BUZZ BUTTONS Seeds | Acmella oleracea

STEP 1 - Simply scatter the seeds over quality Seed Raising Mix inside a humidity dome. Buzz Buttons needs light to germinate so make sure the seeds aren’t buried under the surface.

 

STEP 2 - Use a spray bottle to add a small amount of moisture and the seeds will begin to sprout in approx 14 days time.

 

STEP 3 - Transplant once they reach 3cm tall. In Australia, for optimum growth, the seedlings are best planted outdoors during September, October and November.

Toothaches

 

Buzz Buttons are used to ease toothache pain. When chewed, it has a numbing effect on the mouth. This local anesthetic effect is due to Spilanthol, the plant’s main active ingredient. It also has Flavonoids which reduce Prostaglandins, which interfere with your perception of pain.

 

Sore Throats

 

Buzz Buttons are used to treat sore throats and inflammation of the mouth. The condition can be painful, making it hard to eat or drink. The pain-relieving effect of Spilanthol may help. Additionally, Spilanthol decreases enzymes involved in inflammation.

 

Dermatitis

 

Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, Buzz Buttons are used to relieve dermatitis. This condition occurs when the skin becomes inflamed and swollen. Researchers have found that Spilanthol suppresses migration of inflammatory cells, creating an anti-inflammatory effect. This decreases the swelling seen in dermatitis.

 

Diuretic

 

The tropical plant is also a natural diuretic. Spilanthol increases urine output. The researchers determined that Spilanthol targets cellular activities in the kidneys involved in urine production and water reabsorption.

 

Dry Mouth

 

If your salivary glands don’t make enough saliva, you have what’s called ‘dry mouth’. It can lead to bad breath and dry, cracked lips. The bitter flavor of the Buzz Buttons can help. Its bitter taste comes from Spilanthol, which can stimulate your salivary glands. In Sri Lanka, the flower extract is used for this purpose.

 

Gastric Ulcers

 

Buzz Buttons may also help gastric ulcers. It contains a Polysaccharide called Rhamnogalacturonan. Researchers found this increases cell growth and reduces inflammation, helping heal gastric ulcers.

For culinary purposes, small amounts of shredded fresh leaves are said to add a unique flavour to salads. Cooked leaves lose their strong flavour and may be used as leafy greens. Both fresh and cooked leaves are used in dishes such as stews in northern Brazil. They are combined with chilies and garlic to add flavor and vitamins to other foods.

 

When chewed, the flower bud has a grassy taste followed by a strong tingling or numbing sensation and often excessive salivation, with a cooling sensation in the throat. The buds are known as ‘Buzz Buttons’. In India, they are used as flavoring in chewing tobacco.

 

A concentrated extract of Buzz Buttons, called ‘Jambu’, is used as a flavoring agent in foods, chewing gum, and chewing tobacco. The oil is traditionally extracted from all parts of the plant. Jambu extract as a flavoring agent is described as having a citrus, herbal, tropical or musty odor, and its taste can be described as pungent, cooling, tingling, numbing, or effervescent. Spilanthol, the major constituent of Jambu extract, is responsible for the perception of a mouth-watering flavor sensation, as well as the ability to promote salivation as a sialogogue, perhaps through its astringent action or its pungent taste.

The most active molecule present is Spilanthol, which is responsible for the powerful oral anesthetic properties of the plant.