VARIOUS CLOVE SPICE BENEFITS
PLUS, HELPFUL USAGE TIPS FOR CLOVE SPICE
There are certain times when the smell of a specific spice brings back fond childhood memories, especially during the holidays.
For me, clove is one of those spices. It’s been used to spruce up holiday beverages and to add a zip of flavor to desserts and side dishes.
Clove spice is grown on evergreen trees that are found in tropical areas like Indonesia, Jamaica, the Philippines, and Madagascar (1).
The whole clove spice is the unopened, dried flower buds from these particular evergreen trees.
The clove essential oil is extracted from the flower buds, leaves and stems of these evergreen tree and it is antiseptic, antibacterial, antifungal and highly aromatic (2).
Besides clove spice being used as a food flavoring ingredient, it is also touted for its many health benefits.
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CLOVES FOR TOOTHACHE RELIEF
If you experience a sudden toothache and don’t have immediate access to your dentist or family physician, just place tiny amount of ground cloves into a square inch-sized piece of paper towel and fold it into a pouch.
Wet the pouch slightly and place it on the affected gum area. Wetting the pouch first will speed up the release of the anesthetic properties in the clove spice.
Be warned, however, that clove spice is, well, spicy! So you will start to experience a slight burning sensation from the clove.
Nevertheless, it will at least give you temporary relief from a toothache until you can see your dentist (3).
Clove essential oil can be used in the same way as dried ground clove to provide toothache relief.
Take caution, however, when using clove essential oil because it is very concentrated and can irritate the skin.
For toothache relief, place one drop of clove essential oil on a moistened cotton ball and place it on the affected tooth/gum area to temporarily numb the pain until you can see your dentist.
Again, be warned that the clove essential oil may cause a burning sensation due to its super-concentrated nature. Just be sure to properly dilute it prior to application to your skin.
NIX THE COUGH
Want to get rid of a nagging cough? Sip on a nice, hot cup of clove tea. Clove spice helps to quell coughs by breaking up congestion (4).
Drop 2-3 whole cloves into 10-12 ounces of boiling water and let it steep for about 5 minutes. Add a bit of honey (which also cuts mucous) to your desired taste.
Stir to mix your ingredients thoroughly, then slowly sip this solution to achieve relief from your cough.
If you like the taste of cloves, this will be a real treat for you!
GOT INTESTINAL PARASITES?
Cloves reportedly helps rid the body of parasites, too (5). Pour about 8 ounces of boiling water over 2-3 whole clove buds and allow it to steep for about 10 minutes to achieve a reasonably effective infusion.
Slowly sip the solution to help immobilize and sweep those creepy crawlies out of the body!
CAVEAT: Clove essential oil is very powerful and can cause skin irritations. If used, you must be sure to adequately dilute it into a safe carrier oil base (like olive oil, sweet almond oil, or jojoba oil) prior to applying it directly to your skin.
Also, take care not to inhale undiluted clove essential oil too closely to your nose as it can burn the mucous membranes.
In addition, it is not safe to diffuse clove essential oil into the air due to its high levels of phenols (6).
Phenols give clove essential oil its antiviral properties. Inhaling strong concentrations of phenols can possibly burn the mucous membranes.
While clove essential oil has many therapeutic uses, keep in mind that it is still very strong.
Rather than trying to administer clove essential oil as a remedy, you may fare better using either the dried ground clove spice or whole cloves if you want to experience the natural benefits that it offers.
This way you still experience the healing, antiseptic and antiviral properties of clove spice without the risk of harming yourself.
The contents of this article is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to cure, prevent, diagnose or treat any ailments. Consult with your physician regarding any health issues you may have.
