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DAMIANA (The Mexican Tea): Turnera aphrodisiaca.

About t h i r t y years ago, Dr. F. 0. St. Clair of Wash ing ton , D. C.

introduced Damiana to the medical profession of the United S t a t e s .

The botanical name was not known to Dr. St . Clair, but was a f t e r -

ward determined as Turnera aphrodisiaca. It became my duty, in

1881, to describe the drug and its (then) soph i s t i can t (Aplopappus

d i s c o i d es ) for the American Dispensatory, the article being published

in advance by Dr. Charles Rice, editor of the American Druggis t .

I now find myself in the home of Damiana, and am enabled to

supplement t h a t paper, as well a s , I believe, correct certain generally

accepted popular American errors concerning the drug. La Paz,

Lower California (Baja California), is the principal Damiana port

of export, and informat ion obtained on the ground may be considered

a u t h e n t i c .

Th e N a m e. Damiana is the Mexican nam e of the plant whichyields the leaf sold under the name. So far as I can discover, this

nam e has no significance. Possibly, in days gone by, the term might

have possessed a specific meaning, but more likely it is an heirloom

of the Indians that i nhab i t ed the Peninsula, before the Spanish in-

vasion. Be th at a s it ma y, th e ter m Damian a is fam iliar to every

Mexican, but concerning the m ea n in g a n d derivation of the word,

all concur in t h a t i t is simply the name of the plant.

The Plant. The leaf of D a m i a n a is now too familiar a drug to

necessitate detailed description, the fragrant, olive-green leaf being well

known to pha rm acists. The plan t is a low shr ub, th e bush y hea d

of which is prone upon the ground, from which descends the gnarled,

often twisted root stem, and spring the coarse twigs. This root is

tough, hard, the central part (about one third) being brown, the

rem ainder yellow. The main root stalk averages an inch or more in

diameter, from which project tough side roots the size of a l e a d

pencil, g r a y externally, but yellow within. From extreme to extreme,

a damiana plant may a v e r a g e two to four feet, root measurement,bu t is less in dep th. The tough s tems make a scraggly bush, two


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to three feet high. In the dry season, which includes most of the

year, the tough, brittle root seems to be nearly devoid of moisture.

It may even be seemingly as dry as the dust about it, as is true of

the specimens now before me, but I am told that this sapless speci-

men of vegetation, gray and forlorn as is the hot dry sand and soil

about it, on the first touch of rain, will put forth a mass of foliage,

and with wonderful activity will become a living bush, which, when

the few days of rain are over, dries again in the sand, and slumbers

through the long season of heat and dust. Cattle and other a n i m a l s

are fond of Damiana, and it is asserted tha t a peculiar, sweet flavor

is imparted to the flesh of such creatures during the Damiana season.

D a m i a n a , I am told, is practically confined to t h e lower part ofthe Peninsula, of Lower California, from which, mainly from the port

of La Paz , i t is expor ted , the l a rger am oun t now going to the

United States. Its habitat, even here, is in the foot hills inland, the

main supply coming from forty miles west of La Paz, thence being

abundant towards the town of Todos Santos, on the Pacific shore.

It grows in patches or clumps, with spaces, sometimes of consider-

able size, between the bunches. It is gathered by the country people,

and for exportation is packed in bales of convenient size, coarse

coffee sacks being usually employed. 1 find in local use, small square

bales in calico casing, each holding two litres, but it is generally

ret ailed loose by grocers , as t ea is sold in America,. The differen ce

in the qua lity of Damiana is very great , owing both t lo care in cur-ing, a n d to its condition when gathered, as well as to its age, for by

age i t loses much of i ts aroma, and f ragrance. The Mexican is

particular concerning this latter point, and highly values a freshness

in quality. It should be nearly devoid of stems, of a lively, olive-

green color, a grateful, delightful fragrance, and should impart anaromatic , sl igh t ly astringent taste when chewed. As found in com-

merce, th e sma ll leaf is mu ch broken. When g a t h e r e d in the flower-

ing season, it is in very best condition, and is most highly valued

by Mexicans when the flowers are present. They prize the f lavor in

this mixture of leaf and blossom.

So p h i st i ca n t s . ( As h D a m i a n a . ) T h e on l y p la n t t h a t is

here confused with Damiana is a related shrub of similar a p p e a r a n c e

and growth. I ts leaf resembles Damiana in contour , a n d is possessedof a similar odor and taste. It differs in general in that it has a


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more grayish (ash) color (due to a coat of s i l k y down), and a more

wooly touch and appearance, lacking the lively, olive-green color of

the t rue , crisp leaf. This plant is not only downy to the touch.

but the l e a f , l e a f-s t e m , a n d b u d s a r e a l s o p u b e s ce n t , t he lea f

being thick and leathery, as contrasted wi t h the br i t t l e , thin leaf of

t ru e Damiana ,. This species is found abundantly within twenty miles

of La Paz, while the true species is not abundant east of the foot

hills that center th e peninsu la. This ash species is not used by th e

Mex ica n s, and yet, by one inexperienced, it might readily be taken

for Damiana. I have discovered t h a t the leaf of this plant has been

largely sent to the United States, the gentleman giving me th is in -

format ion ca l l ing i t Bas ta rd Damiana . Al though i t should beconsidered a sophisticant, its sensible properties so nearly resemble

Damiana as to indicate t h a t pharmaceutical preparat ions can not

be r eadily different iat ed. *

Damiana Root and Shrub. I am re l iab ly informed tha t an

attempt is being made to put the root and shrub on the market as

a d r u g substitute for the leaf. Owing to i t s weight it will be a cheap

sophistican t, an d m ay serve th e pur pose of a cheap subs t i t , u t e . ButI cannot, discover any of the qualities ofD a m i a n a in either the root

or shrub. The final result of such procedure (owing to t h e restricted

locality in which d a m i a n a grows), will be to exterminate the plant,

and increase Th e price ofD a m i a n a . The Mexican Government shouldat once take steps to prohibit the exportation of Damiana root, and

thus preserve the industry, and protect this important Mexican tea.

Me x i c a n Us e s o f Da m i a n a . Da m i a n a is the native Mexican

tea, and is used exactly as tea, is employed in the United S t a t e s .

Although its use is now largely confined to the poorer classes, it is

a favorite beverage throughout the Peninsula,, and also, I am reliablyinformed, elsewhere throughout Mexico, a l though this la t ter s t a t e -

men t I ha ve not persona lly verified. It m a y be likened in this re-

spect to our domestic Sassafras, which is yet used as a beverage, in

a limited w a y, in rura l d i s t r i c t s , in many sections of the UnitedStates . D a m i a n a is consumed in Mexico as a stimulating beverage,

a n d is not used a s a drug, although its qualities are both soothing

an d stim ulat ing. Tha t i t ma y ha ve, occasiona lly, a n aphrod i s i ac

*I have t aken s t eps to ob ta in the d i f f e ren t spec ies o f sh rub , and when the i rbotan ical names are determined wi l l supply th is def ic iency . A dealer in Damianaa s s u r e s m e t h a t a n o t h e r B a s t a r d have described.

species ex is ts , in termediate between those I


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propert y, in Mexican view, is evident from the fact t h a t in on e case

a Mexican who met Americans often, ascribed to it that c h a r a c t e r .

Bu tI

find, after patient a n d particular investigation in the Mexicanhome of D a m i a n a , tha t i t i s un iversa l ly served as t ea , to men.

women, and children alike. I am therefore inclined to believe that a

Mexican s t a t e m e n t concerning its aphrodisiac qualities is a reflex

touch from American advertisements, or American statements. Its

repute here is that of a pleasant, gentle st imulant, and i t is also

employed as a hot drink when the menses ar e suppr essed. It is also

used in colic, the statement being that a strong, hot tea of Da m ia n a ,

will bring quick relief. This st at emen t I h a v e also verified from a

heavy native exporter of the drug. Th e fa ct tha t Damiana tea i sused so extensively , demonstrates t h a t it is harmless, while its

employment for persons of both sexes and of all ages indicates that

it is not considered a drug exclusively for purposes such a s are

asserted to be i t s reputed quali t ies in American medicine. I am

therefore inclined to accept without reserve that the reputed qualities

of th is dru g, as a ccepted in America, are n ot based on its Mexican

use or reputation.

Damiana, is a fragrant, slightly a s t r i n g e n t , gentle stimulant, ortonic, which in its habitat serves a useful purpose. Its long continued

use is not followed by nervousness, as is the case with tea and coffee

drinking. I made careful and exhaust ive inquir ies to ascertain i f

any ill effect followed its habitual use, and found none whatever.

On asking for a cup ofD a m i a n a tea at the hotel where this article

is wr i t t en , it was served me without comment, the proprietor stating

tha t he kept the leaf constantly on hand, and considered it a harm-

less beverage, adding that some people drink it exclusively. I found

it not unpleasant to the palate.

And now the question may be asked, is it possible t h a t so many

American physicians who have prescribed Damiana, have erred in

their opinion of the drug ? In reply it may be stated that it is notunlikely that, in some instances, a gentle, aromatic s t i m u l a n t like

Damiana may accomplish aphrodisiac effects. In my opinion, how-

ever, the shot-gun method of prescribing D a m i a n a has m a i n t a i n e d

for this innocent drug its chief reputation in a field where error

originally placed it . As a ru le, Damiana, is associa ted in prescriptions

with Phosphorus, Nux Vomica, Strychnine, Iron compounds, and


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such powerful a ge n t s as th ese, where it s gent le companionship is

d o m i n a t e d by its powerful associates. Or, the name Damiana, is

used as a trade mark term for proprietaryprepa ra t ions in whichthe other ingredients a r e concealed. Few physician s employ it a lone,

and such therapeutical authorities as I know to have inves t iga ted

it in a pur e condition, asser t its inefficiency as an aph rodisiac. Like

th e ha rm less Spr eading Viper, to which a general pu blic ha s err oneously

ascribed most virulent attributes, but which is almost helpless and

is perfectly innocuous, so Damiana has been broadly heralded as a

remedy in a, field where its innocent qualities forbid it a conspicuous

place.R e s u m . D a m i a n a is a Mexican s h r u b , i t s h a b i t a t b e i n g o n

the peninsula of Lower Cal i fornia, in land from La Paz. I t was

introduced to American medicine under a misunderstanding of i t s

na tu re . I t i s not a Mexican drug , b u t a g e n e r a l b e v e r a g e . I t s

qualities reside in a fragrant leaf, yielding to hot water a pleasant,

harmless: tea-like beverage which, so far a s history determines, has

been consumed from all t ime by the Mexicans, and still so em-

ployed by al l classes, men, women a n d children alike.* It is a gentle

s t imulan t or ton ic, k ind ly in act ion , p leasan t to the tas t e , a n d

acceptab le to the stomach. I ts medicinal qual i t ies are mainly

res t r icted, in Mexico, to cases where a gentle s t i m u l a n t ma y be

effectual, as in suppressed menses, i n which it is desirable to ad-

minister a h ot dr ink in conn ection with a gra teful t h a t

will not, disturb the stomach. In other words, D a m i a n a is a homely,

domestic remedy, innocent of the attributes under which, in American

medicine, it has, for a quarter of a century, been forced tomas-

querade. Its American field is now restricted, but in its true position

the use of Dam iana ma y be broadened. A fresh ly ma de tea of prime,

recent Damiana, herb, when it can be procured, is perhaps t h e most

desirable form of admin i s t r a t ion , or a concentrated cordial represen-

t a t i t i v e of t h e drug, of exceptional freshness and of prime q u a l i t y .pala tab le as possible, made to carry the full quali t ies of Damiana.

La Paz, Mexico, February lOth, 1904.

* I ha ve met the very best in society, who dr ink Damiana tea throu gh choice.The poorer classes use i t almost exclusively.

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