damiana Health Article

Generic name(s):

damiana

Brand name(s):

What is the most important information I should know about damiana?

Do not take damiana without first talking to your doctor if you

• take a medicine to treat diabetes or to control blood sugar levels such as insulin, glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (Micronase, Glynase, Diabeta), tolbutamide (Orinase), metformin (Glucophage), acarbose (Precose), troglitazone (Rezulin), pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), and others;

• have a history of breast cancer;

• have a psychiatric disorder such as mania or schizophrenia;

• have Alzheimer's disease; or

• have Parkinson's disease.

The use of damiana may be dangerous if you have any of the conditions listed above.

Damiana has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or purity. All potential risks and/or advantages of damiana may not be known. Additionally, there are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for these compounds. There have been instances where herbal/health supplements have been sold which were contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.

What is damiana?

The use of damiana in cultural and traditional settings may differ from concepts accepted by current Western medicine. When considering the use of herbal supplements, consultation with a primary health care professional is advisable. Additionally, consultation with a practitioner trained in the uses of herbal/health supplements may be beneficial, and coordination of treatment among all health care providers involved may be advantageous.

Damiana is also known as Turnera diffusa, Mexican damiana, old woman's broom, and herba de la pastora.

Damiana has been used as an aphrodisiac, to treat headaches, and to aid in the control of bed wetting.

Damiana has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or purity. All potential risks and/or advantages of damiana may not be known. Additionally, there are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for these compounds. There have been instances where herbal/health supplements have been sold which were contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.

Damiana may also have uses other than those listed in this medication guide.

What should I discusss with my health care provider before using damiana?

Do not take damiana without first talking to your doctor if you

• take a medicine to treat diabetes or to control blood sugar levels such as insulin, glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (Micronase, Glynase, Diabeta), tolbutamide (Orinase), metformin (Glucophage), acarbose (Precose), troglitazone (Rezulin), pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), and others;

• have a history of breast cancer;

• have a psychiatric disorder such as mania or schizophrenia;

• have Alzheimer's disease; or

• have Parkinson's disease.

The use of damiana may be dangerous if you have any of the conditions listed above.

Before taking damiana, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care professional if you have allergies (especially to plants), have any medical condition, or if you take other medicines or other herbal/health supplements. Damiana may not be recommended in some situations.

Do not take damiana without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant. It is not known whether damiana will harm an unborn baby. Do not take damiana without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. It is also not known whether damiana will harm a nursing infant. There is no information available regarding the use of damiana by children. Do not give any herbal/health supplement to a child without first talking to the child's doctor.