Does Damiana Leaf Boost Your Testosterone? Know Science

There are several natural herbs that are claimed to tackle low testosterone issues and elevate its levels. The key to improving your testosterone health, however, is to pick the most credible ones that actually work. Damiana leaf (also called Turnera diffusa) is a herb whose use in improving sexual health in men dates back several decades.

A few supplements have also used it in their formula, although, it isn’t very popular in the testosterone boosters market. This, in fact, raises eyebrows as to whether Damiana leaf really improves testosterone or is it just hyped.

In this article, we explored various studies of Damiana leaf in connection with testosterone and see how science supports its effectiveness. Read below our findings.

Damiana And Testosterone- What Primary Studies Say

As men age, their testosterone levels start dropping and, at one point, when it becomes clinically down, that is where aromatase inhibitors find their importance. Researchers found some connection between damiana and aromatase inhibition. Aromatase is the process in which testosterone is converted to estrogen.

A study was conducted in 2008 to investigate the various compounds present in Damiana and their anti-aromatase trait. Researchers found that Damiana has two active aromatase inhibitors- Pinocembrin and Acacetin. This means the herb does decrease the aromatase activity and conversion of testosterone to estrogen, however, there is no evidence of it improving the testosterone levels. On the contrary, though, the same study also indicated that certain compounds present in Damiana also exhibit estrogenic properties.

A comprehensive study involving over 150 herbal supplements further backs that Damiana may mimic the properties of estrogen. In fact, the study identified it to be one of the top six herbs and spices with the highest affinity for progesterone receptors. This suggests that Damiana could potentially increase the influence of progesterone in the body, leading to associated issues like increased fatigue, suppressed libido, and prostate enlargement.

Another study was conducted to investigate whether a multi-herb supplement that included Damiana would have a positive impact on erectile dysfunction and other sexual functioning. At the end of the 12-week trial period, researchers found that the supplement was indeed effective in various aspects of sexual functioning. However, the supplement did not boost the testosterone levels in this case as well.

A couple more animal studies, one from 1999 and another from a more recently published 2013 paper have proven Damiana leaf’s aphrodisiac abilities but unfortunately, none confirmed any changes in testosterone output.

So How Does Damiana Help Then?

Now, you might be wondering if Damiana leaf has aphrodisiac properties, and is able to trigger sexual functions, how is it possible without any changes in testosterone production? Given that it is the male sex hormone that contributes significantly to various parameters like libido, performance, fertility, and more, it is certainly a valid point.

Well, two associated research studies by a team of researchers were conducted on Damiana’s possible anti-anxiety activity. The studies – one from 2005 with a follow-up paper published in 2008 established that one of the constituents in Damiana- apigenin, which is an anxiolytic flavonoid, has significant anti-anxiety effects.

If this is true, then several studies have shown how stress and anxiety can affect testosterone production and sexual functioning negatively. This is likely how Damiana is able to support sexual functioning in the test subjects in the previously discussed studies.

Some Promising Data

Speaking of depression, it is not unknown how anti-anxiety or anti-depression pills can have adverse effects on various physiological functions including hormone health. Amitriptyline, one of the common antidepressants has been proven to damage testosterone health with long-term use.

A relatively recent intervention surrounding this subject on damiana has shown some promising results. The findings confirm that given its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, Damiana has been shown to play a protective role in testicular functioning.

Conclusion

Well, definitely more large-scale and concrete studies are needed, particularly human interventions, to understand and assess whether Damiana has any testosterone-boosting ability. The current clinical trials lack evidence to conclude the same, especially, only on the basis of its anti-aromatase potential. This clearly means that Damiana is no way closer to some of the best testosterone-boosting natural ingredients like D-aspartic acid or fenugreek which have time and again proved their efficacy.

That said, Damiana seems to be well-tolerated as seen in all the research done so far. So taking this as a supplement for its protective or anti-oxidant benefits will not do any bad to the body. You should just not expect any changes in your testosterone levels using this herb.