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Spilanthes Acmella Also known as "Toothache Plant" or "Paracress", Spilanthes acmella is a flowering herb in the Asteraceae family. Its leaves and flower heads contain an analgesic agent that may be used to numb toothaches. It is native to the tropics of Brazil, though it is grown as an ornamental (and occasionally as a medicinal) in various parts of the world. A small, erect plant, it grows quickly and sends up gold and red flower heads in the fall. The first frost reduces it to slime, but in warmer climates it is perennial. Uses Culinary Eating Spilanthes is a memorable experience. The leaf has a smell similar to any green leafy vegetable. The taste, however, is somewhat reminiscent of Echinacea, but lacking the 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 glands leap into action, pumping out quantities of saliva. As the prickling spreads, it mellows into an acidic (slightly metallic) sharpness accompanied by tingling, and then numbness. The numbness fades after a time (two to twenty minutes, depending on the person and amount eaten), and the pungent aftertaste may linger for an hour or more. For culinary purposes, it is recommended that small amounts of fresh leaves be shredded into salads to add a unique bite. Cooked leaves will lose their bite and may be used as leafy greens. Both the fresh and cooked leaves are used in dishes in parts of Brazil, and a related species is involved in several Southeast Asian dishes. In Brazil it is often combined with chile peppers and garlic to add flavor and vitamins to other foods. Elsewhere in the world, the culinary properties are rather underutilized. Medicinal The leaves and flower heads contain analgesic, antifungal, anthelminthic, and antibacterial agents, but some of the compounds are destroyed by dessication or freezing. As noted in the Culinary Uses section, Spilanthes is also a potent sialogogue. The main active ingredient, spilanthol, has been reported poisonous to invertebrates (though harmless to warm-blooded creatures) and effective against blood parasites at even low concentration. The herb exhibits general immunomodulator properties when used internally, boosting production of leukocytes and antiviral interferon, as well as promoting phagocytosis. The leaves may be used topically to treat bacterial and fungal skin diseases such as ringworm. Constituents Besides the main active ingredient spilanthol, Spilanthes also contains stigmasterol and stigmasteryl-3-O-b-D-glucopyranoside together with a mixture of triterpenes, and long chain fatty esters. Synonyms The English common name "toothache plant" is synonymous with the Swedish common name tandvärksplanta; both stem from the analgesic alkylamides the plant contains. The name "Paracress" is a contraction of "Paraguay cress". For more information on synonyms, see the Plant Name Database entry on Spilanthes.
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