The throbbing, relentless pain of a toothache -- enough to drive even the most stoic individual to desperation -- can be caused by a variety of factors. A cavity, infection, cracked tooth or dislodged filling can all cause pain; these conditions require prompt treatment by a dentist. Some people turn to herbal remedies, such as calendula, to ease discomfort while waiting for a dental appointment. Clinical studies on the use of calendula for toothache are lacking, but scientific research supports its anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects. Consult your doctor or dentist before using calendula.
Features
Calendula -- botanically known as Calendula officinalis and also called marigold -- is indigenous to Egypt but is presently cultivated worldwide. This common ornamental garden annual features finely textured dark green foliage and bright orange-yellow flowers that bloom from May to October. Calendula has a noteworthy -- and even noble -- history of use in traditional and folk medicine. According to the Herbal Medicine Guide website, Henry the VIII utilized marigold in a personal recipe for an herbal tea intended to prevent pestilence and plague. Tinctures and extracts of calendula flowers have been used topically to promote wound healing; the herb was also taken orally to reduce fever, alleviate painful menstrual cramps and treat cancer.
The German Commission E, a European herbal regulatory agency, endorses calendula for wound healing and as a general anti-inflammatory. HerbalMedicineGuide.com notes that a 16th-century herbal text advised treating toothache by mixing juice from calendula petals with vinegar and rubbing the liquid directly on gums and teeth.
Constituents and Effects
Calendula contains flavonol and triterpene glycosides, along with the compound calendulin. Also present are sterols; volatile oils; carotenoids; tocopherols, a natural form of vitamin E; and mucilage, a gummy substance with soothing and demulcent effects.
Drugs.com credits calendula with antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties in laboratory studies, and notes that it is currently used to treat skin irritations resulting from radiation therapy. Blue Shield Complementary and Alternative Health attributes analgesic and antiseptic properties to calendula.
Research
In an animal study published in 2005 in "Chemistry and Biodiversity," researchers evaluated terpenoids from calendula for their effects in reducing inflammation. They concluded that three different terpenoids showed pronounced anti-inflammatory effects when used topically on laboratory-induced edema.
Usage and Considerations
It's not necessary to apply calendula directly to your tooth; you can avail yourself of its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties by using it in a tea. BSCAH recommends pouring 1 cup of boiling water over 1 to 2 tsp. of calendula flowers, then steeping the mixture for 15 minutes. Strain and cool; you may drink 3 cups a day. The use of calendula hasn't been well studied in pregnancy; avoid it if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. Allergic reactions to calendula have been reported.
References
- Drugs.com: Complete Calendula Information
- Mother Nature: The Doctor's Book of Home Remedies for Seniors: Toothache; 2011
- Blue Shield Complementary and Alternative Health: Calendula
- "Chemistry and Biodiversity"; Improved Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Three New Terpenoids Derived by Systematic Chemical Modifications From the Abundant Triterpenes of the Flowery Plant Calendula Officinalis; H. Neukirch; May 2005
- Herbal Medicine Guide; Herbal Medicine: Marigold
