Teething can be a painful process for everyone involved; baby is irritable and in pain and Mom and Dad struggle with how to help. Teething starts between 4 and 7 months old, when the first baby teeth start to appear. By age 3, your child should have a full set of 20 baby teeth, which shouldn’t fall out until his permanent teeth are ready to start coming in, at around age 6. Those first teeth may be the cause of restlessness, drooling (which can lead to a facial rash), gum swelling, irritability, fussiness, biting, changes in eating and sleep patterns, and even sometimes a low grade fever or diaper rash. There must be a reason why we as humans grow teeth at a very young age – most adults wouldn’t be able to handle the pain!
Teething is one of the first major challenges of parenthood and parents will try everything to ease their child’s discomfort – everything from cold wet wash cloths, goo filled teething rings, plastic giraffes, frozen apples in mesh nets, to over-the-counter pain relieving oral medications – some of which work and some of which don’t.
Amber is fossilized tree resin of ancient trees (resin is different from sap) which forms through a natural polymerization of the original organic compounds. Amber has been around for a very long time; the oldest amber dates back to the Upper Carboniferous period (320 million years ago!). Amber has been used as jewelry and adornments, appreciated for its color and natural beauty for thousands of years. Most amber found on the market today is between 30 and 90 million years old.
So what do these two things – Teething & Amber – have in common?
One of the oldest methods of treating teething pain, believe it or not, is through the use of an Amber Teething Necklace. Baby girls (and boys!) wear these unassuming little necklaces to help relieve the pain associated with teething. While most remedies for teething involve the toddler chewing on something to provide counter pressure to the teeth that are breaking through, amber necklaces and bracelets are not to be chewed on. For the amber to work its magic, you place the necklace on your child underneath their clothes so that it rests against your baby’s skin. Amber is not only warm in color, but warm to the touch as well (gems are cold). The amber will begin to reach the child’s body temperature very quickly and the child will forget they even have it on. (Amber should always be used under the watchful eye of an adult!)
So why and how does Amber work? Amber is a natural analgesic and when worn on the skin, it releases tiny amounts of healing and pain relieving oils that helps babies stay calm and relaxed. Amber is a resin (different from a gem or stone) whose main component is succinic acid. 30 Million years ago, it would most likely have been used by plants and animals to heal themselves against viruses, cuts or wounds. Today, research has proven that succinic acid is highly beneficial to humans. The oils from the amber are easily absorbed into the skin and go directly to the blood stream. The amber accelerates our natural immune system’s ability to heal wounds and is known to help with the reduction of inflammation in the ears, throat, stomach and respiratory system. Recent scientific research has also proven that succinic acid stimulates the thyroid glands, strengthens the body, improves immunity, aids energy-related processes and corrects the balance of acids.
Amber has health benefits for adults too. Over 70 years ago, biochemists in Europe discovered that succinic acid, an amino acid created naturally in every cell of the body, is capable of aerobic respiration, participating in the citric acid, or the Krebs cycle – how carbohydrates, fats, and proteins are metabolized into energy. Wearing amber may also protect us against the negative influences of electrical equipment like computers, televisions, mobile phone and microwave ovens. New age beliefs suggest that amber transmutes negative into positive energy, and promotes positive thinking and attitude. Amber revitalizes mind, body and soul and helps to relieve depression. It supports physical healing and detoxification, and is used for disorders of the adrenals, liver and spleen. Who here couldn’t use a little extra help with more energy, faster metabolism, positive thinking and soul revitalization? If all that can come in a necklace, it’s worth a try!
Some tips for using Amber as a teething remedy:
~ Never leave a child unattended while he/she is wearing an amber teething necklace or bracelet.
~ Never allow a child to chew on the necklace or put any part of it in his mouth. (Our baby necklaces are short enough so that getting them in their mouth would be pretty tricky.)
~ Discontinue use immediately if a child develops an allergic reaction to the amber teething necklace.
~ Never use chemicals to clean your amber teething necklace. Simply rinse with water.
Amber necklaces are very durable and if treated with great care can be handed down from generation to generation as a family heirloom.
Visit the Shop@PBi to see our collection of Amber necklaces and bracelets!