Clove – Health Benefits, Therapeutic Uses, and Home Remedies

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

Clove is a valuable spice, great preservatives, flavoring agent, and a versatile medicinal plant. Since centuries, it has been used as a painkiller medicine in dental emergencies like toothache, sore gums, and caries. Clove oil is applied on affected areas in rheumatism, muscular cramps, and arthritis. 

It is also an important ingredient in preparing homemade garam masala, tea masala, and pickles. It is also added as a flavoring agent in food products like meats, sausages, candies and confectionery. Clove oil is also used in aromatherapy and dental problems.

2. Morphology 

Clove is the dried unopened flower bud obtained from a handsome, middle-sized, evergreen tree. The tree has a straight trunk and grows up to a height of 10 to 12 meters. The clove’s buds, stem, and leaves yield a substantial amount of essential oil on steam distillation. The clove bud oil, derived from the dried buds by steam distillation, contains free eugenol, eugenol acetate, and caryophyllene. Steam oil contains more free eugenol than bud oil, besides a small quantity of eugenol acetate. The leaf oil contains much less eugenol than the bud oil and a very small quantity of eugenol acetate.

3. Chemical Composition 

An analysis of clove shows it to consist of carbohydrates, moisture, protein, volatile oil, nom-volatile ether extract, and crude fiber besides minerals matter, ash is insoluble in hydrochloric acid, calcium, phosphorus, iron, sodium, potassium, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin C and A, its calorific value is 430.

4. Ayurvedic Properties 

• Rasa (Taste): Clove is believed to have a pungent and bitter (Katu), (Tikta) taste.
• Virya (Potency): It is cold in nature (Sheeta).
• Vipaka (Post-digestive taste): The post-digestive taste is pungent (Katu).
• Guna (qualities): Laghu, Snigdha.

5. Identity, Purity and Strength

• Foreign Matter – Not more than 2%
• Total Ash – Not more than 7%
• Acid-insoluble ash – Not more than 1%
• Alcohol-soluble extractive – Not less than 3%
• Water-soluble extractive – Not less than 9%
• Volatile Oil - Not less than 15%

(Source - The Ayurvedic Pharmacopeia of India 1989)

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6. Health Benefits 

Clove has multiple medicinal virtues that are useful in counteracting spasmodic disorders and relieving flatulence. They help to stimulate sluggish circulation and thereby promote digestion and metabolism. In the Indian system of medicine, cloves are used either in the form of a powder or a decoction. Clove oil contains ingredients that help stabilize blood circulation and regulate body temperature. Clove oil on the body stimulates the skin, producing heat and redness.

It is beneficial for digestion, eye vision, cardio, reduces swelling, wound healing, remove foul smell, and appetizer.

• Doshakarma: Kaphapittahara
• Dhatukarma: Chakshusya, vrishya
• Malakarma: Stambhaka

7. Therapeutic Uses

In traditional folklore medicine, paste of clove powder with honey is used for acne, clove oil is mixed in warm water, inhaled as vapors, gives relief in respiratory conditions like cold, cough, sinusitis, and bronchitis. 

Application of clove oil increases blood circulation, hence it is used in frost bite in some areas, clove oil is used as mosquito repellant and insecticidal drug.

8. Home Remedies of Clove

Asthma

A tsp of decoction prepared by boiling 6 cloves in 30ml of water can be taken with honey thrice a day as an expectorant.

Cholera

About 4 grams of cloves are boiled in 3 liters of water until half the water evaporates and taken in draughts, which helps check severe symptoms of the disease.

Cough

Chewing a clove with a crystal of common salt eases expectoration, relieves throat irritation, and stops cough in the pharyngitis – that is, inflammation of the pharynx. Chewing a burnt clove is also an effective medicine for cough caused by congested throat and pharyngitis.

Three to five drops of clove oil mixed with honey and a clove of garlic help alleviate painful spasmodic cough in tuberculosis, asthma, and bronchitis. It should be taken once before going to bed.

Digestive Disorders

Cloves promote enzymatic flow and boost digestive functioning; they are used in various forms of gastric irritability and dyspepsia. Licking powder of fried cloves mixed with honey an effective remedy for controlling vomiting. The anesthetic action of clove numbs the gullet and stomach and stops vomiting.

Earache

A clove sautéed in a tsp of sesame oil and 3 to 5 drops of warm oil put into the ear cure earache.

Headache

A paste of clove and salt crystal in milk is a common household remedy for headaches. Salt, as a hygroscopic agent, absorb fluid and decreases tension.

Muscular Cramps

Muscular cramps are often relieved by applying the oil of the clove as a poultice near the affected portion.

Stye

Clove is one of the best remedies for styes i.e., inflammation around the eyelash. A clove stub rubbed in water and then applied over the stye gives relief.

Teeth Disorders

Using a clove in toothache decreases pain, and the antiseptic properties of a clove help control tooth infection. Clove oil, applied to a cavity in a decayed tooth, also relieves toothache.

Cough

Clove powder and rock salt, helps to ease down cough and reduces throat irritation, hoarseness of voice. 

Vomiting

Intake of clove powder with honey.

Cholera

Drinking of cold infusion of clove.

Other Uses

Cloves are used as a table spice, mixed with chilis, cinnamon, and turmeric it is used in preparing curry powder. They are also used to flavor betel quid. Clove oil is used in the manufacture of perfumes, soaps, and bath salts and as a flavoring agent in medicine and dentistry.

9. Side Effects 

Clove oil is a slight irritant and unpleasant in taste, if it is ingested in large quantity, it may cause gastric irritation, vomiting, and skin irritation. It should be avoided during pregnancy. 

10. General Doses

• Clove bud: 500mg to 2g.
• Oil: 1 to 3 drops.

11. Ayurvedic Formulations

Lavanga divati, lavanga churna, Avipatikar churna, lavang chatusama.