Damiana

An aromatic Mexican shrub, traditionally used in homoeopathy for nervous exhaustion, low vitality and weak bladder control in older people.

Damiana is a small, woody shrub of the passion flower family, native to southern Texas, Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean. Its small, aromatic leaves have a spicy scent rather like chamomile, and it bears small yellow flowers. In Mexico it has long been brewed as a tea and used to flavour a liqueur.

In homoeopathy it is traditionally used as a tonic for weakness that follows nervous strain. Homoeopaths turn to it for low vitality and loss of drive from nervous exhaustion, in both men and women, and for weak bladder control in older people. It is also associated with helping a regular monthly cycle settle in young girls.

• Nervous exhaustion
• Low vitality
• Weak bladder in old age
• Irregular early periods