An ancient toothache remedy used by tribal medicine men could revolutionise dental treatment around the world, possibly even replacing anaesthetics, according to scientists from the University of Cambridge.
The ointment, which has been used for centuries by Inca tribes in Peru, is made from the Acmella oleracea plant. It works by being absorbed through mucous tissue, such as the gums, before entering the nerves and blocking pain receptors. Scientists say it could eradicate the need for gum injections or synthetic painkillers, and it can also treat other conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome.
An anthropologist, Françoise Barbira Freedman, came across