Clove is a popular spice used in foods and aromatherapy around the world. The dried buds of the plant are ground to create the common spice we use in cooking. The stems, buds, and leaves of the plant are steam-distilled to create an richly aromatic essential oil. Both the spice and the essential oil have been found to have numerous health benefits.
A Nutritional Spice
The spice clove is a good source of dietary manganese. It also provides a small amount of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin K, vitamin C and magnesium. (Source)
Anti-Inflammatory Benefits
Clove contains a compound called eugenol that has been found to have numerous benefits. Clove essential oil contains a concentrated amount of eugenol. This study shows that eugenol/clove oil is an immune booster that reduces inflammation in the body.
Anti-Cancer Benefits
Eugenol has also been fount to be a promising anti-cancer agent in numerous studies, potent against melanoma, skin tumors, osteosarcoma (bone), leukemia, cervical, breast, colon, and gastric cancers.
Sources:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22634840
Pain Reduction
Clove oil is commonly used as a mild analgesic (pain-reducer) in dental products such as temporary dental fillings, toothpaste and mouthwashes, and has also been shown to improve memory. (Source)
Anti-oxidant
This study found eugenol to be an anti-oxidant and DNA-protector in liver cells.
Anti-bacterial
This study found eugenol to be antibacterial, fighting the harmful bacteria Streptococcus mutans.
Feeling guilty for that pumpkin pie and gingerbread cookies this season! Well, you can at least now rest assured that they contain one healthy component--the helpful herb: clove!
We use clove in a number of our deodorants, and in our Cool Cucumber Facial Cleanser!
7 comments:
I love the info you give! Thanks so much!
This is great information. I'd love to know some easy ways to incorporate it into my diet that doesn't involve baking.
Thanks for the info, I enjoy using herbs!
I recall as a teenager using clove to help ease a toothache. Pretty amazing benefits all around!
Thanks for the info, good to know! Love cloves!
I was recently told that pregnant women should avoid clove essential oil. Is this correct?
Nope, you shouldn't have to avoid clove during pregnancy; there's no reason to. For a full list of essential oils to avoid, check out http://bubbleandbee.blogspot.com/2010/08/essential-oils-and-pregnancy.html
The only contraindications clove has is when used at high concentration it can be irritating to skin, and when taken internally it can prevent blood clotting in individuals taking blood-thinning drugs.
At concentrations lower than 2% on normal skin, it causes no problems of irritation. As long as it is diluted properly, clove can be highly beneficial as an antiseptic and aroma-therapeutic oil.
Clove is also helpful for nausea, keep one clove in your mouth when you feel nausea or sickness.
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