About Ctenium aromaticum (Walter) Alph.Wood
Ctenium aromaticum (Walter) Alph.Wood, a species of grass commonly called toothache grass, is native to the coastal plain of the southeastern United States. This is a perennial clumping grass, with stems that reach a maximum height of 1 to 1.5 meters (3 ft 3 in to 4 ft 11 in). Its leaves can grow up to 46 centimeters (18 in) long. The inflorescence is a panicle with a single branch up to 15 centimeters (5.9 in) long; one side of this branch is lined with two rows of spikelets, each roughly 1 centimeter (0.39 in) long. It is unconfirmed whether this grass was ever used as a remedy for toothache. It has been used as a sialagogue, a substance that increases saliva production. Crushed roots of this grass have a strong scent, and chewing the lower part of the stem produces a numbing sensation. Isobutylamides are the chemical agents responsible for this numbing effect.
