Jessie Shi

Homeopathic Teething Remedies: Sprays, Ingredients and What Parents Should Know

Two unbranded oral-spray bottles beside a silicone teething ring and folded cotton cloth in a naturally lit nursery.

Look at our two Naturo Pharm Teethmed sprays and one label stands out: Alcohol Free. Yet both bottles list the same three homeopathic ingredients. What has changed, and what should you check before considering either spray for a baby?

Homeopathic teething remedies are highly diluted products marketed for teething discomfort. Both Naturo Pharm Teethmed sprays list the same three homeopathic ingredients, but the traditional spray contains alcohol while the Alcohol Free Spray uses water and vegetable glycerine. Reliable clinical evidence has not established that either relieves teething pain. For your baby, use recognised comfort measures and speak with a pharmacist or healthcare professional before considering a spray.

Both Teethmed sprays name the same three homeopathic ingredients

Our two 25ml Teethmed sprays share this ingredient list:

Chamomilla 60X
Belladonna 12C
Magnesium Carb 30C

The names identify starting substances. The numbers and letters describe dilution stages: X means tenfold dilution at each stage; C means hundredfold dilution.

These potencies are not milligram doses and do not tell you how much of a starting substance remains. Our homeopathic remedies guide explains the wider category. Here is what each Teethmed ingredient means.

What is Chamomilla 60X?

Chamomilla is the homeopathic name associated with chamomile, traditionally used in teething products. The 60X label describes 60 stages of decimal dilution.

It is not chamomile tea or a herbal extract. Research on herbal chamomile cannot prove that highly diluted Chamomilla 60X helps a teething baby, even though the names sound alike.

Why does Belladonna 12C deserve particular attention?

Belladonna comes from deadly nightshade, which contains toxic alkaloids. The 12C notation means 12 centesimal dilution stages. A correctly prepared 12C product is not the raw plant, but its name does not establish the amount of any alkaloids remaining.

We would not gloss over Belladonna in a baby product. Regulators have found ingredient-consistency problems in some other companies' homeopathic teething products. That does not establish a problem with Naturo Pharm, but a homeopathic label alone cannot guarantee infant safety.

What is Magnesium Carb 30C?

Magnesium Carb is associated with magnesium carbonate. Its 30C label means 30 centesimal dilution stages, not a nutritional magnesium dose. Teethmed is not a magnesium supplement, and the potency does not show that it soothes gums.

What does Alcohol Free change in the Teethmed formula?

Both sprays contain the same named homeopathic potencies. Their carrier liquids are different.

Naturo Pharm Teethmed Relief: The traditional oral spray combines the three homeopathic ingredients with purified water and an alcohol-containing vehicle. Naturo Pharm currently lists 11% alcohol for this formulation.

Naturo Pharm Teethmed Relief Alcohol Free Spray: This version lists the same three potencies in purified water and vegetable glycerine, with no ethanol declared in its formula. Naturo Pharm currently lists 60% vegetable glycerine.

Those percentages describe the liquid bases, not the homeopathic potencies. Check the current physical 25ml labels before relying on either figure.

Why would one formulation contain alcohol?

Alcohol can act as a solvent or preservative. That explains a formulation choice, not whether the exposure from a spray is suitable for an infant. Never assume the amount is negligible without checking the bottle, age guidance and professional advice.

Does alcohol-free mean completely risk-free?

No. It means no ethanol is declared in the liquid base, not that the spray is appropriate for every baby. Glycerine is a different carrier, not proof of better effectiveness or safety. The ingredient list, product quality and infant suitability still matter.

Unlike gels applied to gums or rings made for chewing, an oral spray is a liquid product. Its format proves neither effectiveness nor safety.

What we can confirm about our two Naturo Pharm Teethmed sprays

We stock two compact 25ml Teethmed sprays. We want you to see the shared homeopathic ingredients and different carriers, not just the front-label wording.

Naturo Pharm is a New Zealand-owned homeopathic manufacturer based in Rotorua, founded over 40 years ago by pharmacist Bill Usher. It has local manufacturing facilities and describes quality procedures, although these do not prove teething-pain relief.

Teethmed Relief, SKU NP090: Our traditional 25ml oral spray lists Chamomilla 60X, Belladonna 12C and Magnesium Carb 30C, alongside the alcohol-containing base. If you are looking closely at an ingredients label, this is the version where ethanol matters.

Teethmed Relief Alcohol Free Spray, SKU NP118: Our other 25ml oral spray has the same three named homeopathic potencies. Its purified-water-and-vegetable-glycerine base is the key difference for anyone checking whether a formula declares ethanol.

We would not recommend either spray for unsupervised infant use. Ask a paediatric pharmacist to check age suitability and current label directions. If online directions differ, do not make up a dosing schedule.

Are homeopathic teething sprays proven to work?

Reliable clinical evidence has not established that homeopathic teething sprays relieve infant teething pain. Homeopathy uses repeated dilution and traditional ideas about matching substances to symptoms. Those ideas are not supported by established pharmacological evidence in the way treatments with demonstrated effects are.

The US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health finds little evidence for homeopathy in specific conditions. No robust independent trial showing teething-pain relief from either Teethmed spray, or superiority of one over the other, has been verified. A familiar ingredient name or personal story cannot fill that gap.

Safety deserves the same careful attention. In 2017, the US Food and Drug Administration requested a recall of certain Hyland's homeopathic baby teething tablets after finding widely varying belladonna alkaloid levels, including levels above the label claim. Those were Hyland's tablets, not Naturo Pharm Teethmed sprays. The finding does not establish a problem with either of our products. It does show why ingredient consistency and independent safety checks matter, especially for infants.

The FDA has also advised against potentially harmful homeopathic teething products and certain oral numbing medicines. These are US warnings, not a New Zealand recall of Teethmed. Here in New Zealand, a product's regulatory status and any health claims also need to meet our local requirements. Before considering a spray for a baby, seek advice from a qualified health professional rather than assuming that a homeopathic or natural label guarantees safety.

What helps when a baby's gums are tender?

New Zealand health advice puts simple comfort measures first. Here are some to try.

Try a clean finger and gentle gum massage

Wash your hands, then gently rub your baby's tender gums with a clean finger. Light pressure can be comforting. If your baby pulls away or becomes upset, stop. There is no need to keep going if they do not like it.

Offer a suitable chilled teething ring

A firm, age-appropriate silicone or rubber teething ring cooled in the fridge gives your baby something safe to chew. Choose a solid ring that cannot leak or break into small pieces, and supervise its use. Do not freeze a ring solid, as it may be too hard or too cold for tender gums.

Keep the cuddles coming

Holding and reassuring your baby can help. Wipe away dribble gently to keep the skin comfortable. Remember that not every unsettled moment is teething.

Ask about pain medicine if it is really needed

If your baby is very uncomfortable, ask a pharmacist or doctor whether paracetamol is suitable. Dosing depends on weight and the product. Do not guess a dose or medicate simply because your baby chews more.

Avoid oral numbing products containing benzocaine or lidocaine for teething, and skip amber teething necklaces or other jewellery because of choking and strangulation risks. These precautions matter far more than whether a spray bottle looks convenient.

Signs that deserve more than a teething explanation

Drooling, extra chewing and mild gum tenderness often go along with a new tooth. But teething should not be used to explain a baby who seems genuinely unwell. In particular, seek medical advice for:

A fever, especially in a very young baby, or a child who looks ill.
Persistent or unusual crying, or discomfort that seems severe.
Poor feeding, fewer wet nappies or other signs of dehydration.
Vomiting, diarrhoea or symptoms suggesting an ear problem.
Unusual sleepiness, difficulty waking or breathing trouble.

Breathing difficulty or a baby who is difficult to rouse needs immediate medical attention. For urgent emergencies in New Zealand, call 111. For other concerns, contact your GP, Plunket nurse or Healthline on 0800 611 116. Please do not wait for a teething product to work when a baby needs assessment.

Common questions about homeopathic teething sprays

What is a homeopathic teething spray?

It is an oral liquid preparation labelled with homeopathic ingredients and dilution potencies, and marketed for teething-related discomfort. It is not the same as a conventional pain medicine, a gel rubbed on the gums or a physical teething ring. Its format does not prove that it relieves pain.

What ingredients are in Naturo Pharm Teethmed Relief?

Teethmed Relief lists Chamomilla 60X, Belladonna 12C and Magnesium Carb 30C. These are homeopathic ingredient names and potencies. The numbers and letters describe serial dilution, not ordinary milligram amounts or guaranteed active-ingredient levels.

What is the difference between Teethmed Relief and Teethmed Alcohol Free Spray?

Both sprays list Chamomilla 60X, Belladonna 12C and Magnesium Carb 30C. Traditional Teethmed Relief uses an alcohol-containing liquid base. Teethmed Alcohol Free Spray uses purified water and vegetable glycerine, with no ethanol declared. Alcohol-free does not automatically mean safe for babies or more effective.

Is Chamomilla teething spray the same as chamomile tea?

No. Homeopathic Chamomilla is prepared by serial dilution and is not equivalent to chamomile tea or a herbal extract. Research involving a herbal chamomile product cannot be assumed to apply to a highly diluted homeopathic teething spray.

Are homeopathic teething sprays safe and effective for babies?

Reliable clinical evidence has not established that these sprays relieve teething pain. Regulators have warned about safety risks with some homeopathic teething products, but the US belladonna recall did not involve Naturo Pharm. Speak with a paediatric pharmacist or other qualified healthcare professional before considering either spray for an infant.

What can I do to soothe my baby's gums without a teething spray?

Try gently massaging the gums with a clean finger, offering a firm age-appropriate teething ring chilled in the fridge, and comforting your baby. Supervise teething aids. Seek medical advice for fever, persistent crying, feeding difficulties or a baby who seems unwell.

Before you decide about a teething spray

We are happy to help explain our Naturo Pharm range. With Teethmed, the homeopathic ingredients match and the carrier liquids differ. Before considering either spray for a baby, discuss the evidence, label and age suitability with a paediatric pharmacist. Gentle gum care and a suitable chilled teether are good first steps.

References

Filed in: teething remedy guide

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