Baltic Amber Teething Necklaces

A while back, at the recommendation of a friend, I bought Sadie an amber teething necklace. I never knew if it was working or not, but it sure is cute! Thursday at the ER, they made me take it off of her (probably in case they needed to do anything drastic), so I shoved it in my purse and forgot about it. Brian asked a couple of times where it was and I told him, but we never put it back on her. Friday and Saturday were two of the hardest days with Sadie, and I'm sure it was due to teething. She had drool on her shirt SOAKED all the way down to her bellybutton (and around the whole shoulder on the left side), she couldn't sleep - everytime she almost got there, she'd wake up and whine, and she wanted to suck suck suck until I swear my nipples were bruised! Then Saturday night, after we'd had a day of screaming (glad it was on a day Brian was home to help) and we were screaming toward a bath, Brian said, "she hasn't worn her necklace the last couple of days, I wonder if that has anything to do with it." I was skeptical, but he was right, we should put it back on her just in case. That night she slept 4 hours in her own bed, barely woke up to nurse (her and me), slept another4.5 with me, then woke up for an hour and a half before going back to sleep for another 2.5 hours...for a total of 11 hours!!! And she was less than half as screamy the next day (although getting her to nap was still tough, I imagine she still had some pain in her mouth)! I am going to attribute this attitude adjustment to the amber. Here's what I've read about it (and I'll cite my sources if you want to go do some of your own research):

Many believe it's the succinic acid in the amber that makes it so powerful. Baltic amber has the highest concentration of succinic acid. Succinic acid is a powerful antioxidant that fights free radicals in your body. Amber is a chakra cleanser, it absorbs pain and negative energy and allows the body to heal and rebalance itself. It can turn negative energy to positive as well as help with emotional healing. It draws disease out and helps the body heal itself. Amber is also a natural analgesic and is traditionally worn on babies to help alleviate teething pain. It is fossilized resin, which, when in contact with the skin, releases its therapeutic healing properties safely and naturally. Amber, when rubbed with a cloth emits an aroma, and it is always warm to the touch.

Baltic amber has been worn even in ancient times, and valued for it's beauty and healing properties. It was also traded worldwide. It has been found in burial sites dating back to the Stone Age. Scientists have found DNA in amber dating back hundreds of years (remember Jurrassic Park? That crap is real!). In fact, scientists have even studied insects preserved in amber to find out information about the past. It is thought that the name, amber, comes from the word ambergris, which is the waxy, oily substance made by whales and used to make perfume, candles, etc. However, the only similarity between the two is that they are both washed up on shore.

Most amber has been found in the Baltic region of Russia and Poland, but it has also been found many other various places around the world. Amber is mentioned in The Odyssey, as well as other Greek mythology. Another story, a Lithuanian myth, is more like The Little Mermaid, except without the happy ending. At the end of this story, the mermaid's father throws a bolt of lightning to kill her human lover and, as a result, shatters her amber palace where she lives in the Baltic. This seems to serve as an explanation for amber being so abundant in this region. There is an entire room made of amber in a palace near St. Petersburg, Russia, you can see a picture and learn more about it here.

After doing the research and learning about the rich history of amber, which is really neither a stone or a mineral, I am amazed that more people don't use it in their daily lives. It seems like we are so quick to trust medicines made from chemicals just because they're doctor/FDA approved. But, these can be very dangerous and can even end up hurting you more in the long run (even when used correctly and under supervision). I am not against Tylenol and Advil, but now that I've found amber (and am researching more homeopathic medicines), I think I might turn to it first.

...and that is why everyone will be getting amber necklaces for Christmas in my family!!

amber teething necklaces.com
amberizon
dragonflyamber
mikalina
amber artisans - this is the best one and has tons more historical information I just couldn't include!
inspired by Finn - you can buy amber from just about any of these websites, but this is the one where I got Sadie's necklace, she's local, and I like supporting my community by buying local