An old man walks through the woods holding his jaw which throbs with pain from a toothache. He searches the ground for a low flower shaped like a cone. At last he finds a patch, breaks off a blossom and places it in his mouth over the sore tooth. Soon the pain is dulled an he picks a few more flowers for the walk home. This kind of story may have happened many times in history. The plant called toothache plant ( Acmella oleracea) in the same family as daisies and sunflowers is now being recognized as possible modern day medicine. Just a small pinch of the flower in the mouth causes instant numbness and profuse saliva. It is used as a cooking spice known as Sechuan button, and even as a natural alternative to Botox for aging wrinkles. The active ingredient spilanthol affects the saliva gland and the trigeminal nerve. . |
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