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Clove Essential Oil and Health Benefits Of Clove

The herb clove is a renowned spice for its piquantly sweet and warm taste and unique appearance. Clove taste is aromatic and adds sweetness to breads and pies while imparting a lovely aroma to soups and spicy dishes. Clove oil possesses substantial quantities of an active chemical compound known as eugenol, which imparts the medicinal properties to cloves. Clove health benefits are due to the essential volatile oils in them that has made it the subject of a wide range of health research.

Clove Health Benefits

The health benefits of cloves include the prevention of toxicity from contaminants such as tetrachloromethane, cancers related to the digestive tract, and joint inflammation.


In a number of medical studies, the essential oils of cloves are used in dentistry in coincidence with root canal treatment, short-term cavity fillings, and common gum ache. The chemical compounds in clove join to make clove a soft anesthetic in addition to an anti-bacterial agent. Clove essential oils are found in a number of over-the-counter sore throat lozenges and gargles for sore throats.


the benefits of clove which are mainly due to eugenol, the principal constituent of the herb's essential oils, works as an anti-inflammatory agent.

In studies conducted on animals, it was reported that the extracts of cloves combined with cod liver oil, brought about a substantial difference in inflammatory diseases. Clove also contains an abundance of flavonoids that bestow on the herb's antioxidant abilities.


Clove is also rich in phytonutrient elements and is also nutrient dense containing calcium, manganese, dietary fiber, magnesium vitamin C and omega-3 fatty acids. Clove oil is a proven natural painkiller and germicidal against infections of the teeth and gums. Moreover, clove oil is also safe for external applications and as a topical agent when blended with almond or coconut oil.


Almond benefits when combined with clove provides long lasting effect.

Rinsing fungal skin infections with clove tea or a clove compress helps in reducing the infections and spreading it further. An infusion of clove made into clover herbal tea is ideal as an antifungal enema solution, for yeast infections including Candida. The use of cloves in cooking helps in relieving flatulence and helps in the healing of various ailments of the digestive system. It is useful in promoting a healthy metabolism and good digestion. In addition, to its digestive properties, herbalists also use clove oil or clove extracts in treating diarrhea and nausea and various other stomach disorders. In certain parts of Asia, cloves are used as remedies to cholera, scabies, malaria and consumption. It has powerful anti-spasmodic properties and hence is useful in relieving muscle aches and pains in the form of a topical lotion or ointment.


Benefit Of Clove

The clove tree is native to Indonesia, but nowadays, it is cultivated in many parts of the world. Clove is largely cultivated in India, West Indies, Sri Lanka, Brazil, and Zanzibar. Zanzibar is the largest producer of cloves. Cloves are the flower buds picked from a clove tree. On drying, these buds turn brown in color. The bud constitutes a round top connected with a stem. Botanically, cloves are referred to as Eugenia Aromatica. Clove buds are usually half an inch in length and one fourth of an inch in diameter. Cloves have a very pleasant sweet and warm aromatic fragrance. In most Asian countries, cloves are popularly used as a spice for flavoring several food recipes. Dried powdered cloves also make for a wonderful spice. Clove oil is extracted by the process of steam distillation of dried cloves. The yield of clove oil per 100 grams amounts to as much as 15 to 20 grams. The main constituent of the clove oil is eugenol, which contributes to its unique aroma.

Cloves contain several crucial minerals and nutrients. Some of the nutrition facts related to cloves are as follows:

• 100 grams of clove buds contain as much as 325 kilo calories of energy.
• Good quality dietary fiber in 100 grams of cloves amounts to 30–35 grams.
• The carbohydrate content of the order of 55–65 grams can be found in 100 grams of cloves.
• The protein content in cloves ranges from 5–7 grams per 100 grams.
• Vitamin C content is of the order of 75–82 milligrams per 100 grams.
• Cloves are also a rich source of minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, and manganese.

Is clove good for health? Cloves’ health benefits have been known to man for thousands of years. Some of the common health benefits of cloves are as follows.
•  Cloves have unmatched antioxidant properties. It is, therefore, referred to as a super antioxidant. Regular intake of cloves helps in maintaining youthful and healthy skin for a longer time; hence, clove benefits you by helping you remain younger looking.
•  Regular intake of clove with food helps with disorders of the digestive system such as gas, acidity, and indigestion. It is very beneficial in treating the problem of flatulence, as it helps in removing gases from the stomach and intestines in a natural manner. This is another great health benefit of cloves.
•  Cloves possess antifungal and antimicrobial properties. If you happen to suffer from fungal or any other infection on your skin, apply clove oil diluted with some carrier oil such as olive oil on the affected area by using a cotton bud. Do this twice a day. Within a few days, you will find relief from the infection. Clove oil is very strong in nature and therefore should not be applied without dilution as it may cause burning sensation and itching on your skin.
•  Another one of the most popular health benefits of cloves is its ability to cure the ailments related to the respiratory system. If you suffer from nasal or chest congestion, prepare tea by adding four to five buds of clove in the tea. Health benefits of clove tea have also been known for long. Clove tea benefits you greatly by helping you recover from respiratory system disorders. Other benefits of clove tea include removing harmful toxins from your body and stimulating the excretory system.
•  For its antiseptic and healing properties, you can apply diluted clove oil on wounds, scratches, and bruises. It helps in healing minor injuries much faster as compared to other home remedies. This is another great health benefit of clove oil.
• Clove essential oil is also known for its pain-relieving properties. It is therefore popularly used by aroma therapists around the world for treating spasmodic as well as rheumatic and arthritic pains. A massage with this oil warms up the affected joints and muscles, and its antispasmodic property helps in relieving pain. This is one of the most popular of benefits of clove bud oil.
•  One of the other popular benefits of clove oil is its use in the treatment of dental pain. It has great astringent properties too and is therefore widely used for curing bleeding gums and strengthening teeth roots. Clove oil finds wide use in the manufacturing of several dental formulations because of this great property. This is one of the most common and popular cloves’ health benefits.
•  Clove is a wonderful aphrodisiac. It has the great ability to maintain men’s sexual health by stimulating the reproductive system. If you experience any such problem such as erectile dysfunction or loss of desire, you can take one fourth teaspoon of powdered cloves with milk before going to bed. Regular intake of cloves powder will help you regain your vitality. This is another one of the more common clove health benefits.
•  Cloves are also excellent insect repellants and are therefore used in making several mosquito repelling sprays.

These were some of the most common benefits of cloves and health benefits of clove oil. You might have also come across a similar term, namely, clover. You should not confuse it with cloves. Clover is an entirely different herb. Although some health benefits of clover are similar to cloves’ benefits, some benefits of clove entirely different from the benefits of clover. For example, benefits of clove tea are similar to the benefits of clover tea. The main benefits of clover sprouts include its ability to lower blood pressure and control blood sugar levels. Clover honey is the honey made by the bees using clover flowers. Health benefits of clover honey include hypertension control and treatment of liver disorders. These are the main benefits of clover honey.

Although there are no known clove health risks, excessive intake may cause irritation in the stomach and result in diarrhea. Hence, like any other herbal home remedies, it is advisable that always consult your health care provider or an aroma therapist before using clove oil, honey, or extracts for the treatment of any disorder.

Submitted on January 7, 2011
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