Spilanthes, Official (Acmella oleracea)

Spilanthes is an easy to grow tropical perennial, native to Brazil, that can be grown as an annual in colder climates. It is low growing and has lovely dark green leaves and button like yellow and orange flowers. Also known as Toothache Plant, Spilanthes is perhaps best known for its numbing properties and use with tooth and gum pain.  Application is as simple as chewing a bit of the flower.  Due to a constituent called Spilanthol, the flower has powerful anesthetic and analgesic virtues. The signature zing taste is fascinating and can quickly quell aching pain in the mouth. Spilanthol has also been shown to be a powerful insecticide capable of killing mosquito larvae in a dilution of 1: 100,000. This plant has also been studied for their ability to help promote the immune system’s resistance to infections. Spilanthes helps support the production of leukocytes (white blood cells) and antiviral interferons which are a group of proteins released by cells in virus-infected tissue which pr