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Below we present an article about the aphrodisiac damiana (Turnera aphrodisiaca).

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Some words about the aphrodisiac damiana

Damiana (Turnera aphrodisiaca or Turnera diffusa) is an herb growing naturally in  Central America, Mexico, South America, and the West Indies.  It is classified botanically as: Division: Magnoliophyta. Class: Magnoliopsida, Order: Malpighiales, Family: Turneraceae, Genus: Turnera, Species: T. diffusa

The plant is a decidious shrub growing to 1m by 0.6m . It blossoms from July to August. The scented flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs). It blossoms in the summer months and the flowers gives rise to a fruit tasting like figs.

The whole plant is a bitter, pungent, warming herb with a fig-like flavour. The plants are harvested when in flower and are dried for later use.

The leaves are used as a tea substitute and also as a flavouring in liqueurs. They have a strongly aromatic slightly bitter taste.

Habitat and requirements 

The plant requires well-drained dry soil and much light, and do not tolerate frost. It can grow in variable types of soils as for example acid, neutral or alcaline, sandy soil or clay soil as long as the soil drains good.  It is found in woodlands, sunny Edges, or by west or south walls.

How to cultivate

One must saw the seed in greenhouse. The seedlings must be replaced to individual pots, once they are large enough and then grown further in the greenhouse during the first winter.

Plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer.  The plants must have some protection from winter cold for at least their first winter outdoors.
 

Traditional uses

Traditionally the plant has been used ny the Maya indians as a female aphrodisiac. Native Mexican women have long drunk an infusion of the herb a couple of hours before bedtime to prime themselves for their men.

Frio de la matriz is an illness suffered by post-partum women, if they do not set aside other activities in order to care for themselves or their babies in a period, with symptoms as pelvic congestion, menstrual irregularities and loss of libido. These symptoms may persist up to several years after delivery if the conditions is not treated. The name means "coldness of the womb or the uterus". In traditional hispnic maternal care, women is given a period of 40 days to care only for themselves and the baby to prevent this illness.

Damiana is the traditional treatment in hispanic population for this condition.
 

Medicinal Uses

The herb partly stimulates some functions of the sentral nervous system and partly relaxes other functions. The herb may helps against depression, anxiety, poor apetite and nervous exhaustion.

It is also helpful for other conditions that can be relieved partly through strengthening of some signals from the nervous system to various organs and partly by toning down other signals.

These basic actions upon nervous activities and nerve signalling can also be used for comfort agsinst unwanted bodily feelings and for boostning dezired feelings in the body, for example feelings in the genital zone.

The herb is a usefull female aphrodisiac with these composite effects:

• It arouses sexual desire by woman

• It also increases a womens energy

• It controls flashes during menopause

• It balances the womans hormonal system

• Helps against infertility

• Helps against painful menstruation and vaginal discharge.

For men the herb has the following effects:

• Increases of the sperm count

• Helps against imponency, and premature ejaculation.

• Helps against infertility.

• Helps against prostate trouble.

The herb stimulates the digestive system and healps against atonic constipation, poor digestion  and poor appetite.

Damiana is used as a laxative for children. It stimulates muscle contractions of the intestinal tract.

The herb further generally stimulates the genito-urinary tract and rejuvenates kidney energy.

Damiana has further been used for pulmonary (lung) disorders (including asthma) and to help for emphysema. It has been used for cough preparations, and helps against symptoms of cold and flu.

Damiana is and as a general body cleanser.

Damiana is believed to be more effective when combined with other herbs of similar or complementary activity.

Damiana can also be smoked, and the effect of this use is mostly relaxing, like the effect of cannabis. It is doubtful if this type of use is to be recomended.

How it is prepared and used

Damiana tea: Add 250 ml (1 cup) boiling water to 1 gram of dried leaves, and let it steep ten to fifteen minutes. Drink three cups per day.
 

Damianaa is also sold as tincture or capsules. Take tablets or capsules in the amount of 400-800 mg three times per day. In tincture form, it is to be taken as 2-3 ml 3 times a day

Active substances

Precautions

Damiana is a safe herb with very few reports of unwanted effects. Damiana may occationally cause hedaches and insomnia.

In animal studies, damiana may have affected blood sugar levels. Individuals who have diabetes may want to avoid using it.

Very little information is available on how damiana might affect a developing fetus, an infant, or a small child. Therefore, its use is not recommended for small children, during breast-feeding or during pregnancy.

In one reported case, a person having taken 200 grams damiana (7 ounces) got epileptic seizures.

Some references

Alarcon-Aguilar FJ, Roman-Ramos R, Flores-Saenz JL, Aguirre-Garcia F. Investigation on the hypoglycaemic effects of extracts of four Mexican medicinal plants in normal and alloxan-diabetic mice. Phytotherapy Research. 2002;16(4):383-386.

Taylor L. Herbal Secrets of the Rainforest, 2nd edition. Roseville, California. Prima Publishing, Inc. 2002.

Damiana - Turnera diffusa

(A picture from wikipedia.org)

About preventive methods to obtain secure sex

Preventive methods have the aim of hindering unwanted pregnancy. Some of them also have the aim of hindering sexually transmitted diseases. This article is an overview of possible choises.

Condom

The condom protects against pregnancy and against venereal diseases. It is a rubber hat that one treads over the penis before intercourse and have it one during sex. The condom catches the sperm before they enter the vagina. The condom is also called "penis sleeve". The risk of becoming pregnant is 2% (method error) - 15% (operator error) in the course of one year when using condome. The condom is the only contraceptive that can be used by men and is also the only thing that protects against STDs. One of the disadvantages of condoms is that it reduces the man's sensitivity, but this can also be an advantage if the man has a problem with premature ejaculation (premature ejaculation).

 

Femidom

A femidom is a contraceptive designed for women. Like a condom the femidom works through the barrier method, meaning that it prevents mucosal contact and exchange of body fluids and any infectious agents between partners by constituting a mechanical barrier. Therefore femidomet protects both against pregnancy and against sexually transmitted infections. The ability to protect against pregnancy is about as good as condoms.

Femidomet consists of a tube with a flexible ring at each end, a smaller ring in the closed end and a larger ring in the open end. The material is polyurethane, a plastic material and not latex. The chance of getting latex allergy is therefore not present.

Before intercourse it is placed into the vagina so that the smaller ring is placed around the opening of the uterus, while the large ring will remain outside the vaginal entrance. It stays in during intercource.

It was associated with expectations that femidomet could help women to achieve greater control over their own sexuality and reproduction. However fthe emidom never achieved any great popularity, and has been withdrawn from the market in some countries. Although it is primarily intended for women, femidomet also enjoyed a certain popularity among men who have sex with men, as an alternative to a condom during anal intercourse.

 

Diaphragm

A diaphragm is a kind of rubber cup as a woman puts into the inner part of her vagina before sexual intercourse. It  After sexual intercourse the pessar must stand i for at least six hours. Diaphragm is recommended to the older women as it is relatively inefficient at teenagers. It requires consistent and correct use. Approx. 15% of women who use diaphragm becomes pregnant within a year. Most pregnancies are caused by user error.

 

Copper Spiral

A copper coil affects the mucus in the uterus so that the movement of eggs and sperm is inhibited. If a fertilization still occurs to the changed environment in the uterus, it  prevents the fertilized egg to attach itself. With a copper Spiral it is almost certainly less than 1% risk of becoming pregnant within a year. It is not fully as safe as hormone spiral, but far cheaper. The disadvantages of the copper spiral is largely related to having a foreign body in the uterus. Women with menstrual problems may experience worsening of the problems by the use of the copper spiral.

 

Generally about pharmacological contraceptives

These contraceptives contain the hormones progesterone and possibly also estrogene. They work in three ways: preventing ovulation, affecting the mucus in the uterus, making it less permeable to sperm and affect the uterine lining so a fertilized egg can not attach themselves.

By proper use, the risk (according to WHO) to become pregnant within one year is 0.3%, but with user errors (for example, forget to take a pill), the risk 8%. It does not reduce the risk of getting sexually transmitted diseases, although a closer mucus plug in the cervix will reduce the risk of pelvic infection. Oral contraceptives can also be used to reduce menstrual bleeding. Uterine lining is not quite as thick as normal and you bleed thus less during menstruation, and one can reduce the pain.

There is also a significantly reduced risk for cancer and ovarian cancer. Among the disadvantages of the pill is that they can affect your mood (depression, libido). Oral contraceptives are known to cause increased risk of blood clots. The risk for thrombosis of pregnancy are far greater, so one takes that into account, one can say that the overall risk is reduced.

 

P-spray

P-syringe, which is on sale in Norway (Depo-Provera) contains only progestogen and no estrogen. It is a very secure method that requires putting a needle (often in the buttock) within each 12.uke.

P-rod

P-rod is a small plastic rod inserted under the skin and releases progestogen. This prevents ovulation, but also other functions in the body.



P-ring

P-ring is a little soft and elastic ring that the woman put into the vagina. It is removed after three weeks of use, and after a week break (with bleeding) will insert a new one. It contains a progesterone-like hormone and an estrogen.




P-patch

P-patch is a thin, small patch that is placed on the skin. It contains progesterone-like hormone and estrogen. The effective substances are taken up through the skin. Each patch lasts a week, and every four weeks, one should not use the patch.

 

Mini Pills

Mini Pills works much like the pill, but only contains the hormone progesterone and prevents therefore not ovulating. 1-year-risk of becoming pregnant with a mini-pill use is 1% (method error) - 4% (user error). It has fewer side effects than the pill, but is also somewhat more uncertain in use.

 

Hormone Spiral

This is a spiral containing progesterone hormone that prevents sperm cell to penetrate through to the egg. In addition, the uterus cannot accept a fertilized egg. Hormones coil is the safest method of birth control we have and are about as likely as sterilization. Hormones spiral purchased at the pharmacy and be taken to a doctor who puts it up. It lasts for 5 years

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This information is nutritional in nature and should not be construed as medical advice. This notice is required by the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.