D is for “Damiana”

The lovely Ysmine initiated “Letter of the Week” for our SWK Group on MySpace. The purpose is for individuals to choose a witchy word for the designated letter and post the definition and any other input they would like to include. I am posting my words here, as well as on the SWK group site. Knowledge shared is never wasted.

Parts Used: Leaf
Latin Name: Turnera Aphrodisiaca
Folk Name: Love Leaf
Gender: Masculine
Planet: Mars
Element: Fire
Powers: Lust, Love, Visions
Deities: Ganesha, Kurma, Shu, Vishnu, Zeus, Artmeis, Diana
Astrological: (1) Primary: Aries, Scorpio; (2) Secondary: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius

History and Folklore:

Damiana is an herb of the New World, native to Mexico and southern parts of the United States. The first mention of this interesting herb reached the western world via the chronicles of the Spanish missionary Jesus Maria de Salvatierra in 1699. The indigenous people of Mexico had long been familiar with the herb’s properties by the time de Salvatierra recorded them. He mentions that Damiana enjoyed a widespread reputation as a potent and popular aphrodisiac, which is what Damiana is most famous for today. As an aphrodisiac it has gained some fame – it is included in many potency enhancing formulae and in Mexico it is frequently dispensed in the form of a herbal liqueur, which is prepared by steeping the herb along with certain spices such as vanilla, galangal, cinnamon and pimento berries, and honey in rum for a period of about two weeks. Various recipes exist and even commercial brews are available that are said to be particularly favored in mixed drinks such as Margaritas. The Mayans and other Central American natives also used this herb for a range of other conditions that modern herbalism tends to neglect.

Magical Uses:

Damiana is an herb of lust and love, as well as a visionary herb. It’s a good herb to use for any love or sexual magic. Use it in lust/love infusions, as well as lust/love spells. Solitary practitioners burn Damiana to open their chakras and increase their psychic abilities in their quest for a heightened vision. Some believe that Damiana should be stored with a quartz crystal in its container. Work the leaves into charm bags, use as loose incense or even brew them into tea. If you make Damiana tea, be prepared to add honey or sugar as it’s quite bitter. Use Damiana incense to promote psychic dreams. Smoke Damiana for this purpose as well, as it reportedly acts on the body as a mild euphoric. When encountering a recipe that calls for hashish, use an extract of the volatile oils in Damiana as magical substitute.

Fiery Passion Incense:

½ part Cinnamon
¼ part Ginger Root
2 ½ parts Damiana
A few drops Ylang Ylang essential oil

Kitchen Witchery:

The energizing effect Damiana is probably where Damiana’s reputation as an aphrodisiac comes from and from where its use in love spells sprang. Love spells can be misguided and it’s best not to invoke the powers to attain the love of one that does not love you to begin with. I strongly discourage their use. I do recommend is its use to fortify an existing relationship that may need a boost of energy, a fresh breath of air, or some excitement.

Relationships are work, and we sometimes take for granted the emotions and feelings of our partner. This more often than not is simply an oversight. As we deal with the day-to-day events of work and taking care of our families, we forget the simple ideas and compliments that can go along way.

This is where kitchen witchery can come in handy. Using herbs associated with love and relationships can help. A personal favorite is bread. It fills the house with the aroma of heart and hearth. It will instill into your food a sense of magic. Plan a night with your significant other and bake accordingly. Use Damiana in bread; it gives a sweet, earthy flavor. Combine it with some lavender and you will attain a wonderful effect. It is not necessary to use much of it, as overpowering the bread with herbs is not the idea. It is about instilling yourself into the food, thinking of your beloved, what you want out of your relationship, where you want it to go. Buy some wine, some soft cheese and plan a night alone. This true love spell enhances what you already have.

Thrown in a fire a Beltane, Damiana will call down the powers of Diana and Venus. Beltane is the sabbat of growth, birth and love. Damiana used as incense creates a heavy smoke, so regulate well when used indoors.

As a tea, Damiana is a great pick me up, especially when mixed with peppermint and red clover. This is a great alternative to coffee and caffeine laden drinks. Caffeine dehydrates, so drinking an herbal tisane will alleviate this problem. Herbs also store within your body fat and will have a longer effect than caffeine; you will experience the “crash” associated with caffeine products.

Medicinal and Other Uses:

Damiana is a natural aphrodisiac used throughout the centuries. It’s also used as an astringent, to aid with dysmenorrhea (painful periods), as an expectorant, laxative, stimulant, and a tonic. It’s an excellent strengthening remedy for the nervous system. The pharmacology of this plant suggests that the alkaloids could have a testosterone-like action. As a useful anti-depressant, Damiana is a specific in cases of anxiety and depression, and can strengthen the male sexual system.

Damiana is an excellent nervous system tonic that tones and relaxes tense nerves. It is also and excellent anti-spasmodic. Used in Mexican folk healing, it very effectively regulates painful menstruation (dysmenorrhea). Cases of headaches, especially tension headaches, anxiety, and mild to moderate cases of depression and insomnia respond well to Damiana. One of its Mayan folk names is “asthma-sweep,” referring to its excellent power of alleviating and “’sweeping out” asthma attacks. Damiana is also an effective diuretic and urinary antiseptic used in cases of urethritis and cystitis. It is a mild laxative for use in cases of constipation marked by lack of intestinal muscle tone. Above all though, Damiana is an effective aphrodisiac tonic that can enhance sexual performance and increase libido in both men and women.

WARNING: Do not consume Damiana tea if you are pregnant or diabetic.