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what else you should know
cut & sifted
damiana leaf
Damiana, also known as Old Woman's Broom, Mexican Damiana, Herba de la
Pastora, has a somewhat bitter flavor with an aroma similar to
chamomile: slightly sweet, mildly earthy. This is likely because both
the chemical makeup of these plants share certain volatile oil
compounds, such as calamine derivatives.
The ancient Greeks gave the plant its original official name of
aphrodisiakos, while referring to it commonly as the “goddess of
love.”
Important Note: This herb is highly cyanogenic, which means that compounds in the
plant may form cyanides when ingested and become toxic with high
dosages. At the time of this writing, the state of Louisiana bans the
sale or distribution of this herb for human consumption, citing cases of
deliberate substance abuse. Due to potential estrogenic effects of this
herb, it should not be used during pregnancy or if there is a history of
a hormone-driven cancer. Because this herb may affect blood glucose
levels, it may interfere with diabetes drugs as well as other
medications.
