Damiana leaf
Summary
Damiana is a shrub leaf long used as an aphrodisiac. Every human trial tested it inside a blend: an arginine-ginseng-ginkgo-damiana product improved self-reported sexual satisfaction in two small trials but not in a larger trial of cancer survivors (grade D). Most of damiana's reported effects come from lab and animal studies, and safety data are sparse.
Key facts
- Leaf of Turnera diffusa, one of the most highly regarded plant aphrodisiacs in traditional use[1]
- None; human studies tested blends with ginseng, ginkgo, L-arginine or caffeine-containing herbs[1][2][5]
- No effect on sexual function in 186 female cancer survivors over 12 weeks[4]
- Most reported activities come from chemical, cell or animal assays only[1]
- Also used as an abortive, expectorant and laxative in traditional medicine[1]
- 4 graded human outcomes on this page
- October 13, 2026
How it works
ProposedDamiana contains flavonoids (including apigenin), cyanogenic glycosides and terpenoids, and caffeine has been reported in the genus. In a lab study, damiana extract bound progesterone receptors in human breast cancer cells. No mechanism has been confirmed in people.[1][7]
What the human research says
Human trials only, one row per outcome. The form column shows what each trial actually tested. Grades follow our evidence-grading policy.
At a glance: strongest evidence per outcome
| Outcome | Grade | Effect | Strongest evidence | Rows |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sexual function | Grade D | No effect | RCT · n = 186 · 2015 | 3 rows |
| Weight | Grade D | Improved | RCT · n = 47 · 2001 | 1 row |
Every graded row
| Outcome | Effect | Grade | Best evidence | PMID |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sexual function after breast or gynecologic cancer (ArginMax blend) | No effect | Grade D | RCT · n = 186 · 2015 Female cancer survivors at least 6 months after treatment with sexual problems Form: ArginMax (L-arginine, ginseng, ginkgo, damiana, vitamins, minerals) · Dose: 3 capsules twice daily · Duration: 12 weeks No difference from placebo in desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction or pain; general quality-of-life scores were better (87.5 vs 82.9, P=0.009). Toxicities were similar. | 26287032 (opens PubMed)Source [4] |
| Sexual desire by menopausal status (ArginMax blend with damiana) | Improved | Grade D | RCT · n = 108 · 2006 Women aged 22–73 reporting low sexual desire Form: ArginMax for Women (damiana, ginseng, ginkgo, L-arginine, vitamins, minerals) · Dose: Product dose (not stated in the abstract) · Duration: 4 weeks Premenopausal women reported more desire and satisfaction than with placebo; postmenopausal women reported more desire (51% vs 8% improved, P=0.008). | 16959660 (opens PubMed)Source [3] |
| Sexual satisfaction in women (ArginMax blend with damiana) | Improved | Grade D | RCT · n = 77 · 2001 Women over 21 interested in improving sexual function Form: ArginMax for Women: damiana, ginseng and ginkgo extracts, L-arginine, vitamins and minerals · Dose: Product dose (not stated in the abstract) · Duration: 4 weeks 73.5% on the blend versus 37.2% on placebo reported better satisfaction with their overall sex life (P<0.01); no significant side effects. | 11554217 (opens PubMed)Source [2] |
| Weight loss in overweight adults (yerba maté, guarana and damiana blend) | Improved | Grade D | RCT · n = 47 · 2001 Healthy overweight adults in primary care Form: YGD capsules: yerba maté, guarana and damiana leaf · Dose: 3 capsules before each main meal · Duration: 45 days Weight fell 5.1 kg versus 0.3 kg on placebo; gastric emptying was slower in a 7-person sub-study. | 11424516 (opens PubMed)Source [5] |
Forms
| Form | Elemental % | Absorption (human data) | GI tolerance | Studied for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dried damiana leaf (tea or capsules) | Varies[1] | No human absorption data found.[1] | No single-ingredient human safety data; a 2020 review found few side-effect data for damiana.[6] | Traditional aphrodisiac use; no single-ingredient trial |
| Multi-ingredient blends (ArginMax, YGD) | Varies[2][5] | Not studied for damiana itself.[2][5] | No significant side effects in the 2001 blend trial; toxicities similar to placebo in the 2015 trial.[2][4] | Female sexual function and weight trials |
Studied doses
Doses studied in human trials ranged from blend products taken as directed for 4 weeks to 3 capsules twice daily for 12 weeks (ArginMax), and 3 capsules before each meal for 45 days (YGD). No trial reports a damiana-only dose.[2][4][5]
Interactions
Published interactions only: each row cites a source. No row means none was found in our sources, not that a combination is safe.
None found in our sources.
Who should be careful
- Pregnancy
- Turnera species have been used traditionally as abortives, and no pregnancy safety data exist.[1]
- Hormone-sensitive conditions
- In a lab study, damiana extract bound progesterone receptors; human relevance is unknown.[7]
- People combining herbal sexual enhancers with medicines
- A 2020 review warns that interactions are the main concern because these herbs are often taken with other extracts or drugs, and few safety data exist for damiana.[6]
Talk to your pharmacist or clinician before starting a supplement, especially if you take prescription medicines.
How to read the label
Frequently asked questions
Is damiana an aphrodisiac?
It is traditionally used as one, but no trial has tested damiana alone. A blend with L-arginine, ginseng and ginkgo improved self-reported satisfaction in two small trials.[1][2][3]
Does damiana work for women's libido?
Blend trials gave mixed results: positive over 4 weeks in 77 and 108 women, but no effect on sexual function in 186 cancer survivors over 12 weeks.[2][3][4]
Does damiana help weight loss?
A yerba maté, guarana and damiana blend cut weight more than placebo over 45 days, but guarana's caffeine makes damiana's part unclear.[5]
Sources
- [1]Ethnobotany, phytochemistry, and bioactivity of the genus Turnera (Passifloraceae) with a focus on damiana--Turnera diffusa.. J Ethnopharmacol, 2014. review
- [2]A double-blind placebo-controlled study of ArginMax, a nutritional supplement for enhancement of female sexual function.. J Sex Marital Ther, 2001. RCT
- [3]The enhancement of female sexual function with ArginMax, a nutritional supplement, among women differing in menopausal status.. J Sex Marital Ther, 2006. RCT
- [4]Effect of ArginMax on sexual functioning and quality of life among female cancer survivors: results of the WFU CCOP Research Base Protocol 97106.. J Community Support Oncol, 2015. RCT
- [5]Weight loss and delayed gastric emptying following a South American herbal preparation in overweight patients.. J Hum Nutr Diet, 2001. RCT
- [6]Pharmacology of Herbal Sexual Enhancers: A Review of Psychiatric and Neurological Adverse Effects.. Pharmaceuticals (Basel), 2020. review
- [7]Estrogen and progestin bioactivity of foods, herbs, and spices.. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med, 1998. animal-study
What changed
- Adversarial review pass: every evidence row's numbers re-checked against its abstract (Europe PMC for abstracts PubMed truncates, PMC full text where open), grades checked against the grading rubric, and safety and overclaim wording re-read. Fixes: Cancer-survivor trial n corrected from 188 to 186 (accrued total in abstract and full text) in the evidence row, key facts, insight and FAQ.
- First draft. Every PMID checked against NCBI E-utilities esummary (title and year taken from the record) and abstracts read for the cited rows.
- Strict second-pass self review (no separate reviewer agent was available for this batch): every PMID re-fetched via esummary and every evidence row, dose and safety line re-read against its abstract or fact sheet. No NIH ODS or NCCIH fact sheet covers damiana. All human rows are blends and marked not form-specific. The 2015 trial n of 188 is the analysed total (96 + 92). Retraction and erratum flags checked on all PMIDs: none.