Damiana: benefits, dosage, contraindications

Mis à jour le 8 November 2025

Damiana is a wild shrub native to the arid and semi-arid regions of South America, Mexico, the United States, and the Antilles. Damiana leaves are used to flavor foods and beverages. The parts used therapeutically are the leaf and the stem.nnThe Maya traditionally used Damiana to prevent dizziness, falls, and loss of balance, and as an aphrodisiac. It has also been used during childbirth, to treat colic, and to stimulate menstruation. From 1888 to 1947, Damiana leaf and Damiana elixirs were listed in the United States National Formulary.nnThe main chemical constituents of Damiana include alkaloids, flavonoids, arbutin, essential oils containing caryophyllene, delta-cadinene, beta-elemene, and 1,8-cineole, as well as other minor constituents.nnDamiana has long been used by Mexicans as a home remedy to strengthen the nerves and as a tonic after long walks. In Latin America, it is regarded as an antidepressant and an aphrodisiac.nn

Scientific name(s)

Turnera diffusa

Family or group:

Plants

Active ingredients:

Arbutin

Tannins

Eucalyptol

Beta-sitosterol

Indications

Scoring methodology

EFSA approval.

Several randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trials (> 2), including a significant number of patients (>100), with consistently positive conclusions for the indication.

Several randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trials (> 2), including a significant number of patients (>100), with positive conclusions for the indication.

One or more randomized studies, or several cohorts or epidemiological studies, with positive conclusions for the indication.

Clinical studies exist but are uncontrolled, with conclusions that may be positive or conflicting.

No clinical studies to date that can demonstrate the indication.

Sexual disorders
✪✪✪✪✪

Damiana has been used traditionally to treat sexual disorders or as an aphrodisiac. Preliminary scientific studies in animals support its use for these conditions, but controlled trials evaluating Damiana as a single treatment are lacking. nnA preliminary clinical study shows that taking a combined product containing Damiana, L-arginine, ginseng, ginkgo, vitamins and minerals (ArginMax for Women, Daily Wellness Co.) improves sexual satisfaction and desire, increases orgasm frequency, and reduces vaginal dryness compared with placebo in women.nn

Posologie

Oral: leaf

300 mg

dry extract

Synergies

Ginseng, L-Arginine

A double-blind placebo-controlled study of ArginMax, a nutritional supplement for enhancement of female sexual function
Turnera diffusa Wild (Turneraceae) recovers sexual behavior in sexually exhausted males

Weight control
✪✪✪✪✪

Although there are no controlled studies evaluating the efficacy of Damiana as a standalone treatment for weight loss, one study showed that a combination of herbs containing Damiana, guarana and yerba mate increased weight loss in overweight adults after 45 days compared with placebo.nn

Posologie

Oral

36 mg

dry extract

Synergies

Yerba mate, Guarana

Acute effects of a herb extract formulation and inulin fiber on appetite, energy intake and food choice
Weight loss and delayed gastric emptying following a South American herbal preparation in overweight patients

Properties

Hormonal metabolism

A study examined the effects of more than 150 plants for their ability to bind to estrogen and progesterone receptors in cells, and identified damiana as a plant that binds to progesterone receptors in cells, with a neutral effect and low estrogen agonist activity. It has been reported that delta-cadinene, present in damiana, stimulates testosterone production, while 1,8-cineole increases the activity of the enzyme that converts testosterone into a more active form. A laboratory study also showed that damiana extract had a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on the aromatase enzyme, which is responsible for converting testosterone into estrogens. The flavonoids pinocembrin and acacetin, isolated from damiana extract, were found to be the most potent inhibitors of the aromatase enzyme among the compounds tested.

Usages associés

Sexual disorders

Neurobehavioral and toxicological effects of an aqueous extract of Turnera diffusa Willd (Turneraceae) in mice

Anxiolytic

An animal study found that damiana extract had anxiolytic activity at a dose of 25 mg/kg. Another preclinical study using an apigenin-derived fraction from damiana also demonstrated anxiolytic effects in mice exposed to various animal models of anxiety.

Ethnobotany, phytochemistry, and bioactivity of the genus Turnera (Passifloraceae) with a focus on damiana--Turnera diffusa

Safe dosage

Adult: 300 mg - 600 mg (powder)

- Dried leaf: 300 mg to 600 mg of extract per day.nn- Infusion: pour a cup of boiling water over a teaspoon of dried leaves and let steep for 10-15 minutes. Drink three cups per day.nn

Contraindications

Child up to 12 years old: not allowed

Pregnant women: not allowed

Breastfeeding women: not allowed

Breast cancer: not allowed

Use is not recommended in women with a personal or family history of breast cancer.nn

Conseil scientifique