Spilanthes, Official (Acmella oleracea) seeds, organic
$3.95 – $59.10
Family: Aster (Asteracea)
Hardy to Zones 10 to 12, otherwise grown as an annual, 120 days to maturity
(Toothache Plant, Para Cress, Buzz Buttons, Sansho Buttons, Electric Buttons, Jambu, Szechuan Buttons, Spilanthes acmella, Spilanthes oleracea) Tropical perennial native to Brazil, grows 18 inches tall, in a mounding form. Flowers sport the characteristic bright crimson “fisheye” at the apex. Ancient, distinctively beautiful and highly entertaining plant. Traditional usage (TWM): anti-inflammatory, stimulant, tonic, dentifrice, earache, gum disease, Lyme disease, and malaria. Concentrated source of alkyl-amides, the anti-inflammatory extraordinaire. Plant prefers full sun and well-manured soil and plenty of water. Start early indoors and transplant out after frost. Average germ time 10 days. Space 1 to 2 feet apart.
Packet contains 100 seeds
1 g contains ~700 seeds
5 g contains ~3,500 seeds
10 g contains ~7,000 seeds
Certified Organically Grown
Ginny (verified owner) –
I got a late start with these seeds but after missing out on planting them last summer, I was determined to get them to grow. Absolutely worth the wait! My husband and I each tried one together and couldn’t stop talking about the experience. Unfortunately, since the season is winding down, it’s not producing much so I’m freezing the flower heads for later use (whatever that may be) as they mature. Will start them earlier next year.
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Richo Cech –
hi Ginny,
Thank you for writing, it helps everyone maintain perspective on the plant. i would recommend tincturing the buds. Formula and method pages 271 to 272 in “Making Plant Medicine.” richo
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jenniferjoray (verified owner) –
These seeds did well germinating, and I’ve given away several 5” pots (one to my naturopath!) as well as dared farm visitors to EAT an EYE!!! Super hilarious to see their first reaction, which is usually to spit it out. My kids, 11 and 14, eat them and dare their friends to eat them now. Awesome plant. I will be tincturing, although fresh is better. Each year I do plan on seeding a small patch! We potted one up into a 7 gallon pot which it promptly filled and then even spilled over, and the 5” pots are getting tight but still producing. I had such fun with this plant this season; thank you!!!
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Richo Cech –
hey jennifer, thanks so much for writing. Your report goes a long way to show me how people are using the spilanthes. you are right about fresh–a good example, too, of an herb that is far better as a fresh herb tincture than a dried herb tincture. um i remember back when we first researched this herb and brought it into the herbal community. i had to go to france to get the seed. there was one man there, henry andre, who collected it. once we grew it, we made the immediate connection to echinacea, and indeed it shares compounds (they’re both in the apiaceae). spilanthes is a great oral antiinflammatory, and that’s only part of the story, richo
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Question
Lynn –
Do these self-seed at all, or will each plant be done for sure after one season?
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Richo Cech –
Hi Lynn, Spilanthes is a grudging self-seeder–it works better to save seed and replant in spring. r
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Question
Cindy –
How do we use this for tooth ache? Dried or make a tincture from fresh? Dosage?
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Richo Cech –
hi cindy, herbalists make a tincture of the fresh plant or even better the fresh buds. the preparation and dosage are on page 272 of “making plant medicine.” Richo
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Denise Moore –
Could these be grown hydroponically indoors?
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Richo Cech –
Hi Denise, yes, given the spreading root form and love of water, I think these would be a good candidate. Would need lots of light. r
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Willow (verified owner) –
What’s the recommended planting depth please?
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Richo Cech –
just barely covered and tamped. it would be like 1 mm.
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Question
Geri Fitzgerald –
Can Spilanthes be grown as an annual in zone 6?
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Richo Cech –
yes, certainly!
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Viola Blue –
I’ve successfully grown all 3 types offered from Strictly Medicinal Seeds this summer in Zone 3. They did extremely well. But when frost hit, they were completely done as expected. I had a very good crop from them.
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Richo Cech –
Hello, Thanks you for this report. We had a whole slew of young visitors this weekend who thought the spilanthes buds were a whole lot of fun–chewing on them, gingerly mind you, and daring each other, the way kids do. We used to think that Spilanthes was an immune-enhancer, but on deeper investigation (beyond the obvious sialagoguic properties) discovered that they are a powerful antiinflammatory with an affinity for the oral mucosa.
Richo
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Question
Michael Ashton –
If I only have 151 proof alcohol is it still worthwhile adding acv to make a spilanthes tincture and if so what percentage of the menstruum should the acv make up? Using fresh herb.
Thanks
Michael
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Admin Richo Cech –
Hi Michael, I note that current 4th edition Making Plant Medicine has stopped recommending ACV in spilanthes due to the fact that despite older literature claiming differently, in actuality alkaloidal elements seem not to be present. Therefore 1:2 100% Alcohol (your 151 proof alcohol is OK) seems good. Yes, fresh is superior to dried. r
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christina –
I a concoction every year from this for my guys who like sugar. They gargle for sore throats and sugar bothering their teeth. Have a toothache? This is the safe relief you are looking for. All I do is soak it in Vodka for a few weeks, drain and there you go. I add lemon balm to one jar for Lemon balm is the only herb I have come across that is not recommended for those who have thyroid problems. Easy to grow, very different and so useful!
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