Clove

Clove:  here’s to your health

Clove is an evergreen tree, which produces a flower bud that has numerous medicinal properties. It is often referred as clove bud.  Clove was extensively used in the ancient Indian and Chinese civilizations and it spread to other parts of the world, including Europe, during the seventh and eight centuries. The Chinese used cloves to get rid of bad breath over 2000 years ago and it is even said that anyone who had an audience with the Emperor was required to chew on cloves so that their breath was sweet! It was also considered an aphrodisiac in China. This ancient spice is still a popular herb with Ayurvedic healers who use it in teas and powders both topically and internally.  Pungent is the popular taste of cloves. This is a heating spice that promotes digestion. Without question it improves the taste and flavor of many foods. It increases pitta, and decreases vata & kapha. Cloves have a potent, sweet and spicy, aromatic flavor that makes a great complement to many foods.

They have been consumed in some areas, such as Asia, for more than 2,000 years. Among the clove’s most well-known healing properties is its ability to relieve tooth and gum pain, but it has many benefits beyond that. These include:

• Anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and antioxidant properties.  Due to its antiseptic properties, clove oil is useful for wound, cuts, scabies, athlete’s foot, fungal infections, bruises, prickly heat, scabies, etc. It can also be used insect bites and stings. Clove oil is very strong in nature and hence should be used in diluted form. Further, it should not be used on sensitive skin.
• The most prominent use of clove oil is in dental care. The germicidal properties of the oil make it very effective for relieving dental pain, tooth ache, sore gums and mouth ulcers. Clove oil contains the compound eugenol, which has been used in dentistry since numerous years. Gargles with diluted clove oil help in easing the throat. The characteristic smell of clove oil helps removing bad breath. As a result, clove oil is added to numerous dental products and medications, including, mouth washes, and tooth pastes. Dentists also mix clove oil with zinc oxide and prepare a white filling material as a temporary alternative to root canal.
• Relief from respiratory ailments such as asthma and bronchitis
• Relief from muscle pains from injuries or arthritis and rheumatism
• Eliminates intestinal parasites, fungi and bacteria
• May encourage creativity and mental focus
• Skin Care: Clove oil is often recommended for skin care, especially to acne patients.
• Clove is rich in minerals such as calcium, hydrochloric acid, iron, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, and vitamin A and vitamin C.

Clove was a highly valued flavor, a possible food preservative, and a pharmaceutical panacea in past centuries. Now, it is a rarely appreciated spice and an old-fashioned drug that has little role in medicine or dentistry today.  Many people believe that clove oil is useful in preventing and treating cancer. However, the American Cancer Society clearly mentions that there is no scientific evidence on the curative properties of clove oil.  Clove oil is certainly worth a look.  As for me, I know I will bite on a clove if I have a sore tooth, it works,  and cloves are a great when used an exfoliant or in a massage oil to assist with aches and pains.