Hi Folks
I am so grateful for this discussion.
I too have become hooked on the 'diffus-ulmfolia' paradox.
I have been a consumer of 'Damiana' tea for decades.
Always got more or less the same fragrant stuff in a bag from quite a few health food/herbal stores here in Canada. Never found any seeds after combing through reams of shredded herb.
Never found any supplier for seeds (Richters etc.)
Recently I tried some bagged tea and was amazed by it's potency so decided to restart my search for seeds. I found www.tropilabs.com, and ordered 100 seeds for $33. And since The minimum shipping could cover the weight, I added a pound of cut herb for $26 which brought the whole deal to $59.00. After waiting over 3 weeks for delivery, I received my shipment and tore it open. The tiny bag of seeds containing a 'lot' of seeds was set aside and attention turned to the bag of herb. I sniffed the closed bag and smelled nothing. As I twisted the ties loose and opened the bag and sniffed again. Faint odour, kind of "Hay Like".
Nothing of the lovely Damiana I have known and loved. I was stunned.
$59 USD (In Canadian currency about $76 bucks) and NOT Damiana.
So stepping back I studied the problem. It was clear there was confusion here and not all of it mine. I contacted the seller (by phone -left message - and email, detailed explanation) He called me back to his credit, and we had a long conversation (his dime) and shared stories.
He seems to be a retailer with a botantist in Suriname. He has never seen the plants which are apparently wild-crafted and shipped to him. He said they have been selling Damiana for 12 years. I told him I was absolutley certain, the products shipped to me were NOT Damaiana, at least NOT the Damiana of commerce. He promised to pass my concerns to his people in Suriname. I in turn, offerd to mail him a tea bag of the "real stuff".
Thus started my intensive internet search for the truth. It brought me here. Now I know the problem seems to be in the wholesale market since the retail health food/herbal shop always carried the real deal. I know I can go down to several shops and buy packaged herb. I was hoping to find a bulk supplier and save costs. I was "really" hoping was for some seeds, or a plant cutting. No luck so far. I thank you for this discussion and clarification of the problem. I am confident if they exist anywhere I will eventually find some. I have been searching for 26 years, not point in stopping now.
I appreciate any help you can give. I found a forum containing posts from "World Seed Supply" and he too had this bug. Apparently he never solved it since he sells the disputed "Turnera Ulmifolia" as a cutting and no "Diffusa" or var aphrodisica. I intend to engage him in a discussion of his experience.
Please keep me updated if you find anything that might shorten this search.
Thanks
Don Soucy
