Damiana

Turnera diffusa, known as damiana, is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrub" title="Shrub">shrub</a> native to southwestern <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas" title="Texas">Texas</a> in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States" title="United States">United States</a>,<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damiana#cite_note-2">[3]</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_America" title="Central America">Central America</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexico" title="Mexico">Mexico</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_America" title="South America">South America</a>, and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caribbean" title="Caribbean">Caribbean</a>. It belongs to the family <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passifloraceae" title="Passifloraceae">Passifloraceae</a>.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damiana#cite_note-GRIN-1">[2]</a>

Damiana is a relatively small shrub that produces small, aromatic flowers. It blossoms in early to late summer and is followed by fruits that taste similar to figs. The shrub is said to have a strong spice-like odor somewhat like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chamomile" title="Chamomile">chamomile</a>, due to the essential oils present in the plant.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damiana#cite_note-3">[4]</a> The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaf" title="Leaf">leaves</a> have traditionally been made into a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbal_tea" title="Herbal tea">tea</a> and an incense which was used by native people of Central and South America for its <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relaxing" title="Relaxing" class="mw-redirect">relaxing</a> effects. Spanish missionaries first recorded that the Mexican Indians drank Damiana tea mixed with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugar" title="Sugar">sugar</a> for use as an aphrodisiac.

Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) are a class of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medication" title="Medication" class="mw-redirect">drugs</a> used in the treatment of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breast_cancer" title="Breast cancer">breast cancer</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ovarian_cancer" title="Ovarian cancer">ovarian cancer</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menopause" title="Menopause">postmenopausal</a> women. AIs may also be used <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Off-label" title="Off-label" class="mw-redirect">off-label</a> to treat or prevent <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gynaecomastia" title="Gynaecomastia" class="mw-redirect">gynaecomastia</a> in men.

<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aromatase" title="Aromatase">Aromatase</a> is the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enzyme" title="Enzyme">enzyme</a> which synthesizes <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estrogen" title="Estrogen">estrogen</a>. As breast and ovarian cancers require estrogen to grow, AIs are taken to either block the production of estrogen or block the action of estrogen on receptors.

Damiana has long been claimed to have a stimulating effect on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libido" title="Libido">libido</a>, and its use as an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aphrodisiac" title="Aphrodisiac">aphrodisiac</a> has continued into modern times. More recently, some corroborating scientific evidence in support of its long history of use has emerged. Several <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_testing" title="Animal testing">animal testing</a> studies have shown evidence of increased sexual activity in rats of both sexes. Damiana has been shown to be particularly stimulating for sexually exhausted or impotent male rats<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damiana#cite_note-4">[5]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damiana#cite_note-5">[6]</a> as well as generally increased sexual activity in rats of both sexes.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damiana#cite_note-6">[7]</a> It has also been shown that damiana may function as an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aromatase_inhibitor" title="Aromatase inhibitor">aromatase inhibitor</a>, which has been suggested as a possible method of action for its reputed effects.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damiana#cite_note-7">[8]</a>

Damiana is an ingredient in a traditional <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexico" title="Mexico">Mexican</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liqueur" title="Liqueur">liqueur</a>, which is sometimes used in lieu of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triple_Sec" title="Triple Sec" class="mw-redirect">Triple Sec</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margarita" title="Margarita">margaritas</a>. Mexican folklore claims that it was used in the "original" margarita. The damiana margarita is popular in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Cabos" title="Los Cabos" class="mw-redirect">Los Cabos</a> region of Mexico.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damiana#cite_note-Damiana_liqueur-8">[9]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damiana#cite_note-Mexican_liqueurs-9">[10]</a>

While scientists have found inconclusive data on damiana, it has recently been shown that a chemical essential to the plant's structure, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Damianin&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Damianin (page does not exist)">damianin</a>, has relaxing effects on the central nervous system. This chemical may therefore account, in part, for the reports of relaxation effects, however the research involved is limited at this point.[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed">citation needed</a>] Damiana also contains <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha-Pinene" title="Alpha-Pinene">α-pinene</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta-Carotene" title="Beta-Carotene">β-carotene</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta-Pinene" title="Beta-Pinene">β-pinene</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eucalyptol" title="Eucalyptol">eucalyptol</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tannin" title="Tannin">tannins</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thymol" title="Thymol">thymol</a>.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damiana#cite_note-10">[11]</a>

<h2>Legality</h2>

In Louisiana, USA, Damiana is considered a "prohibited plant" along with 39 other plants by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana_State_Act_159" title="Louisiana State Act 159">Louisiana State Act 159</a>, effective 8 August 2005. Any combination of any of the parts, leaves, stems, stalks, seeds, materials, compounds, salts, derivatives, mixtures, preparations, or any resin extracted from any part of the plant is illegal to possess or distribute for human consumption in the state of Louisiana. This is due to an recent increase in the number of calls made to U.S. Poison Control Centers regarding highs, a majority coming from Louisiana.[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Please_clarify" title="Wikipedia:Please clarify">further explanation needed</a>]<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damiana#cite_note-11">[12]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damiana#cite_note-12">[13]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damiana#cite_note-13">[14]</a>

A product known as "Black Mamba", labelled as containing "100% Damiana", has been on sale in the UK; ill effects from its use have been reported.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damiana#cite_note-14">[15]</a> MP Graham Jones has called for the substance to be made illegal <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damiana#cite_note-15">[16]</a>

During Prime Minister's questions on Wednesday the 7th of March 2012 MP Nadhim Zahawi asked for action to be taken in relation to "Black Mamba", the Prime Minister responded:

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<dd>"We are determined to stamp out these so-called legal highs. The Home Office is aware of this particular drug. We now have the drugs early warning system which brings these things to our attention, but as he says, a decision needs swiftly to be made and I will make sure that happens." <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damiana#cite_note-black_mamba_pmqs-16">[17]</a></dd>

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Damiana

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