Damiana
|
Botanical Name |
Turnera aphrodisiaca/Turnera diffusa |
|
Family |
Turneraceae |
|
Description |
Small shrub. Leaves ovate, pale green, 1-2.5cm long, 6mm broad, shortly stalked, serrated, recurved margin. Flowers yellow and aromatic |
|
Native to |
Southern North America, Mexico, Africa |
|
Parts used |
Leaves, stems |
|
Harvesting |
When in flower |
|
Actions |
Anti-depressant, aphrodisiac, laxative, stomachic, tonic |
|
Constituents |
Essential oil that cineol, cymol, arbutin, cymene, copaenen; alkaloids, tannins, resin Volatile oil (0.5-1%) –thymol, alpha-copaene, 8cadinene, calamene, 1,8 cineole, alpha pinene, beta pinene, calamenene. Flavonoids –5 hydroxy-3, 3’, 4 trimethoxyflavone. Hydroquinone –arbutin. Cyanogentic glycoside, tetraphylline B, a bitter principle (damianin), tannins |
|
Combines with |
Oats, cola, skullcap, wood betony |
|
Genito-urinary |
Hormones, sexual organs |
|
Nervous system |
Depression, anxiety |
|
Caution |
Do not use in large amounts or over a long term |