Clove

Clove

Latin Name: Syzygium aromaticum (aka Eugenia caryophyllata)
Family: Myrtaceae

Part used: Flower buds, oil distilled from buds
Energetics: Pungent, Warming, Stimulant
Iris: All types
Interactions: Please check with your Healthcare Provider.

Safe alongside Herb
  • Aciclovir
  • Glipizide
  • Metformin

CONTRA-INDICATIONS

  • Inflammatory conditions
  • Hypertension
  • Safe in low doses in pregnancy, such as culinary use.
  • Do not use undiluted in massage or in baths, as it may irritate the skin and mucous membranes and can cause dermatitis (allergic hypersensitivity to eugenol).

ACTIONS

  • Anti-microbial
  • Carminative
  • Anaesthetic
  • Analgesic
  • Antiseptic
  • Anti-spasmodic
  • Anti-histamine
  • Anti-fungal
  • Anti-parasitic
  • Vermifuge
  • Anti-bacterial
  • Anti-viral
  • Anti-emetic
  • Anti-diarrhoeal
  • Hypoglycaemia
  • Expectorant
  • Galactagogue
  • CNS depressant
  • Cholagogue
  • Diaphoretic

Main Constituents

  • Volatile oil
  • Essential oil constituents: acetyl eugenol & beta-caryophyllene
  • Camphor resin
  • Flavonoids.

Main Uses

Astringent and Antiseptic
Digestive System:  Flatulence, Diarrhoea, Nausea, Vomiting, Worms, Stimulates hydrochloric acid and dilates the gastric blood vessels
Dental: Toothache, Halitosis, Mild local anaesthetic for aching teeth, Bleeding gums, Mouth ulcers
External Use: Insect bites
Musculo-Skeletal System: Gout (rubbed onto skin)
Endocrine: Diabetes
Immune System: ‘Cold’ conditions, Influenza
Respiratory System: Asthma, Bronchitis, Lung conditions

Infections:
Bacteria: Bacillus subtilis, Clostridium, E. coli, H. pylori, Klebsiella, MRSA, Mycobacteria, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella, Proteus, Pseudomonas, Salmonella species, Shigella, Staphlococcus.
Viruses: Epstein Barr, Herpes simplex 1, Herpes simplex 2, Influenza, Picornavirus, Measles
Fungi: Aspergillus, Candida, Penicillium, Saccharomyces, Tinea (Athlete's Foot), Trichophyton
Parasites: Anisakis species, Ascaris, Caenorhabditis elegans, Toxocara canis

More About Clove

Clove is an important commodity in the spice trade. It is still much used in perfume, mulled wines and liqueurs, dental products and stuck in an orange at Christmas! Cloves promote circulation in the lungs and stomach, due to their warming effect.
They clear a cough and enhance digestion. The essential oil is a powerful analgesic. The main chemical constituent is eugenol, which facilitates the contraction of muscle fibres. Eugenol, the pain-killing phenolic compound, has similar effects to salicylic acid from which aspirin is produced.
Cloves may help with nausea, vomiting and flatulence. The phenolic compounds make this a wonderful anti-fungal, and can be made into a tea or added to cooking for this additional benefit.
It is a powerful antiseptic and mild anaesthetic and ‘Oil of Clove BP’ can be found in most pharmacies to be used externally in toothache, or alternatively put a dried clove near the tooth and keep in the mouth.
The antiseptic action is useful in cases of insect bites - rub the oil on the skin to take out the ‘sting’. The oil can also be rubbed on painful joints, such as in Gout conditions.
In animal experiments, clove lowers triglycerides and blood sugar and has been shown to boost insulin activity.
Clove forms one of the three ingredients in Hulda Clark’s famous Parasite Cleanse, alongside Black walnut hull and Wormwood.

Recipes:


Soothing Pain Blend:

Ingredients:

  • 4 drops Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
  • 4 drops Frankincense (Boswellia carterii)
  • 3 drops Clove (Eugenia caryophyllata)
  • 3 drops Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
  • 2 drops Helichrysum (Helichrysum italicum)
  • 2 drops Sandalwood (Santalum album)
  • 1 oz jojoba oil
  • 1 oz dropper bottle

Method:
Add essential oils to dropper bottle, fill rest of bottle with jojoba oil. Swirl to blend together. To use, massage onto desired areas. (3% dilution)

Clove Mouthwash

Ingredients:

  • 1 Tbsp Whole Cloves
  • 1 cup Water

Method:

  • Bring water to a boil in a small saucepan.
  • Place whole cloves in a heat-resistant container, such as a mason jar.
  • Pour the boiling water over the cloves.
  • Cover the container and allow the mixture to cool.
  • Strain the mouthwash and pour into a clean container with a lid.
  • Use as you would any mouthwash. Do not swallow.

Note:

  • Clove mouthwash contains no alcohol, so there will not be 'the burn' that is typically experienced with store-bought mouthwash.
  • Clove Mouthwash can also be made using Clove essential oil. For this, mix 8 drops of Clove essential oil with filtered water and store in a glass jar. No need to boil the water because this uses clove oil rather than whole cloves.
Clove-and-Cider-Glazed Ham

Ingredients:

  • One 7- to 8-pound spiral-cut ham
  • Approx. 236ml of fresh apple cider
  • Approx. 118g of light brown sugar
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons bourbon
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • One 3-inch cinnamon stick
  • 6 whole cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns
  • 1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg

Method:

  • Preheat the oven to 375°. Place the ham in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
  • In a small saucepan, combine all of the remaining ingredients and bring to a simmer, whisking occasionally. Cook over moderately low heat until reduced to 3/4 cup, about 25 minutes. Pour the glaze over the ham, leaving the spices on the meat. Cover tightly with foil. Bake for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, basting every 15 minutes, until heated through. Transfer to a platter.
  • Strain the pan juices into a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook until reduced to a glaze, 8 to 10 minutes. Spoon the glaze over the ham; serve.

References


General Health

Clove Essential Oil ( Syzygium aromaticum L. Myrtaceae): Extraction, Chemical Composition, Food Applications, and Essential Bioactivity for Human Health
This review presents new biological applications beneficial for human health, such as anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anesthetic, antinociceptive, and anticancer activity.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34770801/

Antimicrobial/Antioxidant/Antifungal/Antiviral

The chemical composition and biological activity of clove essential oil, Eugenia caryophyllata (Syzigium aromaticum L. Myrtaceae): a short review
In addition to its antimicrobial, antioxidant, antifungal and antiviral activity, clove essential oil possesses anti inflammatory, cytotoxic, insect repellent and anaesthetic properties.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17380552/

Hepatotoxicity/Anti-parasite

Syzygium aromaticum L. (Myrtaceae): Traditional Uses, Bioactive Chemical Constituents, Pharmacological and Toxicological Activities
Moreover, eugenol was found to protect against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity and showed a potential lethal efficacy against the multiplication of various parasites including Giardia lamblia, Fasciola gigantica, Haemonchus contortus, and Schistosoma mansoni.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32019140/

Antioxidant

Clove essential oil confers antioxidant activity and lifespan extension in C. elegans via the DAF-16/FOXO transcription factor
The results suggested that, chronic CEO treatment significantly extended the lifespan and promoted the production and health. As expected, CEO possessed antioxidant activities against the reactive oxygen species (ROS) through inducing the expression of SOD-3 or GST-4.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33171300/

Oral Bacteria

Synergistic effect between clove oil and its major compounds and antibiotics against oral bacteria
The results suggest that the clove oil and eugenol could be employed as a natural antibacterial agent against cariogenic and periodontopathogenic bacteria.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0003996911000513

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