Damiana
Brand Names
DamianaWhat is Damiana
Damiana is a shrub that grows in Central and South America. The leaves and stems of damiana are used as an herbal remedy and are also used recreationally (either smoked or in a liquor). The herb is an aphrodisiac effective for many different conditions such as depression, headaches and various sexual problems.
Side effects of Damiana
In rare cases, damiana may cause some serious side effects. But you should stop taking damiana and contact your doctor at once if you have noticed such symptoms of a serious allergic reaction as difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue or face; or hives.
Indication
Damiana is aimed to treat the following conditions:
- Headaches
- Bedwetting
- Depression
- Indigestion or heartburn
- Constipation
- Sexual problems
Precautions
Please, stop taking damiana if you:
- take a medicine to treat diabetes or to control blood sugar levels such as insulin, glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (Micronase, Glynase, Diabeta), tolbutamide (Orinase), metformin (Glucophage), acarbose (Precose), troglitazone (Rezulin), pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia) and others
- have a history of breast cancer
- have a psychiatric disorder such as mania or schizophrenia
- have Alzheimer's disease
- have Parkinson's disease
Dosage forms
Unfortunately, an effective dose of damiana has not been determined. Since there is little strong evidence to guide you in your choice of a dosage, a good plan is to start with a reasonable dose and see how your body reacts to it. If you find that you are experiencing damiana side effects, maybe a lower dose would be better. If it seems to be working a little, but not quite well enough, maybe a higher dose (but not more than that recommended on the label) would be right for you. A maximum safe dose has not been established.
Damiana comes in many different forms such as extracts, dried leaves, capsules or even alcoholic beverages. The "recommended" doses for these products may differ due to differing potencies or other factors. Be sure to follow the specific dosing directions for your particular damiana product.
