Plant Allies: Damiana
Hello dear friends!
Floral, musky, and sweet, this is one herb that I adore working with on an energetic level. I first discovered Damiana just a couple of years ago while I was reading a book on plants and sexuality. Long used as an aphrodisiac in Central America, Damiana is what I consider an essential herb for sexual healing. It does have many physical and medicinal effects, which we’ll explore in a moment, but from an energy perspective, it’s a potent one.
I personally love the strong aroma of this plant, but some may be put off by its perfume-y notes. In the wild, Damiana’s rich dark leaves and bright yellow flowers are tantalizing to pollinators, and irresistible to humans too. It is often used in liquors and cordials, and is said to be an ingredient in the original Mexican margarita. It mixes well with many other plants, but especially those for the heart and sacral chakras.
This delicious herbal medicine has such beautiful depth and mystery to me, and I’m excited to share about it today. So, let’s take a little tour, and get to know the seductive, soothing Damiana:
Damiana (Turnera diffusa)
This is a small scrub, belonging to the Turneraceae family. It grows wild throughout most of Mexico and Central America, as well as Texas and into the Caribbean. It produces small, bright yellow flowers, and it is the aromatic leaves that are typically used for medicine.
When the Spanish colonizers set foot in Mexico, they noticed the native tribes making strong Damiana tea, mixing it with local sugar for a special elixir. It has been used as a sexual tonic, aphrodisiac, and anti-anxiety herb for centuries.
Medical/Physical Uses
Damiana has been shown to:
Boost libido
Enhance sexual performance
Increase orgasmic potential
Reduce anxiety and racing thoughts
Tonify the reproductive system in women
Boost mood
Cleanse and support the urinary tract
Calm the stomach
Relax the central nervous system
Improve circulation in lower body
Potentially reduce estrogen-specific breast cancer
Energetics/Properties
Warming, slightly drying
Aromatic, aphrodisiac, antidepressant, diuretic, tonic
Great for the heart and sacral chakras
Emotional/Spiritual Uses
Damiana, while mostly used by women, is linked to the energy of the sacred masculine/yang energy. It ignites and stokes, while at the same time, helping to embody the one who takes it.
Ruling planets: Mars, Pluto
Zodiac signs: Scorpio, Aries
Element: fire
Celebration: Beltane, Litha
The origin of the common name damiana is from the Greek daman or damia meaning "to tame or subdue." It is the feminine version of Damian and infers that damiana is the “wild one who tames."
Damiana is often used in sex magic and Tantric rituals, and can be a wonderful way to open yourself to love and pleasure in all its forms. It also has spiritual properties, to awaken psychic and clairvoyant gifts, especially when used before bed, or after inhaling the incense. Some say they can astral travel or lucid dream on Damiana as well.
This herb has long been prized by the different cultures of Central America, including the Mayans, with Damiana elixirs being a regular offering to royalty, and to the gods.
Damiana is a great herb to use when doing any kind of love spell, or manifesting through sex magic.
Ways to use Damiana
This is an extremely versatile plant, and lends itself well to teas, tinctures, elixirs, incense, and even vaping or smoking.
Personally, I love to use it in teas, either on its own, or blended with other herbs like mugwort (for spiritual opening), tulsi (for mood lifting), lemon balm (for calming), or rose (heart/love practice). It makes an awesome infused honey too. And if you’re not avoiding alcohol, Damiana does make a delicious cordial or elixir with rum or mezcal.
Damiana is one of the key herbs I use in my yoni steaming blend, which you can check out here.
It’s also a lovely herb to sprinkle on your altar for manifesting love, or to keep somewhere in the bedroom.
Have you worked with damiana before? What have your experiences been like?
What incredible gifts Mother Nature has given us, friends!
Lots of love, and as usual,
~ Wishing you joy and ease ~
