Damiana (Turnera diffusa, Turnera aphrodisiaca) is a wild shrub native to Texas, Mexico, South and Central America, and the Caribbean. In alternative medicine, damiana is also used for asthma, anxiety, depression, headache, constipation, and menstrual disorders, though supporting evidence for this is lacking.
The origin of the common name damiana is from the Greek daman or damia meaning "to tame or subdue." It is the feminine version of Damian and infers that damiana is the wild one "who tames." Dried damiana leaf can be brewed into a tea, made into a tincture, and used in herbal smoking blends. Damiana leaves are often infused in alcohol to make liqueurs or cordials.
