of Spilanthes iabadicencis/Para cress/Daun lada (chooked), the root and the flower head are an external medicine against toothache. The flower head (chewed) is used against aphthae. The whole plant is part of "jamu sariawan" (mixture of herb against aphthae). The whole plant is sold as tincture (extract in alcohol), a.o. as paratinctura/paraguay-roux, used against toothache.
According to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia the whole Spilanthes iabadicencis/Para cress/Daun lada is used to treat chronic bronchitis, whooping cough,tuberculosis,asthma,carbuncles,malaria,snake or dog-bite. In Indonesia the flowers heads act as a local anesthetic.
The essetial oil (spilanthen)a contains spilanthol, which has local anesthetic action and is the reason of a sharp taste on the tongue. Othe constituens of the plant are phytosterine, fat, choline and potassium.
Spilanthes iabadicencis/Para cress/Daun lada wild throughout the tropic, India, Burma, Philipines, Malay Peninsula, Indonesia, especially in West Java, Up to 1000 m, on humid or marshy terrain like ricefields. Spilanthes iabadicencis/Para cress/Daun lada 0.2 -0.6 m heigh. Hairy, succulent stem. Leaves opposite, elliptic, subdentate. Flower heads solitary, with yellow tubular flowers; with a pungent taste. The fruits are achenes, which are compressed, have ciliated margins and surmounted with two naked awns. The Indonesian names of Daun lada and daun ludah are based on the hot burning taste which causes profuse salivation.
Indonesian = Legetan/Daun lada/ Daun Ludah
English = Para cress
Image of Para Cress
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