Spilanthes Uses and Plant Monograph
Have you ever tried a spilanthes flower? If so, you may already be salivating just recalling the effervescent, tingly sensation of this plant that invigorates the palate and titillates the tongue.
Aside from fresh prickly ash (bark or berries), echinacea or kava, few herbs compare to its zingy, mouth-moistening effects. Spilanthes is a stupendous sialagogue that stimulates salivary secretions and improves oral health. It’s also an impressive local anesthetic that eases teething and gum pain. Spilanthes is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent that aids in treating upper respiratory and lower digestive infections; it also enhances immune and lymphatic function. I trust that you’ll be inspired to experiment with this pungent peppery plant, if it isn’t already included in your herbal pharmacy.
Spilanthes Uses & Plant Profile Summary:
- Botanical Name: Acmella oleracea (syn. Spilanthes acmella, Spilanthes oleracea)
- Other Common Names: Spilanthes, toothache plant, buzz buttons, Brazil cress, pellitory, para cress, pará cress, jambú, jambú do rio (Brazilian Portuguese), agrião do Brasil, agrião do Pará, pimenteira (Portuguese), jambu (Spanish)
- Family: Asteraceae
- Parts Used: lowering heads or whole plant
- Energetics: cooling, mildly drying
- Taste: pungent, bitter, salty, and sweet
- Plant Properties: antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antipyretic, antiviral, astringent, lymphatic, bio-insecticide, potential antispirochetal, mild diuretic, local anesthetic
- Plant Uses: cold and flu, toothache, urinary tract infection, ear infection, food poisoning, yeast infection, athlete’s foot, sexual stimulant, insect repellant
- Plant Preparations: tincture, glycerite, tea, capsule, succus, salve, oil
Spilanthes as an Immune Stimulant
Spilanthes has antimicrobial and immune stimulating properties very similar to echinacea.1 Its constituent spilanthol has antibacterial, antifungal, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, and anesthetic actions.2 Spilanthes’ antibacterial actions complement more potent herbal antibacterial agents that treat sinusitis, strep throat, sore throat, laryngitis, pharyngitis, ear infections, urinary tract infections, and food poisoning.3 Prepare an anesthetizing, antimicrobial throat spray by combining the following extracts: four parts echinacea (Echinacea); three parts propolis (Propolis); two parts spilanthes (Acmella); one part bayberry (Morella) or yerba mansa (Anemopsis); and one-half part clove (Syzigium) and licorice (Glycyrrhiza).
Spilanthes as an Antifungal
An antifungal agent, spilanthes aids in treating intestinal and vaginal yeast infections by reducing Candida albicans growth. It also has antifungal activities against several other fungi, including Aspergillus parasiticus, Fusarium oxysporum, and more.4 Topical applications aid in treating skin tineas such as athlete’s foot and ringworm. Prepare an antifungal compound by combining the following extracts: two parts usnea (Usnea), Oregon grape (Berberis), spilanthes (Acmella), echinacea (Echinacea), and calendula (Calendula); and one part thyme (Thymus) and/or oregano (Origanum). Consume 30–90 drops, up to four times daily.
Spilanthes for Cold and Flu
Spilanthes has antiviral actions that aid in treating a cold, influenza, enteritis, viral gastritis, and mononucleosis (Epstein Barr syndrome). It likely increases interferon, an internal antiviral compound. Combine with additional antiviral herbs such as echinacea (Echinacea), elderberry (Sambucus), thyme (Thymus), cinnamon (Cinnamomum), and clove (Syzygium) during the first stages of a cold, flu, or viral enteritis.
Spilanthes has antipyretic (fever quelling) activity attributed to its high flavonoid content.5 It contains tannins, flavonoids, and phenolic compounds that have antioxidant activities.6 Spilanthes has anti-inflammatory and peripheral analgesic actions due to prostaglandin inhibiting flavonoids.
Spilanthes is a lymphatic that reduces glandular swelling accompanying acute or subacute infections. Consume in the first phase of an infection, and in the cleanup phase of a slowly resolving infection. Prepare an immune stimulating, lymphatic supporting compound by combining the following single extracts: four parts echinacea (Echinacea); two parts spilanthes (Acmella); and one to two parts red root (Ceanothus), yerba mansa (Anemopsis), and calendula (Calendula). Consume 30–90 drops, in two to four ounces of water, three to four times daily.
Spilanthes for Oral Health
A local anesthetic and sialagogue, spilanthes stimulates salivary secretions. Upon contact, it stimulates mucous membranes and increases blood flow to local tissues. A gargle and mouthwash aid in treating gum infections such as gingivitis, abscessed tooth, canker sores, and teething pain.7 Apply the fresh plant poultice to a toothache. Prior to receiving dental cleaning, apply an alcohol and/or glycerin extract in order to decrease gum sensitivity. Prepare an antibacterial mouth rinse by combining the following single extracts: two parts spilanthes (Acmella) and yerba mansa (Anemopsis); one part calendula (Calendula); and one-third part clove (Syzygium), licorice (Glycyrrhiza), and myrrh gum (Commiphora). Add two to four droppers of spilanthes extract or the compound to four ounces of water as a mouth rinse.
Spilanthes as a Sexual Stimulant
A preparation that is rarely discussed is the use of spilanthes as a sexual stimulant. Similar to the invigorating effects in the mouth, applying spilanthes preparations to external genitalia increases blood flow and can enhance local sensation. Experiment with topical preparations such as a fresh plant poultice or fomentation, sitz bath, or spilanthes-infused oil or glycerin extract. Note: Do not apply alcohol-based preparations to sensitive tissues, like those around the urethra and vagina. Also take care when applying a fresh plant poultice that you don’t introduce plant particles into the vagina or urethral opening.
Spilanthes as a Topical Remedy
Apply spilanthes liniment, poultice, alcohol-intermediary oil, or salve as a counterirritant and anesthetic for bruises, sprains, strained muscles, muscular or rheumatic pains, arthritis, and minor wounds.8 The antimicrobial actions of topical applications help to heal herpes, staph, athlete’s foot, and ringworm.
Spilanthes as an Insect Repellant
Spilanthes has insecticidal properties that can kill mosquitoes. Extracts of S. acmella flowering heads demonstrate potent ovicidal, insecticidal, and pupicidal activity. In one study, 100% of several different mosquito species were killed by a solution containing a spilanthes concentration of 7.5 ppm.9 Multiple constituents demonstrate insecticidal actions, including spilanthol, alkamides, and sesquiterpenoids.10 Spilanthol was found to have antimalarial and larvicidal action even in low doses.11 Following a short span of exposure, pupae mortality indicates that spilanthol also disrupts the process of metamorphosis and growth.12 Spilanthol extracts are also effective against the larvae of several other species of mosquitoes, moths, and cockroaches.13,14 In Plutella americana adults, spilanthol is more effective as an insecticide than conventional pesticides (carbaryl, lindane, and bioresmethrin).15
Historical Uses
Spilanthes, also known as pará cress, is native to Brazil’s tropical regions. It has been used as a culinary herb by indigenous people in the provinces Acre, Amazonas, Pará, and Ceará. The salty, pungent fresh leaves were cooked and consumed alone, or included as a flavoring agent in dishes containing manioc, a bland, starchy vegetable.16 Spilanthes was used to treat a sore throat, dry mouth, or stomachache.17 In India, spilanthes was administered to treat rheumatism, fever, wounds, gum and dental problems, and stammers in children.18,19 Poultices were applied to the gums to alleviate toothaches.20 In Cameroon, it was used to treat a snakebite and rheumatism.21 Bangladesh tribes administered spilanthes to women in order to alleviate leucorrhea.22
Constituents
Some of spilanthes’ many constituents include volatile oil, pungent nonvolatile sesquiterpenoids , tannins, resin, a biogenic amine, α- and β amyrin, 3-acetylaleuritolic acid, vanillic acid,and phytosterols23,24 The pungent flavor and tingly sensation are due to spilanthol, other pungent alkylamides, and nonvolatile sesquiterpenoids.25,26
What’s in a Name?
The genus and former epithet Acmella derives from the Greek acme (“point, peak, or sharp”), referring to the plant’s pungency. The genus name Spilanthes (“stained flower”) derives from two Greek words: spiloma (“stain”) and anthos (“flower”), referring to the crimson spot in the center of the yellow discoid head.27 The epithet oleracea derives from the Latin holus — a leaf vegetable.28 The common name pará cress comes from the Brazilian province Pará, and like cress, is eaten as a pungent green or spice.29 The name toothache plant alludes to the anesthetic properties that ease a toothache.
Botanically Speaking
Spilanthes is an annual or delicate perennial herb from South America, domesticated from the wild species Acmella alba, a native of Peru and Brazil.30 It has naturalized in East Africa, and has been cultivated worldwide.31,32
The smooth, low growing stems (7–20 inches long) vary from green to red, and are usually erect, but can also lie flat on the soil.33,34 The shiny leaves (2–4 inches long by 1–3 inches wide) are ovate to triangular.35 The beautiful inflorescence, a yellow disc-shaped head (4–10 x 4–7inches), grows on a long stalk (1–5 inches) and flaunts a crimson spot on top.36 Each head consists of 400–600 yellow, five-lobed, tubular florets (3 mm long). The flower produces a small, dry, one-seeded fruit.
Plant Preparations
Some of my favorite preparations with spilanthes include the throat spray, immune stimulating formula, and more that I’ve mentioned above. For these preparations, you can see the details and dosage above.
Dosage Suggestions
Here’s how I prepare and dose simple preparations of spilanthes:
Tincture: Fresh flowering herb or flowers [1:2 – 1:3, 80–95% alcohol]; dry flowering herb or flowers [1:5, 60% alcohol]; consume 10–60 drops, up to four times daily. Note: extracts of the flower heads have more potent sialagogue and anesthetic effects than the whole, fresh flowering herb.
Glycerite: Fresh flowering herb or flowers [1:2 – 1:3, 50% glycerin, 50% alcohol]; consume 10–60 drops, up to four times daily.
Capsules: Consume 2–4 capsules, up to four times daily.
Succus: Juice the fresh herb and add 20% alcohol to the total volume. Consume one half to one teaspoon, up to four times daily.
Tea: Prepare a hot infusion and consume 8–12 ounces, up to four times daily.
Topical Use: Prepare medicated oil using the alcohol intermediary method. The alcohol intermediary method is used to create more potent infused oils: this method entails applying alcohol to dried herbs before infusing them in oil. (Since the alcohol evaporates, using an infused oil prepared with the alcohol intermediary method is safe for vaginal application mentioned above.) Apply the poultice, fomentation, liniment, diluted tincture, oil, or salve to the affected area. Apply the fresh plant poultice, extract, or glycerin extract to the gums.
Special Considerations
Use caution or avoid use if you’re allergic to other members of the Asteraceae (daisy) family. There are no known contraindications or side effects from consuming spilanthes during pregnancy or lactation. Please note consuming spilanthes can create a tingly feeling in the mouth and stimulate saliva secretion for a few minutes after ingestion.
Footnotes
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