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The dried flowers and leaves of the damiana plant are commonly smoked as an aphrodisiac. It’s a popular base herb for smoking blends since it is inexpensive, neutral and has flavor similar to marijuana. Native Americans traditionally brewed a relaxing tea, which also had powerful aphrodisiac effects. Damiana is a popular tobacco alternative and a common base for “legal high” products.
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What does smoking damiana feel like?: Damiana smoking is a relaxing, calming and sedating experience. It results in a mild euphoria and relaxation. It pairs quite well with mugwort or cannabis.
How is it?: Damiana can smells like cannabis when smoked. However, it is not nearly as potent.
Pro: Cheap base for herbal blends, popular addition to herbal products
Best with: Mugwort, Cannabis, Hemp Flowers, Passion flower, Mullein
Benefits: Damiana fight coughing, treat constipation and improve digestion. It is also an aphrodisiac.
Potential side effects: Damiana might affect blood glucose level. Consult with a physician before consuming damiana products.
Overview
Damiana (Turnera diffusa) is a small shrub with tiny yellow flowers. It is known for stimulating libido and is often used as an aphrodisiac as well as a relaxant. It is also known as herba de la pastora and Mexican Damiana. It is native to Texas, Mexico, and Central and South America. It is primarily harvested for its leaves which are used to make tea.
History and Use
Damiana has been long used as a relaxant and aphrodisiac. Native Mexican Indians were known to drink sweetened Damiana tea and it is believed to be one of the original ingredients of margaritas.
The use of of this herb as an aphrodisiac has continued into modern times. In fact, recent studies have shown that it does cause an increase of sexual activity in rats, though it has yet to be scientifically tested on humans. Damiana is used both for its libido stimulating effects as well as for the somewhat narcotic effect it causes. The effect of the tea is believed to be similar to the high obtained from smoking marijuana but milder.
Health Benefits
Anti-Anxiety
The relaxing effects of the Damiana plant is said to be similar to the initial relaxation of smoking marijuana, but Damiana is legal in most places.
Aphrodisiac properties
Damiana has long been used as an aphrodisiac. The plant has a stimulating effect on the libido and many users claim it can restore libido and desire as well as increase sexual energy.
Methods of Use
As an Infusion or Tea
The dried leaves of the Damiana plant are often used to make tea. This is the most common method of consuming or using Damiana.
As a Smoking Blend
Along with mugwort, damiana is an excellent base herb and a good tobacco replacement.
Damiana is often used as a legal substitute for marijuana. The leaves can be dried and smoked or bought as a prepared powder. The effects of Damiana can be obtained both from tea and from smoking. Superpotent resins extraction can also be smoked.
As a prepared tincture
As the effects of Damiana become more popular and more widely known, the herb has been used more and more in herbal remedies. It can be bought as part of an herbal supplement. It can also be bought as a simple tincture and added to drinks to provide the effects of the herb without the taste.
Effects
People who use Damiana report:
- Increased libido
- Feeling more energetic
- Feeling less anxiety
- Improved sexual fitness
- A feeling of euphoria
That’s right, with the LSD boom of the 60’s came a reemergence of Damiana in popular culture. The herb was guaranteed to give users a slight high and aid in sexual stimulation when smoked or made into tea.
(Source = medium.com)
Effects when Smoking
Damiana can be qualified as a mild legal alternative to marijuana, but it is usually praised for its quality as a base herb.
Damiana has a very pleasant taste when smoked, unlike the bitter or harsh flavors of other herbs I have smoked. The is easy to inhale, and quite mild, for the exception of the occasional popping seed. The smoke is extremely calming, and gives the user a mild buzz. […] I would not consider Damiana a hallucinogenic, or even an alternative to marijuana, just a calming, and enlightening herbal smoke.
Source: Mr. Mazatec “Fun with herbal High” experience report on Erowid
Damiana is an inexpensive base herb that pairs nicely with weed. When smoked, the smell does remind of cannabis. Use damiana to replace tobacco in your herbal smoking blends or to craft your own herbal cigarettes.
Damiana is a popular legal high along mugwort and mullein.
Side Effects
Damiana is not recommended for people with diabetes, a history of breast cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s or other psychiatric disorders. It should not be used by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Diabetes : Damiana might affect blood sugar levels in people with diabetes . Watch for signs of low blood sugar ( hypoglycemia ) and monitor your blood sugar carefully if you have diabetes and use damiana.
Source: rxlist.com
Legality
Damiana is legal to grow, buy, sell, own, and use in most places.
However it is restricted in Louisiana as of 2005.
Where to buy Damiana
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Nicolas ‘Axel’ Duval is the founder and content editor of this website. He launched Smokable Herbs in 2011. He later created the Smokably herb online store, which sells herbs and blends worldwide.
As an herbalist and marketing enthusiast, he used Smokable Herbs as a sandbox to test ideas and deploy content.
I did not know that the damiana herb can also be used as a relaxant. My aunt suffers from anxiety and she does not like to take any medicine. I will suggest to her to try damiana so that she can control her illness.
Actually, it is like you are smoking a peppermint candy not weed. You mix it with weed for an added effect
Not really feeling anything different after smoking 2 joints. I feel a bit energized but other than that no effects.
Mixed with mullein and a little rum essence damiana helped me kick tobacco smoking, and then habitual smoking altogether. I have blended various herbs but I keep coming back to damiana for its gentle ‘high’. “High’ isn’t the right word. It just shifts you a little sideways. Mullen for body, damiana for effect, rum essence for flavour, smoked in a corn cob or briar pipe. These days I am happy to cut a little weed or tobacco into the mix. When I was younger everything had to be full on. As I get older I have learned to appreciate subtlety and essence. I just wish I had learned to appreciate sooner, I would have got a lot more done and saved a heap of cash.
In a tea, damiana does nothing for me at all. I have yet to smoke it.
Felt nothing. No energy increase, no alleviated depression or anything else for that matter.
I just recently bout damiana..it smokes good but a lil harsh on the inhale, gives a mild relaxing high…nothin inebriating ..light buzz
On the pther hand i bought skullcap an it sucks ..stings and irritates lungs unenjoyably and practically gives off no head high or effect
Recommend mixing with passion glower or mellian
I’ve been using damiana for a few years now to help with my anxiety. I started out smoking it, and now I use a portable vaporizer. It really does help with it.
I had to stop taking my Xanax, because I became addicted to it, and was looking for a good substitute. I found it in damiana. I occasionally mix it with passion flower for a stronger effect.
Yes smells like cannabis, and tastes like cannabis, and you do get mildly “stoned” but without the severe negative common feelings with normal cannabis (such as over tiredness, red eyes, confused, doped out, paranoid) . I wouldn’t smile it in public as it smells so like cannabis, so nice for a weekend relaxer at home.
Used to be a regular marijuana user, but due to financial constraints had to quit that habit. What I do now is smoke a damiana/mullein leaf combo. Leaves with a centered sense of well being WITHOUT the tiredness. Roll it like a joint or stuff in it a power hitter. And yeah, this stuff keeps you regular too.
No you’re not going to get a “POTHEAD” with this. This of is as WEED LITE. Legal and costs of fraction of the price. Hell, what’s not to LOVE?
I’m looking for a mj like buzz that’s not sprayed with chemicals n stuff like that will damiana work for me? My job does randoms so had to quit smoking mj.