements out there.
How Does Damiana Work?
One thing you have to know about damiana is that if someone tells you to take it straight for anything other than relaxation, then you should take that advice with a grain of salt. That’s the biggest takeaway. Damiana works well alone when it comes to reducing stress and inducing relaxation, but that’s about it.
When it comes to weight loss and sexual health, you’re going to find it really only works when combined with other ingredients. In other words, constantly ingesting demiana isn’t going to do anything for losing weight.
Now, this doesn’t mean that damiana doesn’t work at all. Instead, it means that it works in tandem with other ingredients to create a formula that is best for helping with weight loss or improving your sexual health. So watch out for supplements just stuffing random ingredients in there. They may claim they help with weight loss, but that can be a total lie. Supplements do not go through the FDA, and so not all supplements are guaranteed to work. It doesn’t even mean it’s completely safe. It pays (and saves your money) to do your research on anything you are going to ingest. I’ll let you know the right mix of ingredients for each benefit so you won’t get tripped up.
If you’re wondering what’s actually in damiana, though, here’s a small list of the main components of the leaves: arbutin, pinocembrin, acacetin, apigenin, 7-glucoside, and Z-echinacin.
With that out of the way, let’s explore some of the many uses of damiana
Weight Loss
Here’s the one I know many women want to hear. Many supplement companies push sugar pills that don’t actually help with losing weight, but does damiana actually work? It does, actually, but it works best when paired with other herbal supplements, as it tends to produce a thermogenic reaction.
There was actually a study in Denmark about it, specifically with the herbs yerba maté and guarana. The combination of the two with damiana actually produced said thermogenic effect. When taken before a meal, it led to a feeling of fullness among all of those in the study, and thus leading to reduced cravings and appetite suppression. This reaction is due to the combination causing a delayed release of gas. That way, there’s more gas in your stomach and gut, and so you feel fuller longer.
Some other aspects that help with weight loss considerably is that damiana also causes loose stools, which means a better cleansing of your body, with the other aspect being that damiana has an effect on mood. Damiana’s effects on one’s mood are usually fairly positive, and those who are in a positive mood usually have less of an appetite. When that is paired with the appetite-suppressing factor, it can be easy to see why damiana is in good standing within the world of weight loss. It’s definitely something you should look out for in supplements, though remember that it works best when paired with yerba maté and guarana.
Sexual Health
So, what do I mean by “sexual health”? After all, I did say that it’s an aphrodisiac, but is that really sexual health? Depending on how you look at it, yes it is. After all, if a woman has trouble getting around or reaching orgasm, that should absolutely be addressed for her sake. Women in general should be able to feel satisfied with the state of their sexual health and be able to enjoy some of the simpler things in life.
Damiana has been in certain medications and supplements that help women with sexual problems properly receive satisfaction while either alone or with a partner, as well as increasing orgasm frequency and reducing vaginal dryness. If that interests you, you may want to check out certain supplements that contain damiana that are specifically aimed at treating women with difficulties with sex. Those are far more likely to actually work.
Stress Management
When it comes to stress management, damiana is actually a good tool for relaxation, and the reason gets into the science aspect of it. Damiana contains a compound known as damianin (I wonder where it got the name from), which is a chemical that makes up a great amount of the leaf structure of the shrub. When prepared and ingested, it can actually cause a rather relaxing effect on the body. Of course, you want to get the good stuff out, which is why it’s great in tea or as an extract. That way, all the damianin is taken from the plant and you aren’t left eating leaves. Unlike with weight loss, damiana can be taken by itself for its relaxation effects.
I believe I’ve also mentioned that it can really boost one’s mood. That, too, is something you don’t need to mix with other herbs to extract. If you aren’t in the market for weight loss supplements, I’d still suggest trying out some damiana tea just to see if it works for you. It isn’t going to eliminate stress entirely, but it is great during the afternoon when you’re just trying to relax and unwind.
Medicine
While it’s used in different ways for different illnesses, it’s still worth mentioning that damiana has medicinal properties that are useful to keep in mind when looking for treatments of certain conditions. Here are just some of the things damiana is able to treat.
- Anemia
- Pain
- Skin conditions
- Cough
- Bronchitis
- Gastrointestinal issues
- Respiratory conditions
- Menopause
- Diabetes
- Fungal infections
- Fever
As a side note, if you happen to have children, you should take a look on how it’s used to help with bed-wetting.
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Final Thoughts
Damiana is a shrub that, like many plants, has actual medicinal purposes, and in a market so flooded with supplements that either do nothing or have minimal effect, this is a plant you should look out for. It depends on what effects you’re looking for as well. For relaxation, you don’t have to look too hard. Damiana leaf tea is actually fairly common, so you just have to pick some up. For weight loss, however, you should make sure that the supplement contains the damiana, as well as yerba maté and guarana, as that’s the combination that makes it an actual weight loss supplement.
For sexual health, it won’t be supported through just straight damiana alone, so you’re going to want to try some supplements that are targeted towards improving women’s sexual health, as it also works best when combined with a laundry list of other ingredients.
In summation, damiana works best as a relaxation support and weight loss supplement, so keep an eye out for it when you’re shopping around!
Managing Editor, With a background in health, holistic nutrition and science, Chloe has written for international publications including the Wall Street Journal and Green King.
