Several herbs may be helpful in treating toothaches, including wisdom toothaches. According to MayoClinic.com, tooth decay is the principle cause of toothaches in most children and adults. However, your wisdom teeth can also cause pain or discomfort if they become impacted or if their nerves become irritated. Before taking herbs to help treat your wisdom toothache, talk with your doctor about possible the side effects, proper dosage and potential drug interactions.
St. John's Wort
St. John's wort, also known as Hypericum perforatum, is an herb that may be helpful in treating toothaches, including wisdom toothaches. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, St. John's wort has been used for hundreds of years to help treat numerous health problems, including nerve pain associated with toothaches. St. John's wort is a yellow-flowered plant native the subtropical parts of North America, Europe, India and China. St. John's wort has an astringent, sweet and bitter taste and possesses slightly warming tendencies. The flowering tops of the plant are used for medicinal purposes, including toothaches. Dr. Sharol Tilgner, a naturopathic physician and author of the book "Herbal Medicine From the Heart of the Earth," states that St. John's wort is an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, sedative and nervine, or a substance that helps calm your nerves and decrease nerve-related pain.
Kava Kava
Ed Smith, an herbalist and author of the book "Therapeutic Herb Manual," states that kava kava, a member of the piperaceae family, is an effective sedative, antispasmodic, analgesic and local anesthetic. Smith notes that kava kava has been used to help treat many health complaints, including toothache, ear ache, eye pain, neuralgia, muscle spasms, anxiety, nervousness and depression. Kava kava is a tall shrub that grows throughout the islands of the Pacific Ocean and is consumed as a medicine and a ceremonial beverage in Polynesia, Vanuatu and certain parts of Micronesia. The active ingredients in kava kava that may be beneficial in treating various health problems are kavalactones. Kava kava has a sharp, pungent, tongue-numbing taste. Practitioners of botanical medicine use the root of the plant to help treat toothaches and other problems. Tilgner cautions that long-term used of this herb may cause dry, pigmented and scaly skin.
Valerian
Valerian is a hardy flowering perennial plant native to Europe that has dark green leaves and grows to a maximum height of about 2 feet. Valerian, also known as Valeriana officinalis, thrives in damp grasslands, has a sweet and spicy taste and possesses slightly warming tendencies. The root of the plant is used medicinally. Dr. William A. Mitchell Jr., a naturopathic physician and author of the book "Plant Medicine in Practice," states that valerian is a nervine, sedative and analgesic that may be helpful in treating certain types of nerve pain, restlessness, hysteria, insomnia, anxiety, nervous palpitations and nervous irritation. Smith states that valerian has been used to help treat mild neuralgia, or pain that follows the path of a nerve. Some toothaches, including wisdom toothaches, are caused by irritation of your tooth's nerve root. Valerian is a member of the valerianaceae family.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Toothache
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: St. John's Wort
- "Herbal Medicine From the Heart of the Earth;" Sharol Tilgner, N.D.; 1999
- "Therapeutic Herb Manual;" Ed Smith; 2007
- "Plant Medicine in Practice: Using the Teachings of John Bastyr;" William A. Mitchell, Jr., N.D.; 2003
