Toothache, remedies

Clove has been traditionally used as a carminative, antiemetic, toothache remedy, and counterirritant. Clove oil is believed to be a carminative, occasionally used in the treatment of flatulent colic, and is commonly used topically for symptomatic relief of toothache. 

The drug consists of the dried berries that are prescribed for headache, catarrh, watery eyes, and are used to promote beard growth. In Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, the berries are used to treat conjunctivis, dropsy, toothache, and as a remedy for swollen breast. In Malaysia, the leaves are used to assuage headache externally, and internally are used to treat tuberculosis and fever. 

There is a new realization that many of the people who were persecuted as witches and sorcerers in the European Middle Ages were, in fact, innocent midwives and healers, and some of their so-called magical remedies had certifiable efficacy. They recommended analgesic clove oil for toothache, vitamin-containing herbal teas for pregnant women and listless children, and calcined egg shell for upset stomach, a source of calcium carbonate, a main ingredient in antacids prescribed today. 

Cocaine was a popular ingredient in many remedies and tonics of the late 1800s, as shown in this advertisement for toothache drops. 

Traditionally, Erythrina species have found use amongst different communities for various ailments. The bark of E. fusca and E. indica, for example, has been used for the treatment of fever, malaria, rheumatism, toothache, boils and fractures. Boiled roots of the same were taken internally as a remedy for beriberi. In Kenya, a concoction of dried bark of E. ahyssinica has been used for the treatment of trachoma (oral) and elephantiasis (external) and its roots against malaria and syphilis, while the pounded green stem bark is taken as an antihelminthic [3]. The water extract of flowers of E. americana have been used in Mexico for the treatment of insomnia. The resl of other documented traditional medicinal uses are listed in Table 1. 

Iron nails have frequently been used in the past both for purposes of medicine and necromancy. A favourite remedy for toothache consisted in hammering a nail into a tree and as the iron rusted so would the toothache disappear. This was much less drastic than having the tooth extracted. Warts have been a nuisance for centuries, though it is difficult to understand why such should have been the case as so many infallible remedies have been prescribed from time to time. The mere touching of a wart by a wise man will effect its disappearance provided an iron nail is offered as a reward for the service but lack of men sufficiently wise may nowadays make this cure somewhat difficult to effect. A simpler remedy hails from the Weald of Kent, namely rub the warts with a piece of raw steak and then bury the latter. As the meat rots so will the wart disappear. 

From Prosopis africana Taub., which has been used in Africa as a remedy for toothache and other ailments, two alkaloids related to carpaine and cassine have been isolated 183). Prosopine (CXXI R = H, OH), C18H37NO3 (mp 126°) has three hydroxyl groups and a secondary amino group. Prosopinine (CXXII R = 0), C18H35NO3 (mp 95°), has two hydroxyls, a secondary amino group, and a keto group. 

Black pepper is historically used also in traditional medicines and home remedies in India [3]. Black pepper figures in remedies in Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani medicine in India for such illnesses as constipation, diarrhea, earache, gangrene, heart disease, hernia, hoarseness, indigestion, insect bites, insomnia, joint pain, liver problems, lung disease, oral abscesses, sunburn, tooth decay, and toothaches. Black pepper was relied upon to treat specific conditions such as diarrhea and fevers, but it appears that the extensive, generalized use was to enhance the effects of many herbal remedies [3]. 

Traditional Medicine. Formerly, the berries were used as an appetite stimulant, for stomachache, and for painful menstruation leaves used for pain, fever, cold remedy, toothache, anodyne, astringent, and carminative. In Jamaica, the fruit is used to treat influenza and stomachache used in Guatemala to treat rheumatism. In the Dominican Republic, the fruits, decocted with salt, are also used as an antiemetic (weniger and robineau). Other uses in Middle Eastern, South American, and Asian countries include the treatment of obesity, hyperglycemia, menstrual cramps, abdominal pain, digestive ailments, inflammatory conditions, and high blood pressure. ... 

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