Damiana
Damiana suppliers and sourcing guide
Damiana is Turnera diffusa, a small aromatic shrub native to Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. The leaves (often with fine stems) are harvested, dried and sold as cut leaf for teas, powder for capsules, and water or hydroalcoholic extracts and tinctures. It is also used as a flavoring in liqueurs and drinks.
- Category
- Botanicals and mushrooms
- Also known as
- Turnera diffusa · Turnera aphrodisiaca · damiana leaf
- Facts checked
- November 2026
Forms and grades of damiana
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Cut and sifted leaf
Dried leaf with some stem, for teas and extraction.
Leaf powder
Milled leaf, not standardized.
Dry extract
Water or hydroalcoholic extract sold by extract ratio (for example 4:1).
Liquid extract
Tincture or glycerite sold by herb-to-menstruum ratio.
What to check on the COA
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
- Identity
- Macroscopic, microscopic or HPTLC identification against a Turnera diffusa reference.
- Loss on drying
- Moisture against the spec, plus foreign matter and stem content.
- Heavy metals
- Lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury, usually by ICP-MS, checked against the buyer's limits and Prop 65 exposure targets where relevant.
- Microbiology
- Total plate count, yeast and mold, E. coli and Salmonella. Raw herb powders carry more microbial load than extracts and may be steam treated, which should be stated on the COA.
- Pesticide residues
- Multi-residue screen, required for organic claims and commonly requested for conventional material.
- Residual solvents
- For extracts made with ethanol or other solvents, residual solvent levels against USP <467> or the buyer's spec.
Storage, lots and expiry
Storage and shelf life
Keep dried herb and powdered extracts sealed in lined drums or bags, away from heat, light and humidity. Dry extracts are hygroscopic and cake once exposed to air, so reseal opened containers promptly. Suppliers assign a shelf life or retest date, and identity, moisture and microbiology are usually rechecked at retest before material is used past it.
Lots and expiry dates
Leaf-to-stem ratio, aroma and color vary by harvest, so compare lots to a retained sample as well as the COA. Record the supplier lot, origin and retest date.
Regulatory status
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
21 CFR 172.510 lists damiana leaves (Turnera diffusa Willd) among natural flavoring substances and natural substances used in conjunction with flavors.
Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)FDA's Substances Added to Food inventory lists damiana leaves with the technical effect 'flavoring agent or adjuvant' and cites 21 CFR 172.510.
Source: hfpappexternal.fda.gov (opens in a new tab)The EU Novel Food status Catalogue entry for Turnera diffusa (POL-NF-00761) lists an infusion of the leaves and stems as not novel in food and the aerial parts as not novel in food supplements.
Source: ec.europa.eu (opens in a new tab)
This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Damiana suppliers
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
We are checking damiana suppliers now
Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.
Sell damiana? Request a listingFrequently asked questions
What forms of damiana can brands buy?
Common forms include cut and sifted leaf, leaf powder, dry extract and liquid extract. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
What should the COA for damiana include?
Expect identity, loss on drying, heavy metals, microbiology, pesticide residues and residual solvents, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
How should damiana be stored?
Keep dried herb and powdered extracts sealed in lined drums or bags, away from heat, light and humidity. Dry extracts are hygroscopic and cake once exposed to air, so reseal opened containers promptly. Suppliers assign a shelf life or retest date, and identity, moisture and microbiology are usually rechecked at retest before material is used past it.
What is the regulatory status of damiana?
21 CFR 172.510 lists damiana leaves (Turnera diffusa Willd) among natural flavoring substances and natural substances used in conjunction with flavors. FDA's Substances Added to Food inventory lists damiana leaves with the technical effect 'flavoring agent or adjuvant' and cites 21 CFR 172.510. The EU Novel Food status Catalogue entry for Turnera diffusa (POL-NF-00761) lists an infusion of the leaves and stems as not novel in food and the aerial parts as not novel in food supplements.
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