Damiana & Muirapauma

Damiana is a small shrub native to the American Southwest, Mexico and the West Indies. It was used by the Mayans and Aztecs as a sexual stimulant and to treat respiratory disorders. Some people smoke Damiana in a waterpipe as a prelude to lovemaking. It was also burned ceremoniously to enable participants to "see visions." Damiana has been used for thousands of years in Latin American cultures ritualistically as a sexual stimulant. Growing in dry, rocky climates, Damiana is a shrub with small yellow flowers that is generally found in the southwestern regional areas of Mexico, California and Texas. Considered to be an overall body tonic, Damiana is no longer considered an herb just for men, but may be used for a variety of ailments for both men and women. Damiana effects the nervous system acting  as an anti-depressant, soothing anxiety, nervousness and mild depression, promoting the general feeling of well-being. Damiana also stimulates the circulation of the body consequently raising energy levels to alleviate fatigue and stimulate weight loss. Other known uses for Damiana are as a mild laxative useful for relieving constipation, soothing headaches caused by menstruation, and thinning fluids resulting from asthma, colds and flu. Most research has been done on the essential oil of Damiana, which includes numerous small, fragrant substances called terpenes. As yet, it is unclear if the essential oil is truly the main active fraction of Damiana. The leaves also contain the anti-microbial substance arbutin, some alkaloids, and other potentially important compounds. The common name Damiana includes the species Turnera diffusa, which is used interchangeably with Turnera aphrodisiaca.

Muirapauma is a South American tree native to the Brazilian rain forests. Muirapauma is one of the most active botanicals with a long history of traditional use as an energy tonic, general health improver and remedy for impotence and sexual insufficiency. The roots of this Amazonian tree were the subject of a study conducted by the UCLA School of Medicine. The study showed a significant improvement in both erectile function and sexual desire. The Amazon natives have known this for centuries, as this herb has been widely used as an aphrodisiac by both men and women, and is commonly known as "potent wood." Muirapauma has been used by different native populations in Brazil for enhancement of virility, for impotence, for stress management, for nervous system stimulation, and for general overall health. Two French studies show that Muirapauma does indeed improve libido and sexual function. Scientists also believe that this herb increases testosterone levels, though this has not yet been clinically proven. A clinical study with 262 patients complaining of lack of sexual desire and the inability to attain or maintain an erection demonstrated Muirapauma extract to be effective in many cases. Within 2 weeks, at a daily dose of 1 to 1.5 grams of the extract, 62 percent of patients with loss of libido claimed that the treatment had dynamic effect while 51 percent of patients with "erection failures" felt that Muirapauma was of benefit. Primary chemical constituents of Muirapauma include alkaloids (muirapaumine), esters, and phytosterols. Presently, the exact mechanism of action of this herb is still under investigation. From the preliminary information, it appears that it works on enhancing both psychological and physical aspects of sexual function.