Specifications:

• Seeds | Essential Oil | Botanical Extracts | Dried flowersAvailable

Description:

Toothache Plant or "Paracress" is a flowering herb. Its leaves andflower heads contain an analgesic agent that may be used to numbtoothaches. It is grown as an ornamental (and occasionally as amedicinal) in various parts of the world. The stems are prostrateor erect, often reddish, hairless. Leaves are broadly ovate totriangular, 5-11 cm long, 4-8 cm wide, margins toothed, tip sharp.Flower-heads arise singly, elongated-conical, containing primarilydisc florets, 1-2.4 cm long, 1.1-1.7 cm in diameter. Disc floretsare many, yellow to orange, 2.7-3.3 mm long. Achenes are black,2-2.5 mm long. Eating Toothache Plant is a memorable experience.The leaf has a smell similar to any green leafy vegetable. Thetaste, however, is somewhat reminiscent of Echinacea, but lackingthe bitter and sometimes nauseating element of that medicinal.First, a strong, spicy warmth spreads outward across one's tongue,turning into a prickling sensation. With this the salivary glandsleap into action, pumping out quantities of saliva. As theprickling spreads, it mellows into an acidic (slightly metallic)sharpness accompanied by tingling, and then numbness. The numbnessfades after a time (two to twenty minutes, depending on the personand amount eaten), and the pungent aftertaste may linger for anhour or more.

Useful Parts: Roots and flower heads mainly.

Uses
Traditional Uses :The flower heads are chewed to relieve thetoothache and other mouth related troubles. Leaves are usedexternally in treatment of skin diseases. Root decoction is used aspurgative. Leaf decoction is used as diuretic and lithotriptic.Whole plant is used in treatment of dysentery.

Medicinal uses: The leaves and flower heads contain analgesic,antifungal, anthelminthic, and antibacterial agents, but some ofthe compounds are destroyed by desiccation or freezing.