Meet Your Herbal Allies: Damiana
Source: Viveros Shangai
Nature is the OG pharmacy. Meet Your Allies is an ongoing Tierra series that illuminates our favorite smokable herbs. Each short yet deep dive will get into the herb’s history, physical and spiritual uses. Plus, its effects when smoked. Through our words and products, we aim to deepen the ties between humans & herbs, the natural wonders that heal and connect us.
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Damiana is a shrub native to Texas, Mexico, South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. The small flowering plant, which boasts yellow flowers and fragrant leaves, is popular in traditional Mexican medicine and has a long history of use as an aphrodisiac.
Damiana is an essential element of our OG Smoking Blend, lending a pleasant flavor, aroma, and mild euphoric effect to every pre-roll.
Read on to learn more about this healing herb’s long history, uses, and effects when smoked.
The Etymology
The word Damiana is derived from its Latin name, Turnera diffusa, which is believed to have originated from the Aztecs. The first mention of the plant being used as an aphrodisiac was in Mexico around the mid-1800s. The plant’s use in traditional medicine dates back even further. In Spanish, Damiana is known as ‘hierba de la pastor,’ or ‘herb of the shepherdess,’ due to its ability to help heal sheep and their lambs following delivery. In other parts of Europe, it is referred to as ‘bon-bons des abeilles’ or ‘bee candy,’ since bees were seen gathering near fields where damiana plants grew.
Over time, Damiana has garnered playful nicknames like Mexican Viagra, love plant, and lazy man’s bedding plant, all alluding to its reputation as an aphrodisiac.
source: Kava Guides
The Habit
Damiana is a bushy shrub that typically grows to heights of up-to-two meters. This plant is a perennial and has aromatic, dark green leaves that grow in opposite pairs. These oval-shaped leaves have serrated edges, giving them a jagged appearance. Damiana flowers are small and yellow in color, with five petals each. They bloom throughout the year, usually around the springtime or during periods of heavy rainfall.
Damiana also produces fruits that resemble miniature yellow tomatoes, which contain several tiny seeds. When mature, these fruits can be dried and consumed as an herbal tea or tincture. In its native habitat, the Damiana plant can be found growing in arid regions along beaches and deserts, as well as in tropical areas with high humidity levels.
The Healing History
Throughout history, Damiana has been across centuries, countries, and continents.
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Damiana use by Mayans
The Mayans were known to use Damiana as an aphrodisiac and as a general tonic for overall health and well-being. In Mexico, it is still common for people to make tea from Damiana leaves as a natural remedy for digestive issues such as constipation or diarrhea. It is also believed that Damiana can help with depression, fatigue, and even impotence, due to its effects on hormones.
Damiana use by the Chinese
Damiana has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries to treat respiratory illnesses like asthma. Research has shown that Damiana may help boost the immune system and fight inflammation. The herb contains high levels of antioxidants which can protect cells from damage caused by free radicals.
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Damiana’s easy-smoking properties and bright, citrusy flavor and aroma make it an ideal base for herbal blends. Its essential oils give it a pleasant scent when burned or smoked, while its flavonoids and terpenes work together to relax the central nervous system when sipped or smoked. This reduces stress and anxiety while also improving mental clarity.
We’d classify Damiana’s effect when smoked as mildly euphoric — almost similar to cannabis. So, it’s perfect for those who want a slightly elevated state without being too capital-H High. For Tierra smoking blends, we love mixing it with other fragrant plants like lavender and roses, then adding it to a lemony Sativa for a deliciously stimulating daytime smoke.
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Kindly note that this article has not been evaluated by a medical professional or the FDA. Indulge at your own discretion.